Why Do Cats Meow? What Each Meow Means and When to Worry
In this article
In short
- Why cats meow: mostly to get something from people. Food, attention, a door opened or a greeting. Adult cats rarely meow at each other.
- Where it comes from: kittens meow to call their mother. Cats that live with people keep doing it because it works, and every cat learns its own "words" with its owner.
- Talkative breeds: Siamese and other Oriental types meow more and louder than most cats.
- See a vet if your cat suddenly meows much more than usual, cries at night as it gets older, yowls in pain or strains in the litter tray while crying.
Cats meow mainly to talk to people. Adult cats hardly ever meow at other cats. They use scent, body language and other sounds for that. A meow is a request or a greeting aimed at you: feed me, let me out, pay attention to me, or simply hello. International Cat Care describes meowing as a sound that cats use mostly towards humans and that we reinforce by responding to it.
That is also why every cat sounds a little different. Your cat has learned which meow gets you up from the sofa. Below you can read why cats started meowing at us, what the different meows usually mean, and when more meowing than usual is a reason to see the vet.
When to see a vet
Call your vet straight away if your cat:
- cries or yowls while straining in the litter tray, especially if it is a male cat passing little or no urine. A blocked bladder is an emergency (International Cat Care).
- suddenly cries out and drags its back legs or cannot stand on them. This can be a blood clot (saddle thrombus) and needs urgent help (PDSA).
- meows or cries while breathing with its mouth open. Cats nearly always breathe through their nose (PDSA).
- yowls when touched, or after a fall or accident.
Book an appointment if your cat:
- meows far more than it used to, without an obvious reason
- is over ten and has become louder, restless, hungrier and yet thinner. These are typical signs of an overactive thyroid (Cats Protection).
- is older and starts crying at night, seems lost in the house or sleeps less at night
- drinks more, eats less or has lost weight
Evolutionary reasons for meowing
Communication with humans
Kittens meow to call their mother when they are cold, hungry or lost. Between adult cats, meowing is rare. Domestic cats keep meowing as adults because living with people rewards it. A meow gets the door opened and the bowl filled, so cats keep using it.
Research supports this. In a 2004 study, Nicholas Nicastro, then at Cornell University, compared the meows of domestic cats with those of African wildcats, the species our cats descend from. Domestic cat meows were shorter and higher in pitch, and people rated them as more pleasant to listen to. Over thousands of years of living together, cats that sounded appealing to humans probably did better.
Seeking attention or interaction
Many cats meow simply to get your attention. They want to be stroked, played with or talked to. Cats that spend long days alone often meow more when you get home. That is normal. If your cat follows you around meowing all evening, it may be bored or lonely, and more play and company usually helps. Our pick of the best interactive cat toys has ideas for bored indoor cats.
Expressing hunger or discomfort
Food is the most common reason. Plenty of cats start meowing as soon as someone walks into the kitchen, and some wake their owners for breakfast. Cats also combine meowing with purring when they want food. You can read more about that in why cats purr.
A cat that is in pain, ill or confused can also meow more. That is why a sudden change in how much your cat meows is always worth taking seriously.
Reasons cats meow
| Reason | What you usually notice |
|---|---|
| Greeting | A short meow or trill when you come home or speak to your cat |
| Food | Meowing at the bowl, in the kitchen or early in the morning |
| Attention or play | Following you, meowing, rubbing against your legs |
| Doors and windows | Meowing at a closed door, or to go in or out |
| Boredom or loneliness | Lots of meowing after long days alone |
| Season (unneutered cats) | Loud, drawn-out calling, rolling on the floor |
| Stress | Meowing during a move, in the car or with a new pet in the house |
| Pain or illness | Meowing that is new, louder or happens when touched |
| Confusion in older cats | Crying at night, often in an empty room |
An unneutered female in season can call so loudly that it sounds as if she is in pain. Being in season is not painful, according to the PDSA. Spaying usually stops the calling and also prevents unwanted litters. Neutering a male cat reduces his yowling when he smells a female in season nearby.
Understanding different types of meows
Every cat has its own repertoire, and you learn your cat's sounds over time. These are the patterns most owners recognise.
Short meows
A short, friendly meow is usually a greeting or a reply when you talk to your cat. A series of short meows often means excitement, for example when you get the food out.
High-pitched meows
A high, urgent meow is often a demand: food, a door, attention. A sudden, very high shriek usually means pain or fright, for example when you step on a tail by accident. If you cannot find a reason for a shriek, check your cat over.
Low-pitched or growling meows
A low, drawn-out meow that moves towards a growl means your cat is unhappy. It may feel threatened, annoyed or want to be left alone. Give it space. This is often heard at the vet, during car journeys or when another cat is in sight. For calmer trips, see how to travel with a cat by car.
Prolonged or continuous meows
Long, loud meows or yowls have several possible causes:
- calling by an unneutered cat in season
- a cat that wants something and has learned that persistence pays off
- boredom or loneliness
- stress or frustration, for example at a closed door or a cat outside the window
- pain, illness or confusion, especially in older cats
Trills and chirps
A trill is a soft, rolling sound with the mouth closed. Mother cats use it to call their kittens, and adult cats use it to greet you. The chattering or chirping you hear when your cat watches birds through the window is something else: it is linked to hunting excitement and frustration.
