Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/cat meowing

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 5/24/2009


Question
my cat has recently started meowing all the time. she acts like she has no food but she does. her meowing goes from quiet to loud if she is ignored. what should i do?

Answer
Rebecca,

I'm very sorry I didn't answer your question earlier but the hard drive in my computer died and I was just able to get it replaced.

Some cats are talkers and it is annoying but it is their nature.
Her meowing may be a sign of boredom. Getting a friend for your cat, about the same age and temperament, sometimes will help.

Is she spayed? If not, that could be the major part of the problem, and she should be done ASAP.

Meowing could also be a sign of pain or a medical problem. If you can afford it I would take her for a checkup to rule that possibility out.

Tabbi

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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Dear Tabbi

Expertise

My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.

Experience

Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).

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