When a long-awaited mewing creature appears in the house, in addition to joy, many worries emerge. One of which is why does the kitten constantly meow? Most owners become concerned when the timbre of the voice changes or if the pet begins to meow at night. Zoologists say that a change in timbre may indicate that the animal is hungry or is bothered by something, or wants to go to the toilet. In our article we will talk about what to do if a cat constantly meows, and how the owner should react to this.
What a kitten's meowing could mean: 6 reasons
All domestic cats in the world speak the same language. In some situations, the cat's voice brings tenderness, in others it irritates. A kitten doesn't just meow. He gives his voice when he wants to communicate, ask or demand something.
Among the reasons that make a cat meow are the following:
- Adaptation to new living conditions. A kitten adapts to coexistence with a person when its mother teaches it. Personality is fully formed when the cub spends up to 100 days of age interacting with its mother and littermates. Even in this case, it takes 2-3 days to get used to the new conditions. When a baby appears in the house, during the daytime he feels increased attention to himself and explores new places. But when night comes and everyone falls asleep, the kitten experiences stress and remembers its mother. He tries to find her and calls her all the time.
- The cat is a solitary night hunter. The biological clock is set for daytime sleep and nighttime activity. If the owners do nothing to coordinate the cat’s life rhythm with theirs, sleepless nights await them.
- The animal slept in the evening, he is bored and wants to play.
- Hunger.
- The animal felt that family members treated him differently. Some household members allow him something, others prohibit him. If there is a row in the family, the pet tries to take advantage of the situation and take a higher place in the hierarchy of the pride.
- The kitten is sick and asks for help.
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The owner of a kitten needs to learn to understand the language his pet speaks. Act strictly but fairly in order to gain the authority of the dominant individual in the human-cat family.
Is it possible to smooth out the adaptation period?
In the first days of being in a new place, the baby will instinctively look for mother and milk. He will wander around the apartment a lot, meow pitifully, purr, attracting attention to himself. It is important not to panic or yell at the kitten for this behavior. Often holding the baby in your arms during this period is also not worth it. Everything will be fine, and you will still have time to enjoy the grateful purring of your pet. But for now he needs to get used to it.
Call the baby by name, do not immediately accustom him to “kitty-kitty.” The cat's intelligence will quickly realize that the nickname belongs to him, and it is advisable to respond to it and run.
After taking the kitten, take from the old owner some rag or piece of blanket on which the baby was lying with his mother. At home, place these things in the bed of your small mustachioed pet. Some owners note that a warm heating pad wrapped in a fluffy cloth reminds the kitten of its mother and literally saves it from missing her.
The owner must be patient and play with his pet more often - this is not just a whim, this is practical advice from experts. The more a kitten plays in the first days of its housewarming, the less time it has for pranks. In addition, the baby releases his energy in the right direction. The game develops the kitten's hunting skills, dexterity, flexibility, and reaction speed. Aren't these qualities useful for the future life?
To prevent your baby from turning into an arrogant beggar, do not immediately accustom him to delicacies from the table. The kitten must learn that he only eats in a bowl, and the owners have their own meal, from which they do not need to beg for anything.
It would be great if the same litter was added to the cat litter as the old owner had. It will be much easier for the kitten to understand where to relieve themselves. If for some reason the baby went to the toilet past the tray, this is not at all a reason for scolding. The kitten will still learn everything. The place where there was feces must be wiped with vinegar - the smell will disappear, and the kitten will most likely relieve its next need where the owners ordered.
The natural fear that a mustachioed baby experiences in a new place can be eliminated by the attentive attitude of the owner. And as soon as the kitten adapts, the house will receive a large portion of “happiness”.
Why does the kitten meow for no reason?
Cats don't vote for no reason. They are hunters after all. In order not to scare away the prey or attract a larger predator, you need to keep quiet. When an animal walks on its own, this is exactly how it behaves.
