Why is My Cat Meowing Non-Stop?
Is your cat’s non-stop meowing making your crazy? Even after years of working closely with animals, I still like to speak with my veterinarian or other animal experts when questions concerning my pets arise. So when Olivia started meowing excessively for no apparent reason, I knew it was time to consult with The Catvocate, Dr. Liz Bales.
When Olivia meows, it sounds like she’s in a bit of distress, but when I approach her, she acts normal and friendly. After chatting with Dr. Bales and doing some research, I discovered that there are many, many things that can cause a cat to meow non-stop! In fact, she told me that there isn’t one single answer to this question. But, excessive meowing can have a whole list of reasons and she’s been kind of enough to share some of them with us here.
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What Does Your Cat’s Meow Mean?
- Your cat might just be trying to say “hello.”After you’ve been away, it’s not unusual for your kitty to run and greet you at the front door and give you a sweet meow. She may also be inclined to greet new ones.
- Your cat might have anxiety. Excessive vocalization is one symptom of cat anxiety. If your cat has anxiety, it’s important to get her the right treatment. See this resource page for more help on dealing with pet anxiety.
- Your cat might want a little extra attention. If your cat comes up to you, rubs against your leg, and meows or purrs, you can bet that she is just seeking some attention. Cats crave interactions from their family, so it’s important that we show them how much we care for them by giving them that attention.
- Your cat may want to breed. If your cat hasn’t been spayed or neutered, you can expect some pretty unusual behavior from them. This is especially true as they transition from a kitten to a cat. Unspayed female cats make a very specific yeowling meow when they are in heat. Spaying them will end this behavior. Talk to your veterinarian about spaying or neutering your cat. There are many health benefits associated with “fixing” your feline, not to mention that your kitty won’t be contributing to pet overpopulation!
- Your cat might be bored or lonely. She might just be looking for something to fill her time. Especially if your cat is the only feline in the home (like Olivia is right now), she may become restless looking for a way to be entertained. Just because cats are rather independent creatures, doesn’t mean they don’t need mental and physical stimulation in their environment. Feline enrichment is a hot topic these days because so many house cats are overweight or obese (about 50%!) because they don’t get enough exercise or opportunities to use their natural instincts. Keep reading below for some advice and product solutions on enriching your cat’s environment.
- Your cat may need something. Try to read the situation. If your cat is looking longingly out the window, she may see something that caught her eye, like a bird or a bug. This is a good signal that she needs some mental stimulation and play time. Or, if she’s meowing and staring you down as you eat a tuna fish sandwich or rubbing against your leg every time you walk close to her empty food bowl, you know she’s hungry.
- Your cat could have a health concern. She could be meowing because something is truly wrong. As our cats age, they often develop health issues, so she may have pain or she could be confused. Dr. Liz Bales says hyperthyroidism can also be a culprit. She says, “Cats who become hyperthyroid meow a lot, particularly overnight. Hyperthyroidism is a disease most commonly seen in cats over 8 years old.” If you can’t figure out why your cat is meowing, your cat seems ill, or her meowing is excessive, it’s important to have a talk with your vet to rule out any underlying conditions.
According to Catster, there are six different kinds of meowing sounds, and each one signals something different. If you’re curious about which meow your cat is using, simply search for cat meowing videos to compare them to your cat’s meows. But always talk to your veterinarian if you have ANY inkling your kitty may be in pain, distress or sick.
Do’s and Don’ts of Dealing with a Cat that Meows Non-Stop
- Don’t ignore your cats meowing without establishing the reason. Remember, there’s something causing her to be vocal. Even if you think your cat might just be meowing only because of boredom or to gain attention, make your best attempt to establish the reason.
