An animal expert breaks down what different cat meows actually mean. Learn to recognize distress calls, attention-seeking sounds, stress vocalizations, and heat-related meows so you understand what your cat is trying to tell you.
By now, you've probably realized that not all of your cat's meows sound the same, and it's no coincidence. In this video from an animal expert, we're going to discover the different types of cat meows and what they really mean. Because, yes, each meow has its own story. 1. High pitched short meows in kittens. Kittens start meowing from a very young age with high pitched rapid sounds. They do it to let you know that they're cold, hungry, or simply lonely. It's a kind of mommy, help me. This is called a distress call and it's part of their learning how to communicate. That's why it's so important that they're not separated from their mother before they're two or three months old. She not only feeds them, she also teaches them how to be cats. If you separate them prematurely or adopt orphaned kittens, you should know that they can also emit these meows for the same purpose, but this time they'll be directed at you, their adoptive mother. 2. Loud and direct meow. Now that we've clarified what the typical meow of baby kittens means, let's move on to the classic that loud meow, of course, that goes straight to you while your cat stares at you. There's no doubt that he wants your attention. It's basically like he's saying, hey human, look at me. He could be hungry, want to play, or simply be saying where are my caresses? And if he doesn't see you, he'll meow as if he's looking for you, which is basically his way of asking where you are. 3. Constant and heavy meows. Your cat meows non stop and with a loud tone that seems to go on forever. He could be stressed or bored. And yes, although cats are calm animals, they also need stimulation. Changes in routine, new members of the household, or even an illness can throw them off balance and cause them to develop stress or anxiety. The solution? Toys, scratching posts, hiding places, platforms, anything that keeps them physically and mentally active. And of course, whenever possible, introduce any changes gradually. If you need help here above and in the description, we leave you a video where we talk about environmental enrichment. 4. Meows. High pitched and insistent. The meaning of these meows is clear. Heat in sight. This type of meow is so high pitched and repetitive that it does not go unnoticed and is usually accompanied by extra behaviors such as rolling around, rubbing, marking with urine, etc. If it is a female cat, she is in heat, and if it is a male cat, he may be smelling an available female nearby, male cats are ready to reproduce almost all year round. This means that if there are female cats in heat in your neighborhood and your male cat is not neutered, this may be the symphony you hear almost daily. Both to avoid behaviors associated with heat and unwanted litters, our recommendation is that you spay or neuter your male or female cat. 5. Meow. That sounds like a scream.
