Why Do Cats Meow Back At You. Cats often meow to humans as a way of greeting them or asking for something like food or even to be let outside.
If a cat does return a human’s meowing, it’s returning the favor because cats tend to imitate their owners so they talk to us in the same way as we do talk with one another.
However, cats don’t use this form of communication when they’re communicating with other cats they only do this with humans.
Why Do Cats Meow Back At You
Cats meow back at you when you talk in order to get your attention. They might also do so to let you know that they are hungry, stressed, or potentially upset with something you’ve done. Essentially, a cat’s meow can communicate many things. It’s important to learn how to accurately interpret all of your feline companion’s vocalizations in order to help ensure that they continue to maintain a healthy lifestyle and feel happy around the people they care about most.
Here are tips on figuring out what your cat meows mean and what to do in order to improve their quality of life while enriching yours as well.
Why Do Cats Meow
While it is commonly believed that cats are moody and demonstrate very little emotion when it comes to communication with humans, they actually prefer speaking through non-verbal body language and smell.
The foremost expert on cat behavior, John Bradshaw suggests that “when one thinks about speaking with a cat, it’s kind of like dealing with a deaf person.”
He goes on to explain that their social behaviors have developed from cooperation rather than competition.
Way Of Communication
Cats meow to communicate with their owners just as they might “purr” when they’re content. If a cat meows, then they want you to pay attention.
If a person mews at the cat, then it’s likely the cat will meow back because it doesn’t realize the owner isn’t its source but rather another random feline that happens to be close by.
Looking for Attention
There are several ways to get a person’s attention, including meowing. Although not every cat will respond in kind, it is widely known that cats can be drawn to humans using this vocalization.
It is oftentimes used by the mother toward their kittens as an expression of nurturing or care.
After all, if you tend to the needs of your pet in return when they mew at you then they will likely learn what works and what doesn’t – especially if your response to mewing is that of fulfillment.
Angry
Your cat meowing back at you doesn’t necessarily mean that your kitty is happy.
In fact, your cat might be trying to tell you something with their meowing and even yowling.
If you’re doing something your kitty is not a fan of, they might let out a few meows and even some low yowls to let you know just how displeased they are with you.
Pain
Any unexpected change in behavior can be a sign that your kitty may be feeling sick. Cats are very good at hiding their illnesses, and this is a defense mechanism because, in the wild, the last thing that they would want to do is show any signs of weakness to other animals.
If you discover that your cat has suddenly become rather vocal you may want to consider taking them to the vet to have them checked out as soon as possible.
Some other behaviors that can indicate there’s an underlying problem include the increased presence of drooling.
Excitement
When cats meow back and forth with one another, it’s a bit like how excited people use us and ahhs when they speak.
It’s not necessarily trying to say anything, but since these felines are naturally more reserved when it comes to interacting with others.
This is because you might own an older cat who may have preferred peace and quiet before now. Or your feline may just be that shy type of person altogether.
Summary
Cats have learned to communicate with humans. Since you are their caretaker, it only makes sense that they will let you know when they’re sad or in trouble. Usually, this behavior is not much of a problem. However, some cats meow excessively when they aren’t sick. A sudden increase in meowing can be a sign that your cat is unwell. Cats usually don’t vocalize more when they are sick instead, they try to hide and draw little attention to themselves to make you think there’s nothing wrong.