- Do find a source of entertainment for your cat. Your cat needs to play and keep busy. Adopting another cat to keep your current kitty company is an option for some. However, if that’s not an option, or you already have multiple cats, try out some new kitty products to keep her entertained. My kitty Olivia loves keeping busy with this Cat Activity Play Mat
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- Don’t punish your cat for meowing. Punishing your cat for meowing isn’t kind or effective. Dr. Liz Bales advises to never hit your cat, yell at your cat, or spray her with water. These techniques don’t work and will make your cat scared of you. Getting to the root of the problem is always the best course of action.
- Do talk to your vet. If you can’t figure out what your cat needs or wants, it’s time to have a conversation with your vet. Your kitty may have a health concern that needs to be addressed. Don’t put this off — cats are great at hiding illness, so if you so much as have a hint of suspicion there’s a health issue, see the vet.
- Don’t reward bad behavior. If it’s excessive attention that your cat is seeking, don’t give in to her every want. Dr. Bales says, “If you know your cat is healthy and safe, their needs are met, and your cat is meowing for something you don’t want to give – like endless treats. Don’t give in. If you give in, you have told your cat that endless meowing works and they will just keep doing it.” Rather, focus on good behavior. Reward her with attention when she’s been calm and quiet. Your kitty will catch on to what you respond to.
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- Do make sure your kitty has a smart set up for feeding time. If you want to provide a mentally and physically stimulating meal time (healthiest for your cat), you can use Doc & Phoebe’s Indoor Hunting Cat Feeder. Make your cat work for her food! For her, it won’t be work, it will be more like play because her natural instincts to hunt, pounce and play will engage! You also need to ensure your kitty has enough water and feels encouraged to drink.
Dehydration can cause health issues in kitties, which may also cause excessive meowing. This Catit Flower Fountain
Be a Proactive Pet Parent
Above all, we want our pets to be healthy and happy. Taking the time to address concerns with our pets will lengthen and add joy to their lives. Certainly, that’s something we all want for our beloved animals!
My kitten has just gotten adopted and her sister is getting a weird thing that happening to her she is more playful like she is trying to forget about her sister leaving she is being mean well she is playing with my pants and my shirt She seems to be purring but she seems more comfortable so I don’t get that she is also meowing a lot more then she was before her sister left do you think it’s health thing or just bc her sis left
Hi Isabel,
It sounds like she’s replaced her sister with you, LOL. She’s probably just adjusting to her sister “leaving the nest” so-to-speak. What she’s doing with your pants and shirt, being mean and meowing is probably just her way of playing. She doesn’t yet know how to play with a human:) If the behavior persists for several weeks, you should talk to your veterinarian about it. But I think she’s just transitioning. Good luck! Meow for now. LOL.
We adopted a kitten and she won’t stop meowing. She’s ok when one of us is with her talking or playing with her, but when we have to leave or it’s bedtime, she gets really talkative and almost distressed. She’ll claw her way under a door to get a room she wants into. She’ll sleep just fine so long as we’re in the room, but it’ll take her a long while to be able to calm down and sleep if we leave. I feel bad when she cries, but I don’t know what to do when I have to go to work or bed 😢
Oh my! That’s definitely frustrating!
It’s actually normal for cats to become for active (playing, meowing, etc.) because they are nocturnal. Just before you go to bed, try hiding small amounts of food or treats around your home (away from the bedroom where you’re trying to sleep). This will allow her to “hunt” while you sleep.
You can hide food in little cups or in a special hunting feeder like this one
You might also find this video that I did recently with feline expert, Dr. Liz Bales: https://www.facebook.com/KristenLevinePetLiving/videos/305061904005876/
I hope this is helpful!
Kristen
We have been fostering a female cat around 3 to 4 years old for the past 5 months. As we’ve been working from home since April, she’s been driving us crazy ever since with her endless meowing. All her needs are met (clean litter, fresh water, healthy food and snacks, playtime of about 1h per day and walks with the leash outside the condo, lots of attention and also the vet said she’s healthy too). Only when she sleeps we can catch our breath. We’ve also got a camera to monitor her when we’re outdoors and she doesn’t meow when we’re out. She’s also spayed and a single household cat( tried fostering another cat but it didn’t work out). Please help!
