Q: My kitty is a chronic meower. Every morning when I get up, she just follows me around meowing very loudly. Really, I don't mind too much, but the fact that I live in an apartment is what really troubles me. I'm scared that some of the other tenants might start to complain about her meowing so early in the morning. And it's not just friendly, tiny meows... these are like loud, long, irritating meows. What should I do?
A: Before I talk about ways to work through kitty's continuous meowing, there are a couple of things to check out first:
- Make sure the cat has food, water, and a clean litter box. Your kitty could simply be communicating that she wants something to be done about one of those things.
- Figure out when your cat is not meowing. Is it a certain time of day or during a certain activity? If you pay attention to kitty, does she continue to meow? When does she start again? Then, try to find a way to continue whatever activity stops the meowing (for example, if kitty consistently meows after you stop playtime, get some games for her to amuse herself with after you go to bed).
- Consider a trip to the vet. When cats are vocal, they are usually trying to communicate something to us... check with your vet to make sure your pet is healthy. There are certain times when cats are noisier, like when they are in heat or pregnant.
To hear more tips for solving the problem, read more
Many times kitties meow for attention... and many times they meow exactly when we wouldn't (or couldn't) pay attention to them. I agree with the general consensus to ignore pets when they behave in attention-seeking ways. However, the big problem with this is often the pets don't stop immediately. That can be very frustrating... and makes it hard not to pay attention. Which just continues the cycle!
You need to try to break the cycle. If pets get a response from you by doing something (meowing, barking, etc.), they are just repeating that action to get a response again. The first rule of thumb is do not respond directly to the cat’s meowing even to get up, shush, or yell – any response counts as one, even if it isn't a positive one. If your pet continues to meow, try a time out. Shut the door to the room you are in, when she stops meowing, she can come play. If she meows again, back out she goes. More than anything else, this will take time and patience. Good luck!
No Romeo
Fornarina
Cross Jeanswear Co.
I had a cat (HAD to give him away, my bf is allergic) for 2 years, and he was a meower when he was a kitten and a meower as an adult, the vets never found anything wrong with him, he always had food and water... even in his new home where he gets a lot more attention (they have a 3 year old) he apparently still meows alot, and he's even an indoor outdoor cat now...
1I think some cats just meow a lot.
and my neighbours never complained, i dont think he meowed when we werent home.
Mine usually meow when they want something, very
2handy. I always know something is up when they
"talk" to me.
One of my cats is quite the meower but it's normally because she wants me to turn the water in the tub on, she looooves water.
3My cat has always been a "talker". He does meow a lot in the morning. It's just because he wants attention and if you don't pay him any attention then he lets you know about it. He doesn't really meow alot any other time except for maybe when I come home.
4i had a cat that did that as well.. but with time she stopped ... and i must say.. that kitten is too freakin cute!
5Yep, one of my cats "talks" more than the other, and he meows most in the morning. We've decided he's just a "morning cat"! He likes when my husband plays with him and chases him around and pets him in the morning, then he quiets down and goes back to sleeping or looking out the window.
6Awww cute kitten
7Mine only meows to be let out or for food but he is so LOUD and annoying. He won't shut up until he gets what he wants.
8One of my cats meows constantly at night, in fact, I was about to ask Petsugar what to do. i have had him for 5 years since he was a kitten. His food is fine, water, litter box etc. but he meows very very loudly at night! My husband and I have tried the ignoring part and he just meows louder and louder! Any suggestions? We will probably take him to the vet.
9My cats are big talkers, so they meow all the time (when they need to; I can usually tell what they want by the look in their eyes). But my male cat, when he wants attention he'll HOWL. Then I'll say something and he comes running (he howls in the walk-through closet for the best acoustics, lol) with the cutest look on his face, making cute little cooing sounds!! It's totally worth the make-my-ears-bleed whining.
10My cat does this too, but he has a little voice, so it's not bad. I think it's cute - he does it because he's happy and wants to be picked up
11my one cat has always been a talker...he tells me all about his day and i tell him about mine. my other kitty has started talking a lot more, too (i think because he sees the other cat - he's a copy cat).
12hey hottpink, have you tried playing with him in the evening. my kitties are usually tearing around right about the time we go to bed, but if we've been playing with them earlier in the evening, they'll settle down and go to sleep about the time we do. we have them chase after feather-tickler or a laser-pointer. wearing him out might quiet him down.
13purrtykitty- We do try and wear him out with the laser pointer before bed. We have 2 other cats as well and they aren't big talkers like he is. It actually doesn't bother me as much as my husband because he is a light sleeper and hears everything! But he does get REALLY LOUD for a tiny cat!!
14My cats will meow at me when they want food. Lately, one of them cries at my bedroom door in the mornings when I am sleeping. They have plenty of food and water, and clean litter. I think he does it simply because he is bored, so I have started to leave more toys out, and the crying has subsided.
15My cat is a talker, but she mostly meows when I'm talking to her. It's like we're having a conversation in two different languages.
16My cats are pretty much the opposite of this -- they very rarely meow or cry.
One of them does a little bit, he makes cute little noises when I come home and cuddle him, but they're not quite "meows".
And my female cat hardly EVER makes a cry...she's just a purring machine instead. Sounds like a motorboat, literally...I've never heard a cat with a purr as loud as hers! I used to think something was wrong with her!
17Mine started meowing after the vet lost our Razz (see his profile, it explains it) ... as if she wants to find him and/or make sure we don't "get rid" of her, too.
18Just got a kitten a week ago, and it made me feel better to read about all these other cats... I'll put it down to just wanting attention! I'm a little worried about the neighbors, he's only 8 weeks and it is LOUD! It seems better since he's become more adjusted to his new home (he was a stray), so I'm hoping that it will subside in intensity after being here a little longer (and of course having more toys to play with!)
19my cat meows a lot when she wants to go out(she is now an indoor cat but was a stray). so i just bring her for a little walk and she would stop meowing.
20I had a half Siamese who was very vocal and his brother was very quiet. When we lost the loud mouth the other became more vocal. I now have a Maine Coon who is very large with a wimpy voice. He was a shelter cat and will "mew" or "trill" when he wants attention, meaning pet me and give me my 2 "Greenies". My husband and I have become used to the cat toys on the floor and I actually make my own catnip bags. Just bought 2 pounds of it to make more bags to give to the shelter for the holidays. Diane, my little half Siamese was a loud mouth and demanding, but a love and lived to be 17. His brother lived to be 23. Yes, Diane was a male. LOL.
21My cat only meows when she needs food or she's in heat. She'll talk randomly sometimes, but if we're conversing it's usually purrs.
22your cat might have a urinary tract infection...
23or it could be lonely
or just want attention...
My cat Pharaoh is very talkative, and LOUD. He only ever meows though when he wants to show someone something, like a recent kill or when he finds a hairtie, or, when he HAS to go out at 3 in the morning.
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