Saturday, 19 May 2012
Vocalizing | Print |

My cat keeps meowing!

Vocalization is a normal way for cats to communicate with their owners. This behavior can be problematic especially if it occurs excessively and/or at night when owners are trying to sleep.

Common reasons for vocalization:

  • Underlying Medical Conditions including pain, discomfort, hyperthyroidism and senility
    • Consult one of our veterinarians to accurately diagnose and treat the underlying cause of vocalization
  • Sexual Behavior in intact cats, both male and female
  • Anxiety due to a variety of causes such as presence of a new pet or family member
    • Consult one of our veterinarians for tips on desensitizing your cat to the anxiety causing stimulus
  • Feline Aggression
  • Attention-Seeking behavior
    • This behavior develops when the owner rewards the cat for vocalizing ( for example, the owner responds by feeding or playing with the cat)
    • Provide daily interactive play when the cat is not vocalizing
    • Remove all rewards for vocalizing
    • Time is rebquired for your cat to learn that vocalizing will not result in a reward
  • Breed Related Behavior in Siamese cats
    • Siamese cats vocalize more than any other breed of cats
    • Frequent vocalization is normal in this breed
    Please contact our veterinarians at Animal Medical Hospital in Saint Petersburg, Florida (FL) at 727-896-7127 for more information.