Cats communicate with each other in a variety of ways. These animals prefer to “talk” to humans in the language that is most understandable to them: by giving sound signals. To a caring owner, the nature, intensity and duration of a cat's meow (or other sounds) can explain what information the pet is trying to convey to him. If a person has recently brought home a new tenant, and the kitten meows all the time, then it is necessary to figure out what the animal wants to say, what is bothering him. Kittens meow for a variety of reasons.
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.
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.
Often kittens wake up at night and, not feeling the usual warmth and smell, begin to meow. At such moments, it is important to calm the pet with tactile contact. Over time, the kitten will stop looking for its mother. The time to get used to new conditions varies from person to person, but as a rule, it does not last too long.
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.
Hunger
A kitten may give a vocal signal for a completely natural reason: it is hungry. This is the most common reason why animals meow. This applies to both children and adult pets. First of all, any living organism tries to satisfy its nutritional needs. And the kitten, once in a new place, first learns where the “food source” is located. Not finding food, the small animal begins to worry, and then declares its needs to the person.
It is advisable that there is always some food in the bowl; this will save the owner from constant plaintive cries.
In some cases, the cause of meowing is pseudo-hunger. That is, the kitten is full, but with the help of its voice it tries to beg for tidbits. Usually this characterizes the pet in a certain way: he wants to dictate conditions, tries to beg for something tasty, and thereby force the person to follow his lead. As with children, you need to be firm. You cannot indulge your pet's first desire. This does not mean that an animal should not be pampered at all, but in childhood this is especially fraught with consequences. If a person does not want to constantly endure impudent extortion from the cat, then he should make it clear from the very first attempt who is boss in the house. The pet must understand that nothing will be given to him upon request, and the decision as to whether he will receive a treat or not will be made solely by the “senior”.
Stressful state
The constant meowing of a kitten when it has just arrived in a new home is associated not only and not so much with longing for its mother, but with stress from the new space and smells, and the need to master an unusual environment. In the first days, a kitten may be simply scared in a new apartment; he experiences loneliness and feels helpless.
If other animals arrive at the same time, this is a source of additional stress. After all, you need not only to master the space, but also to seek contact with new animals.
The owner needs to calm the animal down, talk to it affectionately more often, pick it up, and stroke it. Over time it will get used to it. To make this happen faster, experts recommend that when picking up a cat from a breeder or cattery, ask for something with a familiar smell to the animal. This could be the bedding on which the kitten is laid when it begins to meow pitifully. The native smell, reminiscent of his mother, will calm him down.
Why do cats meow?
Kittens are born with fully functioning vocal cords. But because kittens are also born blind, deaf, and unable to walk, they are completely dependent on their mother, at least for the first few weeks of life. Therefore, when a newborn kitten meows, it is trying to communicate its needs to its mother.
A kitten's meowing to its mother may mean:
- I am hungry!
- I'm cold!
- I'm scared!
As the kitten becomes more independent and spends less time with its mother, this meowing begins to subside. Now your kitten can independently find a warm blanket, a place to hide, or his own food bowl. The mother will also stop responding to the kitten's meows, which will eventually wean him off this behavior.
When your cat becomes an adult, meowing is a vocalization that translates to “I need something!” - no longer makes sense if directed at other cats. Instead, adult cats use other vocalizations (such as hissing or growling) to communicate their feelings to other animals.
But this does not mean that cats stop meowing when they become adults. An adult cat simply redirects these meows to whoever she needs something from - in this case, it's probably you! Your adult cat may meow to let you know she is hungry, wants attention, or wants to say “hello.”
Here's an adorable video of young kittens meowing mercilessly to get their mother's attention!
Finding a toilet
A small animal may scream in confusion, not knowing where to relieve itself. In such cases, you should put him in a tray and, if possible, explain why this device is needed. Even if the kitten is accustomed to the tray, in a new place he may not understand what this piece of furniture is for, so it is necessary to show it. By the third or fourth time, the animal will definitely understand the purpose and location of the toilet. In some cases, once is enough.
If a kitten comes to a new home at a very early age (up to a month), it may be in pain if it wants to go to the toilet. The fact is that a cat constantly licks newborn kittens, and this action has different purposes. Mom doesn't wash the babies as much as she massages them. This stimulates the kitten's still weak intestinal peristalsis. In such cases, the owner needs to gently massage the pet’s tummy, starting the process of defecation.
Your kitten is lost or confused
New kitten parents may be tempted to give the kitten complete control of the house, but for a young animal such a large area can be confusing or even intimidating. If a kitten is crying, he may become lost and cry for help because he doesn't recognize his surroundings or doesn't know how to get back to the litter box or cat bed.
New adopters should provide kittens with a smaller "home base" for the first week or two to allow the cat to adjust comfortably to the space. Once the kitten becomes confident in its new territory, it can be gradually allowed access to more and more parts of the house.
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.
Your kitten is in pain
You'll know it when you hear it—the shrill cry of a wounded animal is hard to miss. If you hear a kitten squawk, it is a sign that it is in serious distress. This can happen for a number of reasons, such as a limb being stuck in an awkward position or the tail being accidentally stepped on.
Immediately address the source of the pain and evaluate the situation to see if further treatment is required. Contact your veterinarian if you suspect your kitten is injured.
Onset of puberty
Different breeds of domestic cats reach puberty at different times. Most young individuals are ready for intercourse by 6-7 months. In some breeds, such as Maine Coons, it may begin at this age, but last slightly longer, up to about 15 months.
The play of hormones, the powerful instinct of procreation felt by a young animal, makes it restless. It will scream loudly at any time of the day, roll on the floor, and demand to be let out into the street.
During this difficult period, some individuals may show aggression towards humans. Cats begin to mark their territory, and their smell at this time intensifies several times thanks to hormones.
