Proven Methods To Effectively Manage Excessive Meowing

Excessive meowing simply refers to a behavioral tendency in cats that causes them to meow constantly. This constant meowing is especially frustrating and irritating when it keeps distracting you from concentrating on any activity - be it a phone call, cleaning chores, reading a book or catching on some sleep. Excessive meowing is thus a trying feline issue that can test the limits of even the most ardent cat lover.

Excessive Meowing - Psychological Explanations

New studies prove that excessive meowing is a cat's way of attracting attention. Most often, cats resort to non-stop meowing because they need to get something done. While sometimes the cat may be meowing for some food or urging you to play with it, at other times, the cat might just need to be let out.

There are also plenty of cases in which excessive meowing sessions were noted in cats who were bored. Such cases of feline boredom occurs when the cat is left alone at home for extended hours or when nobody at home has enough time to spare for the cat.

Interestingly, some cases of excessive meowing can also be traced to an ingrained behavior in cats who have long understood that their wishes will be instantly fulfilled if they meow long and loud. So, the instant they feel like curling up on your lap or simply being pampered, they put up their best meowing performance!

Excessive Meowing - How Most Cat-Owners React

When a cat is at its 'screaming best' during a bout of excessive meowing, it is natural for the cat-owner to lose his temper. But remember that yelling at the cat is not perhaps the best thing to do when it seems very keen on continuing the blare. In addition, shouting at the cat may also make it meow even louder.

When shouting at the cat seems useless, cat-owners then try to figure out what the cat is meowing for at the moment. Once the real reason is obvious, the owner tries to pacify the cat by offering it what it wants. And just when the owner begins to compliment himself on neatly managing that issue, the cat would have discovered a new reason to begin another session of excessive meowing!

Excessive Meowing - What Really Works

One of the best ways to manage excessive meowing is to completely ignore the cat whenever it begins to meow persistently. The cat may still continue the same behavior or try meowing louder for sometime. But eventually, it will realize that meowing is no longer going to work. It is important to spend time and shower extra care on the cat when it appears calm and quiet. This will teach the cat to keep the meowing to a minimum.

In case the excessive meowing sessions are triggered by boredom, you can reduce the frequency by sparing some time to play with the cat. Once the cat senses that you are paying enough attention, it will gradually shake its meowing habit off. Although retraining a cat is not as simple as taking it out for a vaccination or managing its flea control, you will finally succeed if you rigorously keep up the training.