7 Reasons Your Cat Keeps Meowing

1. They Want Attention

Just as a child learns to cry when he wants something, excessive cat meowing sometimes is the feline’s way of getting what what he wants. If your cat is always meowing to initiate play or to seek your attention, stop responding every time you hear her meow. Give her attention only when she is quiet. When she begins meowing again, walk away.

Don’t completely ignore her — spend quality time with her every day, playing and talking with her. Let her know she is loved. Consider getting a pet sitter if she’s left home alone for most of the day.

The attention-seeking meows are not quickly stopped; nor are they easily brought to an end. Breaking this cycle will take time and patience. Teaching your cat that she will be rewarded for being quiet is quite a task. Keep rewarding quiet behavior while ignoring the ongoing meows. Eventually she will get the idea.

So, what kind of rewards are we talking about? Sophia Yin, DVM, MS (a veterinarian and animal behaviour expert), suggests that you use food to teach your cat that quietness is rewarding. Give her bite-size treats or kibble, making sure she finishes each one with just one or two bites. Instead of pouring her kibble into a bowl, feed it to her one piece at a time, teaching her to sit quietly for several seconds to receive the treat. Always reward her before the meowing kicks in, as well as before she gets up. This method is the quickest way to teach a kitty that sitting quietly has its rewards.