The owner of a domestic cat should immediately decide on a solution to this problem. There are actually two of them: castration (sterilization) or providing the opportunity for the realization of instinct. In all other cases, the animal will experience real agony during periods of sexual heat. There is no need to be afraid to sterilize an animal if the owner’s plans do not include breeding cats. Veterinarians believe that this simple procedure not only does not cause harm, much less moral suffering, to the animal (they simply have no morals), but even prolongs life and preserves health.
Diseases and conditions requiring medical attention
A kitten may cry and meow loudly because something hurts. The cause of pain may be poor digestion or a serious illness. It is necessary to carefully examine the pet and observe its behavior.
The following symptoms should alert the owner:
- increased body temperature, dry nose (in cats the normal temperature is about 38 degrees, in a kitten this figure can vary significantly, since the process of thermoregulation has not yet been established);
- prolonged cleanliness in the tray or, conversely, diarrhea;
- blood in the urine or stool;
- vomit;
- loss of appetite or complete refusal to eat;
- discharge of various types from the eyes, ears;
- swollen, hard tummy;
- impaired coordination of movements.
You should also observe how often the kitten itches. If he constantly bites himself, gnaws something in his fur, or scratches himself heavily, this is a sign of infection with ectoparasites. If these symptoms appear, you should immediately show the animal to a veterinarian. He will determine the cause and prescribe the necessary treatment.
Table: causes of cat meowing and methods for solving problems
| Cause of a cat's cry | Symptoms other than meowing | Solution |
| Kitten (up to 1 year) | ||
| Hunger, thirst | Bowls with water and food are empty or the food in the bowl is not touched, the kitten walks around and calls the owner. | Feeding, changing water in the bowl. Replacing dry food with wet food, softening the granules in water. |
| Digestive disorders | Kitten: - refuses to eat; - cannot go to the toilet; - defecates loosely. | Activated carbon - 1 tablet per 10 kg of weight (a kitten is usually given 1/3 of a tablet). A visit to the veterinarian, tests, selection of medications. |
| Diseases | Behavior differs from normal in any way. The kitten may itch, look lethargic, and refuse to eat. His fur becomes dull and his mucous membranes become inflamed. | A visit to the veterinarian, tests, selection of medications. |
| Fear | The animal presses against the walls, hides behind corners and under furniture, and does not make contact. | Rest for the first few days until he gets used to it. Then play, affection, arranging a cozy corner for the kitten. |
| Cold | He clings to the radiators, looking for warm places in the house. | Arrangement of a cozy corner for a kitten. |
| Lack of attention | Follows its owner with its tail. | Game, caress. |
| Adult cat (1–7 years) | ||
| Sexual hunting | Meows in utero, mainly at night. The cat marks the corners, the cat periodically stands in a pose of readiness for mating and raises its tail. | Hormonal drugs that block estrus (Gestrenol, Sex Barrier). Castration, sterilization. |
| Stress | The cat hides, and when you try to get it, it hisses, raises its fur, and tries to scratch or bite. | At first, peace, then play, affection, soothing herbal drops (“Cat Bayun”) |
| Food requirement | Walks around the bowls and screams only if the owner is nearby. | Lack of reaction during meowing, feeding according to schedule. |
| Lack of attention | Follows its owner with its tail. | Game, caress. |
| Dirty tray | Meows near the toilet. | Cleaning, changing filler |
| Disease | Behavior differs from normal in any way. The cat may itch, appear lethargic or overly excited, and refuse to eat. | A visit to the veterinarian, examination, tests, selection of medications. |
| Older cat (from 7 years old) | ||
| Alzheimer's disease | Animal: - crashes into walls; - empty look; - stands in one place for a long time. | Visit to the veterinarian, examination, selection of medications |
| Problems with vision, hearing | Cat: - gets lost in space; - does not respond to the call. | Visit to the veterinarian, examination, selection of medications |
| Other diseases | Cat: - itches (skin); - difficulty getting up and lying down (joints); - refuses food; - moves little. The symptoms may be different, but when the animal is sick, its behavior is different from usual. | Visit to the veterinarian, examination, selection of medications |
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.
If circumstances were such that the kitten had to be adopted very young, then for some time the person will have to become its mother. A newborn cat needs to be fed constantly, once every two hours. At 2-3 months the cat is switched to six meals a day. By 6 months, the number of feedings is reduced to 4 times, and by a year - to two.
A small kitten also needs abdominal massage to keep its bowels moving smoothly. You need to do the procedure after eating, and then put the baby in the tray.
The owner will also have to solve the pet’s sexual problems. When meowing expresses the animal’s desire to procreate, you should contact a veterinarian. It is recommended to castrate and sterilize cats between 8 months and a year. If the vocalizations that indicate puberty have begun early, your veterinarian may recommend hormonal or sedative medications for cats. It is advisable not to prescribe medications to the animal yourself, but to leave it to a specialist.
How to calm a screaming cat
What to do if a previously calm and even lazy cat is constantly yelling at home? The owner has only one option - a consultation with a veterinarian. If an animal has any disease, the doctor will cure it and make life easier for the owner.
Perhaps the pet is showing anxiety due to unsatisfied sexual activity. The use of hormonal drugs that reduce cravings in a pet is harmful to its health. There are two options here: either let the cat go for a walk or castrate him.
You can try feeding your pet more nutritiously at night; it will require more energy to process food. Consequently, the cat will sleep peacefully at night.
You need to be careful with drugs such as Kot-Bayun or Feliway. They can only be used in extreme cases, as they are dangerous for the animal; first you need to be sure that the pet does not have any health problems.
An attentive owner will always determine by the timbre of his pet’s voice whether he has any health problems. The necessary attention and care will help to survive this difficult period not only for the cat, but also for the owner.
