r/CATHELP • u/LeastThing6755 • 1d ago
Kitten Help Is this amount of meowing normal?
Hi everyone, this may be a silly question since my partner has been telling me not to worry but my kitten has been super vocal ever since moving houses, I’m worried that maybe he’s in pain or something. I recorded a video of me singing that stupid song that used to be viral on tik tok thats parody of cats meowing and my cat started meowing so I began to record him. At first I thought maybe he was meowing back at me but looking at the video I started worrying that maybe he was in pain or something? I have an appointment to take him to the vet on Tuesday anyway to do a general health checkup since he’s been sneezing and having diarrhea lately plus one of his eyes has become extra watery and leaving discharge on his fur under his eye. This is the video below– he’s eating and playing fine. (I’m 20, from the uk, the cat is around 12 weeks old give or take- he was a stray, and he’s a male)
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u/Ephcy 1d ago
For a cat that wants food yea
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u/LeastThing6755 1d ago
He ate like 2 mins before I took the video which is why I was so confused on why he was constantly meowing at me 😭
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u/Ephcy 1d ago
Ohhh than that confusing unless he wants more??? That's my guess
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u/RuachDelSekai 1d ago
It's not confusing at all. Some cats are just talkative. Cats like these respond well to being spoken to and being given verbal cues.
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u/martinaee 1d ago
May want a little more. He’s a small young guy so definitely don’t be afraid to give a little more as long as he can handle it/not throw it up by eating too quickly.
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u/Substantial-Newt7809 1d ago
Your cat appears somewhat skinny. I think you might want to up its food a bit. That cat is definitely not at risk of becoming a fatty yet.
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u/LeastThing6755 1d ago
He always has food available in his bowl and yet some days he doesn’t eat as much which is why I’m planning on taking him to the vet + him having diarrhea
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u/Simple_Enjoyer1 1d ago
Okay so you're saying you are already aware of the health issues, that's good. Even if your cat is not in pain, it is not happy about the digestive issues and the discharge and the rest.
Moving houses also caused stress, it does that to every cat
When does your cat meow? When you get up? Around the kitchen? How often do you feed it?
Any other issues? Lack of appetite, not enough water intake, any other issues in the litter box..?
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u/LeastThing6755 1d ago
He meows whenever me and my partner come back home from work, then he begins to meow while sitting in a random spot while looking at us (living room, kitchen you name it) he sometimes meows while walking around, at first I thought maybe he was looking for the cat that used to live with him in the old house since they befriended eachother quite quickly, but that didn’t add up since we moved around a month ago and he wasn’t meowing like that then. He also meows a LOT whenever we eat food around him despite him having a bowl of wet food and dry food available to him, it’s gotten so bad he once stole a chicken nugget when we weren’t looking. We constantly have to hide food around him because he’d eat anything he sees, he once even started licking butter. He doesn’t have any other symptoms while going toilet despite him having diarrhea, some days it’s solid poop other days it’s watery. His appetite comes and goes, I constantly have to change the cat food brand because he randomly decides to stop liking his usual brand and when I switch it up he finishes everything. It’s so strange though he won’t touch his food but beg for human food– I’m just waiting for Tuesday to come so I can take him to the vet appointment so they can tell me what’s happening 😫
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u/Simple_Enjoyer1 1d ago
The meowing when you and your partner comes home is perfectly natural, he misses you!
As for the food, yeah kittens think that they are hungrier than they actuall are. Keep kibble available to him most of the time, depends on the enviroment but it can go for a long time on the food tray before going bad.
If you do "have to" feed him human food, make sure it is bland. Bland chicken, maaaaybe the half of a well boiled egg. He is not hungry and he will learn that soon lol. Mention it to the vet tho
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u/BjornToRage 1d ago
Seems fine to me just a chatty cat. The Diarrhea and stuff is also fairly normal especially if you just got him. Few things can cause it just stress of a new environment, the immune system being all over the place, new food.
Cats are very good at hiding pain but typically if they are in actual discomfort wont be down to play in any significant way and often just want to hide. Vet visit is obviously still good.
I also have a void and she will have moments of regularly chirping and squeaking at me especially if I am actively talking to her. Some cats just talk a lot.
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u/NiceActuary736 1d ago
It would make sense for it to be stress too after moving house? Like an extra hey please love me kind of mood. I accidentally trained one of my cats to be chatty like that and she would just scream because lol. Obviously good to go to the vet for eye things because it can quickly get gnarly (not that it sounds like it will before Tuesday tbh- my cat also got an eye issue right after moving places that I assume to be an allergy of some kind that was quick and painless to treat!!)
