Why does my cat meow so much? 7 Causes and Solutions

Sometimes it seems as though they can talk to you when your cat happily follows you around the house, meowing. However, cats that meow constantly can also cause a great deal of annoyance. Although some cats meow more than others, they do so for a number of reasons. Whatever the reason, one thing is certain: they are trying to make something clear to you. Cats only meow at people, after all. So what is your cat actually trying to tell you? In this blog, we explain the 7 most common causes and how you can solve them.

Why does a cat meow?

Cats only meow at people. Cats do not meow at one another because they use other forms of communication for this. Cats communicate with each other through body language, facial expressions, scent, and touch, for example. So when a cat meows, it is trying to make something clear to you as its owner. The first step in getting a cat to stop meowing is therefore to find out why the cat is meowing in the first place. A cat that meows for attention needs something different from a cat that meows because it is in pain. Below, we list the 7 most common reasons why cats meow (constantly) and how best to address them:

1. Meowing due to a medical cause or illness

The first, and certainly not least important, possible cause is an underlying medical problem. Especially when a cat suddenly starts meowing much more than usual, there is a good chance that something is wrong, that it is in pain, or that it is ill and is trying to make this clear in this way. It is a good idea to visit the vet so that a medical cause can be ruled out or treated.

2. Meowing due to learned behavior

If the vet has ruled out a medical cause, your cat may be meowing as a result of learned behavior. This means that the cat has discovered that meowing has a positive effect. Do you open the door when your cat stands outside it meowing? Do you give it a treat when it meows while you are busy in the kitchen? Or do you give it an extra stroke when it stands in front of you and greets you affectionately but vocally? Then it has achieved its goal: it gets your attention. Even simply looking at the cat when it meows reinforces its behavior and is enough to encourage it to continue. Note: becoming angry or speaking to the cat also counts as (negative) attention, so its mission has succeeded. Punishment is therefore pointless; it is best to simply ignore the cat. When it is quiet, you can reward it.

3. Meowing due to loneliness and boredom

If a cat is often home alone, it may feel lonely. Although cats are solitary animals, most cats do enjoy company from time to time. So a cat may greet you enthusiastically by meowing when you come home.

One solution is to give the cat more attention. You can do this by playing with it or buying special cat toys, for example. A useful tip if you spend a lot of time away from home is to buy toys that move. This allows the cat to keep itself occupied and entertained.