But when there are people, cats, and other creatures around, the pet needs communication, and, above all, self-affirmation. That is, in order to take the place you deserve and, if possible, higher, you need to vote from time to time.
Kittens do not have developed sexual behavior, so the owner has time to raise the pet. Otherwise, living together can turn into a nightmare.
Demanding attention and affection
Although cats show individuality, sometimes they behave like royalty who do not care about others, they still need communication. In the house where he was born (except for exceptional cases when the baby is left without a mother immediately after birth), the kitten always has playmates. These are brothers and sisters and a mother cat who explains the rules of behavior to the baby and instills the necessary skills. Finding itself alone in new conditions, the kitten will seek the company of a person, ask to play with him or pet him.
Outdoor games with a kitten will not only ensure its normal physical and mental development. Having played enough and been properly tired, the kitten will stop wandering around at night and bothering its owners with screams.
What to do if the kitten does not sleep at night, walks and meows
When the adaptation period has passed, the time has come to gently force the kitten to its biorhythm. If the pet is bored, then in the absence of the owner he will sleep and gain strength for nightly adventures. If there is no one at home, you need to ensure that the kitten does not overeat at this time, does not sleep, but has fun.
For this purpose, there are toys that should be changed every 3-5 days: scratching posts, multi-level cat furniture, houses in which you can hide. Cats love enclosed spaces. Therefore, a tunnel made of rustling material may become a favorite place for games.
The kitten will be provided with a place to rest. It’s good if it is away from the radiators and closer to the window, so that the pet does not sleep, but finds out what is happening behind the window glass.
You should delineate the area accessible to your pet and keep it out of the nursery and bedroom. If penetration has occurred, a lot of effort will have to be made to wean the animal from visiting prohibited places.
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Finally, the pet just needs to be tired. Organize active games, it is important for the kitten to play enough. For the first time, a candy wrapper on a string will do. Then they offer him fishing rods, teasers, and squeaky mice. You can open a plastic bag for the animal, he will happily jump into it. It is necessary not only to provide your pet with toys, but also to take part in the game with him.
After playing, the tired pet is fed well. The food puts you to sleep, and the animal will not bother anyone at night.
Dangers here and there
Kittens are the same children. Their tiny mass is not yet a guarantee that these pranksters will not drop, break or tip anything over themselves. In addition, do not forget: babies have sharp claws that are eager to deal with furniture and curtains. The owner must first take care of the safety of the kitten’s premises by taking a number of important measures:
- Remove all flower pots from the windowsill . Even if the baby doesn’t knock them over, he will definitely mess around in the soil or chew up some of the plants, which, by the way, can be poisonous (cactus, violet, geranium flowers).
- Raise curtains if they hang too low . Curtains are the favorite “victim” of cats of all ages.
- Close the windows. The kitten can end up on the windowsill in no time and jump out the window if it seems more interesting outside.
- Remove all trash away from the kitten . Everything that smells delicious of fish and meat should be eaten - this is what all cats think. The baby can be poisoned or choke on any of the waste components. No less dangerous are the eggs of worms, which very often end up in the trash thanks to flies.
- The baby's teeth are already strong and sharp enough to bite through the wire . This is fraught with tragedy. All wires must be removed from the cat's eyes.
How to quickly calm a meowing kitten?
The following techniques will help you stop meowing:
- take the pet in your arms and gently stroke it;
- switch attention: while meowing, make a distracting sound - throw a bunch of keys next to the kitten, clap your hands;
- snap your fingers near your ear;
- if the meowing is associated with extortion of a treat or a request to be let into the bedroom, you should not respond to provocation.
You cannot scold a kitten, much less beat it. The cat will no longer perceive the offender as the dominant individual in the pride and will transfer him to the category of enemies from whom he needs to hide.
Should the baby be examined to see if he is bothered by fleas? If this is the case, the pet is treated with insectoacaricidal shampoos or I use a drug that is suitable for the kitten’s age.
