Why has my cat become more vocal?

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There’s something incredibly relaxing about the unmistakable sound of a cat’s purr. 

Those soft, soothing tones are enough to put a smile on the face of even the sternest of pet parents.

Cat vocalizations come in all different tones and octaves though, and not all cats are the same.

Some you will hear meowing away all day long, while others will keep themselves to themselves, only making noises when they’re craving a bit of attention. 

If your cat has become much more of a chatter box in recent weeks, you’re probably wondering what’s going on with them.

The most common reason behind increased vocalizations is injury or illness.

But as this article will explain, there could be any number of reasons behind a feline suddenly crying out or meowing more. 

6 reasons why your cat is meowing or crying more than usual

  1. Stress. A cat who is feeling anxious or stressed will often let you know by making more noise than usual. The trigger could be a new pet or baby, an adjustment to their routine, changes to their environment. It's up to us as pet parents to pinpoint the stressor as quickly as possible, and make the necessary adjustments in order to restore calm and balance to our feline's lives.
  2. Injury/illness. Our cats can't tell us when they've been bitten by another cat, or complain about how they're aching following a nasty fall — not using words at least. What you can expect an injured cat to do when experiencing pain is cry out more. Medical conditions such as hypertension and hyperthyroidism can have a similar effect.
  3. Attention seeking. Can you hear your feline crying through the door when you leave a room? Would you say their welcoming meows border on excessive when returning home from work? Cats may have a reputation for being independant animals, but the bond with a pet parent is a strong one, and if they don't think they're seeing enough of you, the chances are you're going to hear about it.
  4. Appetite. Hungry cats tend to be unhappy cats, and unhappy cats are very often vocal cats. Excessive meowing could be a direct response to your feline wanting their food and/or water bowls topped up. Cats need to be fed a complete and well-balanced diet, one that's bursting with natural, nutritious ingredients.
  5. Old age. As cats enter their later years, cognitive degeneration may lead to increased bouts of disorientation and confusion, which in turn can bring about a rising number of frustrated meows. Older cats are also more susceptible to injuries and illness, while the inevitable loss of hearing means they could begin meowing more, simply because they can no longer hear themselves.
  6. Desire to breed. Female cats do tend to make more noise when they are ready to mate, while a male who is yet to be neutered is likely to meow excessively upon hearing or smelling a female cat in heat. Getting your cat spayed or neutered should help to prevent this sort of uncontrolled meowing.

Is crying a sign of pain in cats?

If you trapped your hand in a door, there’s a good chance everybody within a 50m radius would know about it. 

Even after the initial trauma, the subsequent pain would give cause for complaint in the days/weeks to come. 

Similarly, a cat who’s in pain is going to make plenty of noise, you can be sure of that. 

As we have already mentioned though, crying is not always linked solely to pain or discomfort. Excessive meowing could be down to hunger pangs, boredom, or rising stress levels.

That being said, cats do have varied vocalizations, and a cry brought on by severe or sudden pain will tend to be more of a short, sharp shriek or howl.

Should I seek veterinary support?

It doesn’t matter how well we know our cats, working out what is wrong with them can sometimes be a real challenge.

If you’ve tried everything you can to get to the bottom of this new, noisy nature, but there’s no sign of them quietening down, it’s time to enlist the help of a medical expert.

Likewise, if you believe the increased vocalization is linked to injury or illness, you shouldn’t waste any time in making a call to the vet.  

Crying out isn’t the only sign of feline discomfort, so be on the lookout for symptoms such as decreased appetite, hiding, aggression, and a change in posture.

How do I know if my cat is meowing too much?

All cats meow to some extent. 

However, as the amount varies by breed and even cat, knowing whether or not your feline is making more noise than usual is purely a personal matter.

Over time, you’ll just naturally begin to notice if something sounds amiss. The pitch, the volume, the amount; your cat may not be able to use language to communicate, but each sound will soon have its own special meaning.

If you do think these sounds are becoming more excessive, remember to keep an eye out for other clues that may shed some light on the issue.

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