Meowing Round The Clock
Is your cat driving you mad meowing non-stop for food? Or is she waking you at 3am with her special song? Read on!!!
Though cats communicate mostly by body language, some cats ‘talk’ more than others. This is probably in part genetic (some breeds such as the Siamese are especially prone to this) and part learned behavior.
Your cat may have learned that if she meows, people will talk to her, play with her, feed her or even yell at her. For some cats, negative attention is better than none at all. Some owners like to ‘talk’ with their cats, so if you adopted your cat as an adult, it is possible that a prior owner encouraged this behavior. If you brought a kitty up, you may unknowingly ‘reward’ this behavior.
Cats learn to communicate with us, just as we learn to communicate with them. Maybe when the litter box is dirty, your cat draws your attention to it by walking around and meowing, and so you clean the box. This is how behavior pattern starts. Cats also meow to express discomfort or pain agitation and in some cases, territoriality.
Un-neutered male cats may yowl in conjunction with sexual behavior, and female cats in heat may meow excessively as well.
Do not reward. This should be the backbone of your behavior modification plan. Pay attention to your kitty when she is being quiet and wait for a moment of silence before you feed her. Ignore her when she meows, no matter how insistently. Remember that if you break down and give your kitty attention, you will have to start all over again.
Make sure your cat’s needs are met. Cats need attention and interaction, so make sure that somewhere in you daily schedule you allot times for play and petting. Cats like routine and will meow excessively if this is upset, so do try to do all your cat-related duties, like feeding and cleaning the litter box, on a set schedule as much as you are able.
Provide your cat with stimulation. Keeping your cat indoors is much safer, but they will need to be entertained and encourage exercising. New toys and food cubes that make kitty work to get her food help keep her from getting bored. Interactive playtime is the best kind of playtime for cats. Fishing-pole toys or even balls of paper that your cat can chase could be integrated into a daily routine.
Ensure that fresh water is available at all times, and make sure her diet is adequate. If she seems hungry all the time, consult with a veterinarian knowledgeable about nutrition to see if some supplementation would help.
Be Patient! It takes time for cats to learn behaviors, and often takes even more time to unlearn them. In order to make a change in your cat’s meowing, you need to be very consistent and give your cat time to adjust.