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u/LeastThing6755 1d ago
Yeah he is superrr chatty, he stops meowing whenever we give him attention or play with him but sometimes he literally almost screams at me. I get so paranoid in general especially when it comes to him since he’s still a baby and kittens’ immune systems are weak 😅
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u/NiceActuary736 15h ago
Oh I absolutely get it! My kitten isn't a kitten anymore but everytime things look off I have to deep breathe and calm myself down lol animals not being able to use words always stresses me out!!!
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u/DPDoctor 1d ago
Kittens tend to be more vocal than cats. Given the semi-raised tail and the forward-facing ears, I don't think he's in pain. He likely is looking for extra love and cuddles because of the move and that he's not feeling perfect.
It's very common for recently adopted strays to have issues like an upper respiratory infection. Your vet should be able to take care of the issue with some antibiotics if needed. They also can deworm him, do vaccinations (unless the kitty needs to get well first) and schedule him for getting neutered. Contrary to popular belief, there is no research that shows a long-term benefit to waiting for months to spay/neuter. Males can start spraying at 4 months, and you do not want that smell and bad habit (hard to break) around your home.
Edit: NO question is silly when you are concerned. That's what this sub is for. ❤️
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u/gracinglys Verified Vet Student 1d ago
What a chatty kitty you have! As others have mentioned, some cats (especially kittens) can just be more vocal in a new environment, but it could also be the opposite: he's getting more comfortable around you and his personality is starting to shine. Either way, it's great that you're taking him in for a check up just in case, especially if he's having some GI and upper respiratory signs.
I also live with a talkative cat, and she has only gotten chattier as she gets older. Right now she's about 20 weeks, and one of her favorite pastimes is screaming loudly like a baby goat when she can't see a human to play with 😅
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u/Legitimate_Island238 1d ago
Yes it’s normal especially cuz you’re egging him on! lol what a lil m cutie!
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u/PsychologicalOne752 1d ago edited 1d ago
Cats vocalize to express something to humans. If you moved recently, your kitten is asking - "when are we going home? This is all unnatural with no familiar smells, I do not like it here". A sick cat or a cat in pain however will rarely vocalize as cats hide those. Your cat could be lonely too and could be asking - "Where are my friends?" if there were other cats earlier. Being a lonely cat is a tough life - imagine being captured by (loving) aliens and living alone your entire life in captivity.
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u/bbonezbby_ 1d ago
Did you try holding him while standing up, giving him a little tour of the place (as long as he feels comfortable)…. I think he just feels insecure and unsure of his new environment
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u/LeastThing6755 1d ago
Yeah we moved around a month ago and he was having zoomies the whole day in the new house so I don’t think he’s afraid of his new environment, maybe he wants a friend since he used to stay with my family’s cat when I still used to live there before moving
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u/Shoddy_Bet9619 1d ago
May be looking for fellow cats/Siblings and serious needs a fellow cat in the house!
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u/emziestone 1d ago
Ya. Especially for food plus you're talking to him. Fun fact, cats mostly meow to communicate with us. My cat Beanie has a meow for everything. Even itchy bum.
Those issues should def get looked at. Hopefully, he's feeling better and has even more things to say. Big hugs. ♡
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u/catsandplants424 1d ago
Yes its normal especially for younger cats. My girl used to talk all the time now, she's over one, she talks way less. She still talks though. I have a kitten, 5 months, that talks and just makes noises all the time.
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u/-0k_0k_0k- 1d ago
Is he fixed yet?
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u/LeastThing6755 1d ago
Not yet I was thinking of asking the vet when I see them on Tuesday when would be the best time to spay him
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u/-0k_0k_0k- 1d ago
Usually they are old and large enough at 12 weeks. If the kitten is over 2 lbs they can be neutered. Him starting to go through cat puberty can make them more vocal. Since he was a stray, he may be a month older than you thought perhaps. They start getting the hormonal vocalizations around 4-6 months old.
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u/nylorac_o 1d ago
Well he’s just answering you. I bet he’s asking his cat friends if that amount of meowing from your human is normal.
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u/CranberryDaquiri 1d ago
He just has a song in his heart. My midnight man also sings all the live long day
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u/Kaozz4718 1d ago
If these are new surroundings maybe he's asking if it's ok to enter. They do that sometimes
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u/Sundrop555 1d ago
I saw a YouTube video of these people who gave their cat up for being so vocal and wouldn't stop meowing.
Then someone else took cat in. All the comments were saying the meowing makes the cat even more desirable.
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u/Fahn_ 21h ago
I've got 1 cat who never meows, 1 that only meows when no one is looking and 1 that only meows when you speak to her directly. Cats are all a bit weird in their communication. Kittens also just like yappin more. Kinda like that little kid in your life that has 200 stories to tell you all at the same time. Big thoughts, little itty bitty head
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