Excessive Vocalisation in Cats

What is excessive vocalisation?

This is a difficult question to answer. Some breeds are more talkative than others. For example, Siamese cats are well known to be quite vocal. It also depends on the pet owner's tolerance. Some pet owners enjoy a talkative cat, others prefer a quieter cat. 

It could also be considered excessive if the cat's behaviour changes. If your cat is usually a quiet cat & suddenly starts meowing a lot more then it could be considered excessive.  

What causes it?

There are many reasons a cat may meow excessively. Some of which are perfectly normal. 

• Hunger: This is perfectly normal & the meowing should cease once the cat has been fed. However, if the cat constantly asks for food, even though it is being fed an adequate diet then it is advisable you see your veterinarian as there may be a medical reason for this. 
• Estrus: A female cat in heat will "call" regularly. 
• New kitten: If you have just obtained your kitten it may meow excessively for the first few days. Leaving it's mother & siblings & moving into a new house with new owners is a huge change to your kitten. 
• Loss of a companion: Cats are sensitive creatures & form close bonds with their owners & other pets in the household. If there are changes to the family dynamics, such as a separation, or the loss of an animal, this may cause your cat to meow more than usual. 
• Moving house: Again, this is a big change for your cat & may result in it becoming more vocal. 
• Attention seeking: Excessive vocalisation may be a result of your cat is feeling lonely or not receiving enough attention from it's owner. 
• Outside influences: A neighbourhood cat coming onto your cat's territory.
• Old age: Some old cats may meow excessively. This usually happens when they begin to lose their cognitive functions.
• Medical problems: If your cat is sick or in pain it may result in excessive vocalisation. 
• Nocturnal behaviour: Cats by nature are nocturnal, and may meow more during the night. 

How to treat it?

It's important to find out the cause of the vocalising in order to address the problem correctly. A physical examination by your veterinarian is also important, to rule out a medical cause for this behaviour. If it is due to stress your vet will be able to advise on ways to reduce stress in your cat's life, and in severe cases may prescribe some anti-anxiety medication. 

• Hunger: Feeding the cat should stop the vocalising. 
• Estrus: Desex your cat. 
• New Kitten: It will take a few days for your new kitten to settle into it's environment. Heap lots of attention on it during this time. If you are not sleeping with the kitten then you may wish to try & mimic it's mother as much as possible. To do this, provide a warm bed for your kitten to sleep in, with a hot water bottle (not too hot), wrapped in a towel or blanket. You can also try putting a ticking clock in the bed which may remind the kitten of it's mother. 
• Loss of a companion: Unfortunately in most cases you can't bring the person or pet back. It is important to understand that just like humans, cats suffer from grief to. To understand this you will be able to take steps to comfort your cat. Extra love & attention should help your cat cope. 
• Moving house: Cats are creatures of habit & don't adapt to change well. If your cat has become vocal since moving into a new house hopefully in time, once the cat has adjusted the behaviour will stop. Ways to speed this up include unpacking & setting up your house as quickly as possible, so your cat can see familiar surroundings. Extra attention during this time can also be of help to settle your cat in. 
• Attention seeking: Some cats are quite happy to entertain themselves, other cats thrive on human companionship & if they don't receive the attention they crave they may meow excessively. The solution to this is to make the attempt to give them the attention they crave. This means make time in the day to pet & cuddle them, daily brushing & plenty of play time with your cat. 
• Outside influences: The arrival of a neighbourhood cat in your garden may result in your cat meowing excessively. If this is the case then you need a two tiered approach. Firstly try to discourage the cat from entering your property, and secondly block the view of the neighbourhood cat with the use of blinds, curtains etc. 
• Old age: Sometimes cats may become more vocal in old age. This may be the result of loss of cognitive abilities, senility etc. Your veterinarian will be able to advise on the proper care & treatment of an older cat or at least slowing down the effects of medical conditions brought on by old age. Also, giving your cat extra love & attention in it's twilight years can help reassure it make it feel safe & secure which will hopefully help with the excessive vocalisation.
• Medical problems: Immediate veterinary attention must be sought if your cat suddenly starts vocalising excessively.
• Nocturnal behaviour: Cats by nature are nocturnal animals, but this doesn't always fit into our lifestyle. Try to increase your cat's activity levels during the day. If the behaviour continues then you may have to consider keeping your cat as far away from your sleeping area as possible, so at least you can't hear the meowing.

To summarise:

As you can see, there are many causes of excessive vocalisation in cats, some of which may not have been covered in this article. Any changes in behaviour really do warrant a visit to your veterinarian to rule out a medical problem.

Never use physical punishment on your cat. It doesn't work & in many cases may actually compound the problem by causing fear & stress. Generally if you want to modify a behaviour in cats it is advised that you reward good behaviour & ignore undesirable behaviour.