Most cat owners are faced with the problem of a kitten constantly squeaking when it first comes into the house. The baby can meow almost non-stop, day after day. Not understanding the reason for this behavior, the owner may become nervous and irritated.
It is very important to understand what can provoke a kitten to meow and find ways to solve the situation.
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.
Be sure to read:
When kittens open their eyes depending on the breed: features, why it doesn’t happen on time
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.
Diseases, pain
If all the previous causes of meowing are not your case, and it does not stop after feeding, showing care and attention, then, most likely, something hurts your pet. Examine it carefully. Perhaps there is an injury to the paw pad, or the kitten is worried about external parasites? Inspect the ears for the presence of ear mites.
Gently feel your tummy. Maybe it is swollen, and the meowing intensifies upon palpation? In such cases, it is worth taking the kitten to a veterinary clinic. The doctor will be able to make an accurate diagnosis after an examination or (if necessary) after an ultrasound. If a disease is detected, the owner must follow the doctor’s instructions clearly and regularly.
So, a baby cat will not meow without a reason. There is always a reason for this, but it can be difficult to recognize it, identify it accurately and eliminate it alone. So, if a young furry has become a member of your family, then you should always have a good veterinarian who can help.
Source
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.
Spring came
So we figured out why a newborn kitten meows constantly. Adult cats also sometimes “voice” for similar reasons. But there are several more options for answering the question posed.
True, the next point will explain the behavior of only adult individuals. But it’s worth taking it into account. The thing is that in the spring, cats' sexual desire increases. During this period, they begin to meow very loudly. This behavior applies to both females and males.
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.
Be sure to read:
How to teach a kitten to eat on their own, at what age do they start eating on their own?
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.
Let's get out of the box...
As a rule, kittens are brought home in special carriers or boxes. A very thoughtless step would be to immediately allow children (and adults) to drag the baby out of a secluded place into a new “world” and be deafeningly happy to meet him.
The kitten will definitely get out of the box on its own, but it needs a little time for its fears to fall asleep and the cat’s natural curiosity to awaken. First, the baby will show its mustache, then gradually stick its head out and look around. If there are no frightening factors nearby, the kitten will go to explore the room. And of course, the household will also get his attention. It is important not to frighten the kitten with sudden movements and loud sounds, otherwise the baby will hide in a corner and will be very tense in the future. Give the “child” time to get comfortable and get used to the new environment a little.
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.
Longing for mother
If a kitten has just moved to a new home, then there may be many reasons why he is making meows and other sounds. All of them will be discussed below, and the first will be called longing for a cat mom.
Read also: What to do when you run out of money
It is recommended to adopt kittens at 1.5-2.5 months. At this age, they already know how to feed themselves and have learned most of the “cat wisdom.” However, separation from the mother still brings discomfort to the kitten. He can meow pitifully and look for the usual warm barrel.
You can help a small pet by taking him in your arms when he is crying pitifully, warming him with your own warmth, stroking him, caressing him. It is advisable to talk to him in a peaceful and calm voice.
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.
It's not just people who raise animals.
You've probably noticed that cats seriously consider themselves full members of the family. And in this case, what prevents another member of this small society from lecturing?
A cat may well express its dissatisfaction with certain circumstances, expressing it by shouting. He may not like the fact that for some reason a person hides behind the door for several hours. Why is he hiding? Yes, because the animal does not understand that a person goes about his business, because his world is your apartment.
Screams of young cats and cats
Young, sexually mature, uncastrated cats begin their calls closer to spring - in February or March, calling for a partner. If you do not plan to get offspring from your animal, the easiest way to stop nocturnal yelling is to castrate your pet.
By doing this, you will only improve the quality of his life, eliminating possible negative consequences (pyometra in cats, territorial markings of cats), and lengthen his life.
Other causes of loud screaming may include:
The desire to attract attention - this is how cats can beg for a treat, demand to open a closed door, demand to play.
Anxious state - cats sense the approach of a natural disaster or weather change within a few days, and can scream to wake up their owners if there is a fire in the house or with neighbors.
The struggle for dominance in a pride - if there are several cats in the house and more than one stud cat, a young cat can find out with an older one “who is boss” even without a fight, just loud screams.