Hi Anaid!
Gosh, that’s really frustrating, I’m sure. Have you taken her to the vet to see if there’s a medical problem? You mention that the vet said she’s healthy, but that might have been related to a general check up. If you haven’t discussed this behavior with a vet, I’d suggest doing that.
Also, she sounds like she wants more attention. Have you tried getting her some or puzzle feeders? I recommend some in this blog post above.
Keep me posted! And thanks for being a foster angel:)
Kristen
The more I am home the more annoyed I am that my cat meows excessively. I didnt know until now to not punish him as I have been by squirting water the last two days which doesnt do anything more that risk to damage our relationship. I promised myself I will stop squirting him and I hope I havent damaged our relationship after three days of squirting. He seems to still love me. I dont know what to do. The reasons for the excessive meow seem to be from wanting more attention to loneliness and sometime bordem .I will have his thyroid and health checked. I will leave t he house if I have to in order to maintain my sanity and try ignoring him until he stops. HELP? Please advise and thank you very much Laird
Laird,
Oh my! This issue can definitely be frustrating especially when we don’t know why it is happening! My first suggestion is to take him to the vet and express your concerns. There may be a medical reason behind the meowing.
If your vet says that he is healthy, you could be right, he may just want attention or feel bored. To help with this, you could set aside playtime for him each day. That will give him the attention he desires and keep him occupied. Additionally, you could try leaving treats or food around the house so that he can “hunt” throughout the day. I like using these feeders for my cat.
You also might find this interview I did with Dr. Liz Bales helpful. She is a cat behavior expert and has some great suggestions for keeping our kitties happy and healthy! https://www.facebook.com/KristenLevinePetLiving/videos/305061904005876/
I am sorry this issue is so challenging! I hope this helps. Please keep me posted!
Kristen
Our male kitten meows non stop. And I mean non stop. Barely a breath between meowing. He plays with our other cat, he’s well fed and watered and I’ve brought up my concerns to the vet twice and they insist he’s healthy and so he must ‘just be a vocal cat’. But this seems far more than just being vocal; it’s driving me insane as I’m working from home and unless he is asleep, he is meowing!!! It’s like being around a human who doesn’t stop talking unless they’re asleep; thag isn’t being a vocal person it would be seen as bordering on mental illness! I can’t get a single moments rest. I feel like a new mother. I love him so much and he can be very sweet but I don’t know how much more I can take. I have things to do and I can’t give him my undevided attention 24/7. Even when I try to ignore him he will not stop. Our other cat is nothing like this and is very normal. Please please help!
Hi Lydia,
I know you said he plays with your other cat, but have you tried leaving toys around for him to play with? You might also have to just lock him out of your office space (earbuds possibly?) until he wears himself out.
Hi Lydia,
That is definitely frustrating, especially when you are trying to work and do other things! If you vet says that he is healthy, the excessive meowing is likely him wanting attention or boredom.
You could try hiding small amounts of food or treats around your home. That way he can “hunt” and stay occupied while you are working. I use this feeder for my cat and it keeps her occupied!
I also recommend trying a pheromone diffuser. Cats release pheromones into the air as a way of communicating with one another. This diffuser mimics “happy” pheromone messages to keep your cat feeling calm. https://amzn.to/2ZWt4P5
Regular playtime is also important. Try leaving toys out for him or setting aside time each day to play with him. This can help your kitty to feel a little more tired and less bored!
I hope this helps! I know this issue is challenging and frustrating! Keep me posted.
Kristen
My cat has been constantly meowing for weeks. There will be times when she is fine, then there are times when she just wont stop no matter what. She started to scratch more than usual but she doesn’t have fleas or any skin problems, she then has been licking her feet a lot move too. I try to play with her but she is not interested just a constant meowing, she has plenty of food and water out and always a fresh clean litter box every day. I don’t know what is wrong and its really starting to worry me. I normally know what is wrong with her but this time I have no idea.
