Unusual vocalizing

Is your cat meowing more, or more intensely, than usual?

Edited by MaxTeng · Educational content, not reviewed by a veterinarian · 2026-10-27

Record changes in the frequency, volume, timing, or sound of vocalization together with the situation. Calling can communicate a need or accompany discomfort or disease; a meow or yowl alone does not identify the cause. Check for sudden changes and the warnings below before recording what happened around the event.

Possible medical causes

Hyperthyroidism, kidney disease
Medical problems causing hunger, thirst, restlessness or irritability may accompany changed calling and need assessment.
Senior cats: sensory decline (vision/hearing), cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS, the feline equivalent of dementia)

Possible behavioral causes

Greeting — when you come home, make eye contact, or talk to your cat
Attention-seeking — wanting to be petted, played with, or talked to; cats left alone for long hours are more prone to this
Begging for food — meowing the moment you enter the kitchen, wanting human food
Demanding doors be opened or closed — especially during the transition to being an indoor cat
Seeking a mate — mostly yowling; seen in unneutered/unspayed cats during heat

Initial at-home suggestions

Don't ignore the meowing (unless you're sure of the cause) — it likely means a real need isn't being met
Don't punish or shout — it has no lasting effect and will only make your cat afraid of you
Keep a log: when the meowing happens, where, and what just occurred
Discuss feeding routines or a timed feeder after assessing intake needs and health; do not withhold needed food because of calling.