Why it happens
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Talking to you
Kittens meow to their mother, while adult cats talk to each other through scent and body language. They keep meowing at people because they quickly learn that it works.
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Mealtimes
Cats have a fine sense of time and start reminding you about food well in advance. If the bowl is filled after every meow, the meowing grows ever more insistent.
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Not enough attention or activity
A bored cat, or one left alone for long, meows to ask you to play or just to be together. It also meows at closed doors because it wants to know what is going on in the next room.
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Breed and personality
Siamese, Oriental and some other breeds are very talkative and answer every word you say. That is who they are, not a problem.
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Heat
An unspayed female in heat calls loudly and at length, rolls about and rubs against things. How to recognise heat is covered on a page of its own.
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Changes with age
An older cat may start meowing loudly, especially at night, when it hears or sees less well, feels confused or is hungry because of an illness. It is not a whim but a sign to have its health checked.
What helps
- Answer the quiet Give attention, food or play when the cat falls silent for a moment, not at the height of the meowing. It learns that quiet works better.
- A steady daily routine Feed at the same times every day, however much the cat asks. When food arrives by the clock rather than by the meow, the demands die down.
- Games and activity Play every day with a wand toy or a ball, and give part of the food in a puzzle feeder. A busy cat looks less for ways to summon you.
- Do not scold Scolding, shouting or spraying water does not quieten a cat: it either takes fright or gets yet more attention. Calmly ignore the demanding meow, not the cat, and meet its needs at another time.
- Calmer nights for an older cat Leave an older cat a night light, a warm bed, food and water within easy reach. If it sees or hears less well, speak to it before you touch it.
Related product categories
The links lead to product categories, not to a particular product or brand. They are not a recommendation.
When it is a question for a vet
See a vet if the cat has suddenly started meowing much more or in a different voice, if an older cat yowls at night or seems confused, if it also eats or drinks more but loses weight, bumps into things or no longer reacts to sounds. If the cat cries while squatting in the litter box and passes little or no urine, go to the vet straight away.