How to interpret cat meows
Analysing body language and context
A meow means more when you look at the rest of your cat. The same sound can be a friendly request or a warning.
| Body language | What the meow probably means |
|---|---|
| Tail up, ears forward, coming towards you | A friendly greeting or a request |
| Rubbing against your legs while meowing | Asking for food or attention |
| Ears flattened or turned sideways, body low | Fear, discomfort or annoyance |
| Puffed-up tail, arched back | Fear, ready to defend itself |
| Hiding, hunched, meowing when touched | Possible pain, see a vet |
Also look at where it happens. At the food bowl it is probably hunger. At the door your cat wants to go through. At night in an empty room in an older cat, it can be confusion.
Recognising specific vocalisations and their meanings
International Cat Care divides cat sounds into three groups. Sounds made with the mouth closed, like purring and trilling, are mostly friendly. Meows are made with the mouth opening and closing and are mainly used for requests. Sounds made with the mouth held open, such as growling, hissing, spitting and yowling, are defensive or aggressive. For the full picture of how cats communicate with you, a short log of when your cat meows helps more than any table.
Why do cats meow at night?
Cats are most active at dawn and dusk. A young, healthy cat that meows at night or very early in the morning often wants food, play or company. The ASPCA advises not giving in to demands for food, because every time you do, your cat learns that meowing works. Feed at fixed times, or use a timed automatic feeder for breakfast, so your cat stops linking breakfast to waking you up. A play session in the evening, followed by a meal, can also help your cat settle.
An older cat that starts crying at night is a different story. It can be a sign of cognitive dysfunction, the feline form of dementia, or of an overactive thyroid, high blood pressure, pain or poor eyesight. In a review by Danielle Gunn-Moore and colleagues (2007), more than a quarter of cats aged 11 to 14 showed behaviour changes linked to ageing, and more than half of cats aged 15 or older. Always let a vet rule out medical causes first.
Addressing excessive meowing
Medical reasons for excessive meowing
The ASPCA advises taking any cat that meows a lot to the vet first, even if it seems to be asking for food. Illness can make a cat hungrier, thirstier or more restless. Common medical causes are:
- Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). Mainly in cats over ten. They become restless and more vocal, eat more and still lose weight (Cats Protection).
- Kidney disease. Common in older cats, often with more drinking and weight loss.
- High blood pressure. Often linked to kidney disease or an overactive thyroid. International Cat Care advises regular blood pressure checks from around seven years of age.
- Pain. For example from arthritis, dental disease or an injury.
- Cognitive dysfunction. Confusion and night-time crying in older cats.
- Urinary problems. Crying in or near the litter tray. A male cat that strains without passing urine needs a vet the same day.
For an overview of signs that something is wrong, see cat diseases and their symptoms.
Behavioural interventions and training techniques
When the vet finds nothing, the meowing is usually learned. These steps, based on ASPCA advice, help most cats:
- Check the basics first. Is there water, is the litter tray clean, is your cat shut in somewhere? Only ignore meowing when you are sure nothing is wrong.
- Reward quiet. Wait until your cat is quiet, even for a few seconds, and then give attention, food or play. If it starts meowing again, walk away.
- Feed at fixed times. Do not respond to begging between meals. A timed feeder helps with early morning meowing.
- Prevent boredom. Play with your cat every day, give it places to climb and look outside, and consider a pet sitter if it is alone for very long days.
- Never punish. Shouting or spraying water does not stop meowing for long and makes your cat afraid of you.
Rewarding quiet works best with something your cat really likes. Small, healthy treats are ideal for this. You can read which ones to choose, and how many per day, in the best healthy cat treats.
Which cats meow the most?
Some breeds are much more talkative than others. The ASPCA names the Siamese in particular as prone to a lot of meowing and yowling. If you want a chatty cat, you can read more about the Siamese. If you prefer peace and quiet, a talkative breed is probably not for you.
Within any breed there are big differences. Cats that grow up with owners who talk to them a lot often become talkative themselves.
Frequently asked questions
Why do cats meow?
Mainly to communicate with people. Cats meow to greet you, ask for food or attention, or get a door opened. Adult cats rarely meow at each other. Kittens meow to their mother, and domestic cats keep doing it with us because it works.
Why does my cat meow so much?
Usually because it has learned that meowing gets results, or because it is bored, lonely or hungry. Some breeds, like the Siamese, are naturally talkative. If the meowing is new or has increased, let a vet check for pain, an overactive thyroid or other illness first.
Why do cats meow at night?
Young cats often want food, play or company at dawn and dusk. Do not get up for it, and use fixed feeding times or a timed feeder. An older cat that starts crying at night may be confused or unwell and should see a vet.
Do cats meow at other cats?
Rarely. Adult cats communicate with each other mainly through scent, body language, and sounds like hissing, growling and trilling. Mother cats and kittens are the exception.
Can cats learn to meow on command?
Some can. If you reward your cat every time it meows after a certain word or signal, some cats learn to link the two. Be careful not to reward meowing at other moments, or your cat will simply meow more.
How can I stop my cat meowing for attention?
Make sure it has everything it needs, then give attention only when it is quiet. Play with it every day and feed at fixed times. Never punish meowing. It makes your cat anxious and rarely helps.
