Talkative Cats

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Cats​ ​communicate​ ​through​ ​a​ ​variety​ ​of​ ​vocalizations​ ​—​ ​meowing,​ ​purring,​ ​and​ ​hissing,​ ​among others.​ ​ They​ ​display​ ​their​ ​unique​ ​personalities​ ​through​ ​these​ ​vocalizations,​ ​a​ ​characteristic most​ ​people​ ​find​ ​endearing.​ ​ When​ ​these​ ​vocalizations​ ​become​ ​excessive​ ​or​ ​occur​ ​at inopportune​ ​times,​ ​however,​ ​problems​ ​arise.

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What​ ​is​ ​excessive​ ​vocalization?

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Excessive​ ​vocalization​ ​does​ ​not​ ​have​ ​a​ ​strict​ ​definition.​ ​ What​ ​is​ ​considered​ ​“excessive” depends​ ​on​ ​the​ ​tolerance​ ​level​ ​of​ ​the​ ​individual​ ​listener,​ ​which​ ​may​ ​be​ ​influenced​ ​by​ ​many factors,​ ​including​ ​prior​ ​experience​ ​with​ ​cats,​ ​the​ ​type​ ​of​ ​vocalization,​ ​the​ ​time​ ​of​ ​day,​ ​and​ ​the perceived​ ​reason​ ​for​ ​the​ ​vocalization.​ ​ For​ ​example,​ ​a​ ​cat​ ​meowing​ ​loudly​ ​for​ ​breakfast​ ​may​ ​be more​ ​tolerable​ ​than​ ​the​ ​same​ ​cat​ ​repeatedly​ ​meowing​ ​for​ ​no​ ​apparent​ ​reason​ ​in​ ​the​ ​middle​ ​of the​ ​night.

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When​ ​is​ ​excessive​ ​vocalization​ ​normal?

 

All​ ​vocalization​ ​is​ ​normal;​ ​it’s​ ​the​ ​way​ ​cats​ ​communicate​ ​with​ ​each​ ​other​ ​and​ ​with​ ​us.​ ​ Normal increases​ ​in​ ​vocalization​ ​occur​ ​during​ ​mating​ ​season​ ​when​ ​female​ ​cats​ ​are​ ​in​ ​heat​ ​and​ ​male cats​ ​compete​ ​for​ ​access​ ​to​ ​them ​(One​ ​good​ ​reason​ ​to​ ​spay/neuter​ ​your​ ​cats​​). ​ ​Increases​ ​in​ ​vocalization​ ​are​ ​also​ ​common​ ​when​ ​there​ ​are​ ​changes​ ​in​ ​the household,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​a​ ​move​ ​to​ ​a​ ​new​ ​place​ ​or​ ​a​ ​change​ ​from​ ​being​ ​an​ ​outdoor​ ​to​ ​an​ ​indoor​ ​pet.  In​ ​these​ ​cases,​ ​the​ ​increases​ ​in​ ​vocalization​ ​may​ ​be​ ​transient.​ ​ Certain​ ​cat​ ​breeds,​ ​notably​ ​the Siamese,​ ​vocalize​ ​more​ ​than​ ​others.

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What​ ​causes​ ​excessive​ ​vocalization?

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The​ ​most​ ​common​ ​cause​ ​of​ ​excessive​ ​vocalization​ ​is​ ​attention-seeking,​ ​a​ ​learned​ ​behavior.  Many​ ​cats​ ​learn​ ​to​ ​meow​ ​to​ ​signal​ ​their​ ​wish​ ​to​ ​go​ ​outside​ ​or​ ​be​ ​fed.​ ​ This​ ​technique​ ​is especially​ ​effective​ ​early​ ​in​ ​the​ ​morning​ ​or​ ​at​ ​night​ ​when​ ​you​ ​are​ ​tired.​ ​ To​ ​stop​ ​the​ ​offending noise,​ ​you​ ​readily​ ​acquiesce​ ​to​ ​your​ ​cat’s​ ​demands.​ ​ Once​ ​cats​ ​expect​ ​your​ ​attention,​ ​they continue​ ​to​ ​vocalize​ ​even​ ​if​ ​you​ ​attempt​ ​to​ ​ignore​ ​their​ ​behavior.​  ​As​ ​you​ ​probably​ ​are​ ​aware, most​ ​cats​ ​will​ ​outlast​ ​you,​ ​and​ ​you​ ​eventually​ ​give​ ​in.

