Noisy cats are a bother, but they have something to say: Here's why cats meow

Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY
·4 min read

Wondering about the cat’s meow? No, we’re not talking about the 2001 Kirsten Dunst flick. The English language is riddled with these phrases – "the cat’s pajamas" and "the cat’s meow" are both used to describe something appealing.

But cat owners know that a real cat’s meow can sometimes be anything but. Excessive yowling and crying can be a headache for owners or cause anxiety about their cat's health.

So how do you tell if your cat's meow is common or concerning? Here's what your furry friend is trying to tell you:

Why do cats meow?

Cats meow to communicate their wants and needs. Most often, this is to greet people, get attention, ask for food or ask to be let in or outside, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says.

Cats vocalize primarily to communicate with their owners – not other cats. It’s a survival tactic to get attention and their needs met. Feral cats are largely silent other than mother-kitten interactions and agitation. House cats can even distinguish between individual human voices, according to a review published in the Journal of Veterinary Science.

Domesticated cats use different vocalizations to communicate different needs, according to the Humane Society:

  • Meowing: General greeting, command, objection or announcement

  • Chirps and trills: Typically used to request a follow – mothers wanting their kittens to tread behind them or to lead owners to a food bowl

  • Purring: Sign of happiness and contentment, though sometimes cats can purr to comfort themselves when they’re anxious or sick

  • Growling, hissing or spitting: Signals a cat who is defensive, annoyed, frightened, angry or feeling aggressive

  • Yowl: These long drawn-out meows are usually distress signals to owners, but can also be part of mating behavior for unspayed cats

  • Chattering or twittering: Shows excitement, usually when watching birds or squirrels

You can tell how your cat is feeling by paying attention to their sounds and body language. Cats use exaggerated movements to show emotions, rather than painting them on their faces. Content kitties will lay on their side with their stomach exposed and tail loosely positioned around their body, feline behavior and training consultant Marci Koski previously told USA TODAY. They may do what’s called a “solicitation purr,” or a sound that triggers their humans to give them food or love.

If you see a tightly wrapped tail or bared teeth, be careful. This signals that your cat is stressed out or feeling threatened, Koski says.

Why is my cat crying?

Cats may cry out – called a “yowl” – to show you they’re scared or distressed.

But cats don’t cry in the same way that humans do; if your cat is tearing up, it’s not an emotional response. Watery eyes in cats are called “epiphora,” according to PetMd. This means the cats eyes aren’t draining sufficiently or are producing excessive tears. It’s very common and has a variety of causes:

  • Nasolacrimal duct blockage

  • Breed conformations, like flat faces

  • Eye infection

  • Allergies

  • Eye injury

  • Corneal ulcers

  • Abnormal eyelash growth

  • Eyelid abnormality – rolling in or rolling out

  • Glaucoma

  • Tumors

If you notice your cat has watery eyes, take them to the vet to make sure it’s not an underlying condition.

How to get your cat to stop meowing

Some breeds, like Siamese cats, meow and yowl more than others. Elderly cats often meow if they become disoriented, the ASPCA says, or if they have a form of cognitive dysfunction.

But excessive meowing can be bothersome to owners and some behaviors may hint at an underlying condition. Here are common causes and what to do about it:

  • Meowing for attention: It’s important to listen to your cat’s meows to tell if something is wrong, but if you notice it’s a cry for attention, give your cat a moment of silence before you entertain them

  • Meowing out of loneliness: Organize a pet sitter to visit and play with your cat during the day

  • Meowing for food: Feed your cat only at set times rather than when they cry, or try an automatic feeder

  • Meowing to get inside: Consider keeping your cat exclusively indoors or install a cat door so they can leave as they please

  • Meowing in heat: You may want to consider spaying your cat – unspayed females in heat may meow excessively through breeding season (February to September) and sometimes all year round

Never scold or hit your cat for meowing too much, the ASPCA says. This can make your cat afraid of you and won’t help stop the excessive meowing behavior.

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Contributing: Olivia Munson

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why do cats meow? How to tell what they want from you.

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