Not everyone reacts to the behavior of their owners; unfortunately, owners treat their pets adequately. If a cat is beaten or shouted at, then in response the cat may begin to show aggression towards the owner (pressed ears, raised fur on the spine, a heart-rending scream coupled with jumping sideways - indicate that the cat perceives the owner as an enemy, which must be driven away).
What to do?
A distraction strategy can stop the night cries of a young animal that are not associated with a spring hormonal surge: keep the cat awake in the evening, amusing him and yourself with active play with running around and simulating hunting; before going to bed, feed him generously, preferably meat (it takes longer to digest).
If this does not help, you can use plant-based drops (Cat Bayun), the Feliway system, or other sedatives.
When getting a pet, you need to remember that it is easier to teach than to retrain. If you don’t want problems with a cat crying at night, teach your baby order from the first day in the house.
What to do when your cat's eyes are watery
A crying white cat is the fastest way to let its owners know about the disease. With some ailments, tears have a brownish tint, so they can be easily seen on the pet’s fur.
If it is noticed that the cat’s eyes are watering, then urgent measures need to be taken. Let's look at three cat owner behaviors to determine which one is correct.
- Some people believe that this is a natural process, so nothing needs to be done. This is wrong, because cats never cry for no reason.
- Others quickly begin rinsing the animal's eyes to combat the infection. But this illness is not always the cause of tears.
- Still others go for a consultation with a veterinarian. And this is the most correct decision. Self-medication is not recommended.
Possible health problems
The root cause of a cat constantly meowing can be a number of diseases.
- Injuries of varying severity cause a plaintive meow. This could be a bruised paw after an unsuccessful jump, or a serious fracture. The risk group includes older animals whose bones are more fragile.
- With spinal injuries, the meowing turns into hysterical screams, and the animal trembles.
- A quiet meow, accompanied by wheezing, elevated body temperature, and discharge from the nose and eyes, signals the presence of a viral disease.
Injured pet
- Severe poisoning can be determined by loss of interest in food, vomiting, loose stools, and diarrhea. These same signs indicate the presence of worms. Kittens especially suffer from intoxication.
- Severe infectious diseases are characterized by weakness, loss of appetite, and continuous screaming.
- A tick embedded in a sensitive spot on the skin causes the cat to scream, behave extremely restlessly, and constantly scratch the bite site. Ear mites cause you to constantly shake your head and scratch your ears.
- In addition to meowing, an allergic reaction is accompanied by sneezing. The cat shakes its head and scratches its muzzle. His eyes are watering and his nose is running.
- If each bowel movement causes obvious discomfort to the animal. The cat lingers on the tray for an unusually long time, screaming pitifully in the process. Most likely, the pet has problems with the intestines, kidneys, and genitourinary system. This could be cystitis or urolithiasis.
It is not always possible to identify the disease on your own, so if your pet remains restless, you should immediately show it to a doctor. After examination by a veterinarian and carrying out the necessary tests, a diagnosis will be determined and treatment will be prescribed.
Attention
Why does my Scottish kitten meow constantly? And not only Scottish, or Siberian, or Persian, but also an ordinary mongrel? In this way, the animal can simply attract attention to itself. A common method, very effective. If someone wants attention, they talk about it. And small children usually cry. Kittens do the same thing - they are the same babies. They also beckon to you. Now do you understand why the kitten meows constantly?
You should pay attention to the fact that in this way they attract the attention of not only children, but also adults. Only they, as already mentioned, try to make poises between “phrases”. If an animal is too bored and longs for communication, it may not shut up for a long time.
What to do in this case? There is only one way out - to pay attention to your pet, even if it seems to you that you have already been fussing with him a lot. Only in this case will the animal stop reminding itself of itself. Otherwise, you will have to listen to the “cat concert” for days on end. We’re exaggerating, of course, but... As long as an animal craves communication, it will not shut up.
Is Valerian safe?
Important! The herb valerian has long been considered a mild sedative of plant origin, but not for cats.
Valerian acts on cats as a stimulant that can increase aggression, sexual desire, and hallucinations. In case of overdose, an epileptic seizure may develop.
Catnip is also not a sedative for cats.
Be sure to read:
Which mat cutter is best for cats: straight, curved, how to use it, how much it costs