Hi Erica,
It sounds to me like she could have developed some kind of allergy. When our cats are trying to tell us something, the only way they know how is by meowing to get our attention! It could be that she is itchy on her skin, and is trying to tell you. My best advice would be to take her to the vet and get her checked out. This could be something newly developed that is irritating her skin, which is why she just recently began itching more.
Keep me posted!
Kristen
Hi,
So I recently got a kitten from a family friend and he seems to meow a lot. He has clean water, I feed him, he has a clean litter box but continues to meow. I’m getting concerned and really need some advice. I’m new to being a cat mom so any tips help 🥺🥺
Hi Annsly,
Some kittens are more vocal than others. Also note that cats like to be in control of their environment. Since your kitty recently changed homes, he may just be adjusting to his new normal! If you are concerned with this behavior, it is best to contact your vet to see what could be the cause. Additionally, try Feliway diffusers https://amzn.to/34nlFLd Feliway releases natural “happy messages” into the air to comfort our cats. I have had a lot of success with it in the past!
Kristen
Hi, I have a male neutered cat almost 6 months old who only stops yowling when he is asleep. I’ve taken him to the vets for a check-up and she told me she ‘thinks’ he is fine (though she didn’t check thoroughly cos he was hissing at her apparently, not a good vet if you ask me but that’s how it went), so I’m at a loss as to what my cat wants. He has everything he needs (food out all the time, fresh water, clean litter, toys everywhere, cat tree, scratching posts etc, we tried to introduce him to a new kitten in case he was lonely but he hated the kitten so had to rehome it), he just walks around the house yowling like he is distressed and nothing seems to stop him until he falls asleep. I really don’t know what to do, I can’t live with his yowling for hours every single day, it’s driving me mad and I’m starting to lose my temper which I don’t want to happen 🙁 what do you think could be behind his yowling? Should I take him back to the vet and risk wasting yet more money on a check-up that might not even be thorough? I’m at my wits end here 🙁
Hi Emily,
I’m sorry to hear you’re cat is so vocal!
Have you tried buying him some of the activity toys or food puzzles mentioned in the blog post above? I ask because those activities would work his brain and body and would hopefully tire him out.
I would also consider going to another veterinarian, but one who specializes in cats only. Sometimes those vets have more experience with feline behavior problems.
Keep me posted! I think there’s hope!
Kristen
I have the same exact concern with my Trixie, Please keep us posted Emily. Thank you
The tattered work glasses speak of the many hours of hard labour he endured during his entire life span.
Hi There! I only have one cat, and he’s fantastic, the vets love to see him, etc. However, since I’ve been dating my girlfriend (6 months), he’s started incessantly crying very early in the morning without fail when she stays over. He usually sleeps next to my head on the bed, but he doesn’t when she’s here, and so he wakes up early and cries and cries. The vet says he’s healthy and all — I’ve even tried non-opioid sedatives as prescribed by the vet. I love him, but I gotta figure this out, any suggestions would be so appreciated. Thank you!
Hi Mike,
This sounds like he could be meowing due to a change in his routine. Since he usually sleeps with you, and now sometimes he can’t, he is likely feeling a little stressed by the disruption to his routine. He could just need some time to adjust to the new change. He is likely meowing at you in the mornings to get your attention. I would recommend putting Feliway diffusers https://amzn.to/3l9bbEI in the bedroom as they release natural, calming pheromones to your cat. This can get him to feel more calm in that room. Another option might be CBD oil when she comes over. I love this from The Anxious Pet! https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1578555&u=1749246&m=96210&urllink=&afftrack=
I hope this helps!
Kristen
Thank you so very much, Kristen! I will give this/these a shot, and get back to let you know how it works! Take care!
I have a six month old female who is driving me NUTS with her constant meowing. She always has food and water the vet says shes okay and i give her plenty of attention. I have tried extra play time and we even have another cat and theres almost always some one here with her but she still just meows all day long. Is there anything else i can do??