 

Excessive​ ​vocalization​ ​may​ ​also​ ​indicate​ ​the​ ​presence​ ​of​ ​a​ ​medical​ ​or​ ​more​ ​serious​ ​behavior problem.​  ​Cats​ ​may​ ​meow​ ​excessively​ ​when​ ​they​ ​are​ ​in​ ​pain​ ​or​ ​possess​ ​neurological​ ​problems or​ ​sensory​ ​deficits​ ​such​ ​as​ ​hearing​ ​or​ ​vision​ ​loss.​  ​Anxiety​ ​disorders,​ ​aggression,​ ​cognitive dysfunction,​ ​or​ ​other​ ​behavioral​ ​problem​ ​can​ ​also​ ​cause​ ​cats​ ​to​ ​vocalize​ ​repeatedly.​ ​ Consult with​ ​your​ ​veterinarian​ ​​to​ ​determine​ ​if​ ​medical​ ​or​ ​behavioral​ ​problems exist.

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How​ ​do​ ​you​ ​treat​ ​excessive​ ​vocalization?

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Treatment​ ​for​ ​excessive​ ​vocalization​ ​depends​ ​on​ ​the​ ​underlying​ ​problem.​  ​All​ ​cats​ ​should​ ​be taken​ ​to​ ​a​ ​veterinarian​ ​so​ ​a​ ​primary​ ​medical​ ​or​ ​behavioral​ ​diagnosis can​ ​be​ ​made.

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If​ ​attention-seeking​ ​behavior​ ​is​ ​diagnosed,​ ​you​ ​must​ ​consistently​ ​ignore​ ​your​ ​cat’s vocalization,​ ​refusing​ ​to​ ​respond​ ​to​ ​any​ ​request​ ​for​ ​attention​ ​until​ ​the​ ​cat​ ​is​ ​quiet.​  ​Typically, cats​ ​will​ ​initially​ ​vocalize​ ​more​ ​and​ ​for​ ​longer​ ​periods​ ​of​ ​time​ ​before​ ​they​ ​finally​ ​give​ ​up.​ ​ During this​ ​time,​ ​you​ ​must​ ​continue​ ​to​ ​ignore​ ​the​ ​cat.​  ​If​ ​you​ ​give​ ​in,​ ​your​ ​cat​ ​will​ ​learn​ ​that​ ​louder​ ​and longer​ ​vocalization​ ​is​ ​the​ ​only​ ​way​ ​to​ ​reliably​ ​get​ ​your​ ​attention.

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Additional​ ​Tips:

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●​ ​Ignore​ ​all​ ​of​ ​their​ ​attempts​ ​to​ ​wake​ ​you.​ ​ Giving​ ​in​ ​and​ ​giving​ ​them​ ​any​ ​attention​ ​will encourage​ ​them​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​trying.​  ​Even​ ​one​ ​time​ ​of​ ​giving​ ​in,​ ​and​ ​cats​ ​will​ ​continue​ ​to​ ​wake​ ​you.  It​ ​may​ ​be​ ​difficult​ ​for​ ​a​ ​while,​ ​but​ ​the​ ​time/​ ​energy​ ​spent​ ​ignoring​ ​them​ ​will​ ​soon​ ​lead​ ​to​ ​a wonderful​ ​future​ ​where​ ​you​ ​can​ ​sleep​ ​in​ ​for​ ​the​ ​rest​ ​of​ ​both​ ​of​ ​your​ ​lives!

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●​ ​An​ ​interactive​ ​play​ ​session​ ​in​ ​the​ ​evening,​ ​followed​ ​by​ ​a​ ​wet​ ​food​ ​meal​ ​shortly​ ​before​ ​your bedtime​ ​will​ ​help​ ​them​ ​sleep​ ​more​ ​through​ ​the​ ​night.

● ​Put​ ​on​ ​a​ ​radio /​ ​music​ ​station​ ​with​ ​soft​ ​music​ ​and​ ​voices​ ​for​ ​them​ ​overnight.  "Music for Cats" by David Teie for example is a great choice that both cats and human alike can enjoy.

●​ ​Feed​ ​them​ ​wet​ ​food​ ​right​ ​when​ ​you​ ​go​ ​to​ ​bed​ ​-​ ​that​ ​protein​ ​in​ ​their​ ​tummy​ ​will​ ​satiate​ ​them for​ ​longer​ ​than​ ​dry​ ​food​ ​will.

●​ ​Give​ ​them​ ​a​ ​food​ ​puzzle​ ​with​ ​some​ ​dry​ ​food​ ​in​ ​it​ ​overnight​ ​to​ ​occupy​ ​their​ ​mind​ ​(dry​ ​kibble​ ​in a​ ​toilet​ ​paper​ ​roll​ ​with​ ​holes​ ​cut​ ​out​ ​and​ ​the​ ​ends​ ​folded​ ​in​ ​is​ ​free​ ​and​ ​easy),​ ​or​ ​a​ ​food​ ​puzzle like​ ​a​ ​​​plastic​ ​treat​ ​ball​ ​for​ ​cats.