Methods of helping a kitten
The kitten should be taken away from its mother no earlier than 1.5-2 months. By this age, animals are already sufficiently socialized and trained in all the necessary skills. At first, the baby will still look for his mother, so the owner needs to pay more attention to the pet and talk to him more often. The animal should be provided with toys that will distract its attention and help pass the time while it is left alone. Returning home, you can hear the kitten's pitiful cries. This can mean both a joyful greeting and complaints of loneliness and hunger. In any case, you need to immediately pick up the kitten, pet it, and then feed it. Over time, a caring owner will learn to understand what exactly the pet is “telling” him.
Anxiety in your kitten that requires you to contact your veterinarian
It is necessary to contact a veterinarian in the following situations:
- All educational methods of weaning off screaming did not help.
- Additional symptoms of the disease have been discovered.
If you notice at least one of the following signs of a meowing pet, you must show it to a veterinarian:
- refusal of food;
- thirst;
- problems going to the toilet;
- the kitten tries to hide;
- diarrhea;
- constipation;
- aggression;
- increased licking;
- increased tearfulness;
- redness of the eyes;
- dyspnea;
- change in gum color.
Reasons requiring special attention
Not all reasons why a kitten meows are related to its experiences and difficulties in its new home; sometimes plaintive sounds are associated with quite serious problems.
Therefore, pay attention to a number of reasons that will signal you that you need to show a constantly meowing kitten to a veterinarian:
- Fluctuations in body temperature and dry nose.
- Diarrhea and frequent urination.
- Blood in urine and stool.
- Refusal to eat partially or completely.
- Excessive appetite.
- Vomit.
- Change in color of mucous membranes.
- Discharge from eyes and ears.
- Hard and swollen belly.
- Loss of coordination.
- Pain syndrome, withdrawal from tactile interactions.
- Constant scratching, hair loss, head shaking.
In general, if the kitten is well-fed, warm, caressed, but still continues to make plaintive sounds, show it to the doctor; perhaps this anxiety is associated with a developing disease of the internal organs or the central nervous system.
What causes a cat to cry?
There are several main reasons why an animal's eyes begin to water. And this does not always indicate the presence of some kind of disease. For example, after sleep, most cats accumulate fluid in the corners of their eyes. You can remove it using cotton swabs dipped in eye drops. However, in most cases, a crying cat indicates the need to think about his health. Many owners go for consultations with a veterinarian to make sure that their pets are not in danger.
The reasons that a cat cries can be different, namely:
A crying cat can't help but cause concern among its owners. This is especially true for purebred animals. For example, Scottish Fold cats cry because their tear ducts are often blocked or narrowed. It is important to contact a veterinarian in time. After all, if the disease is detected in the early stages of development, it can be treated with medications and massage. But if it starts, surgery may be required.
A long-haired purebred cat cries mainly because fur gets into its eyes, causing irritation. To avoid this problem, you should comb your animal daily and wash its eyes. British and Persian cats may cry due to the characteristics of their body.
Kitten's first day at home
Reminder for the first days of a kitten in the house
- Fact:
First day with a kitten: useful secrets - Fact 2:
When the baby is separated from the warm fluffy mother and her milk, the owner has to literally become a second “mother” for the mustachioed baby - Fact 3:
Kittens that are brought home for the first time lose their appetite due to stress. - Fact 4:
Call the baby by name, do not immediately accustom him to “kitty-kitty.”
Cat babies are simply adorable, you really want to take them home as soon as possible. Often, new owners paint the upcoming events with rosy colors: on the first day with a kitten, you don’t want to think about any difficulties and costs. But you need to think - and best of all, even in advance. Now that the baby is weaned from his warm fluffy mother and her milk, the owner will have to literally become a second “mother” for the mustachioed baby. Just imagine how frightened and puzzled a cat’s child is: everything around is new, alien, and it is unknown whether the inhabitants of this home promise danger. Of course, the new member of the household will not sit still for long and will go to explore the expanses of his current home. How should the owner behave and what should he pay attention to?
