Recently, many fans asked the cats what to do when they scream, which seriously affected their sleep and disturbed their neighbors. Whether they were in estrus. In fact, estrus is just one of the things, and there are many other reasons that may cau...
Recently, many fans asked the cats what to do when they scream, which seriously affected their sleep and disturbed their neighbors. Whether they were in estrus. In fact, estrus is just one of the things, and there are many other reasons that may cause cats to scream. Today, let’s review why cats like to scream.
Today's content:
(1) Causes of cats croaking
① Past learned experience
② Environmental factors
③ Genetic tendency
④ Disease factors
(2) Corrective methods
Reasons of cats croaking
Why do cats croaking? In fact, there are many reasons, mainly three categories:
Category 1: Experience learned in the past
1. Habits that owners are used to overly pampering cats
Cats are very smart animals. They can know that screams can attract human attention and get what they need, such as food, rewards, play, etc. Most owners, especially girls, will not be able to resist the meowing cats. When the cat is a little cute, they will "abandon the weapon and surrender", which is exactly what the cat wants.
From then on, cats will be better at using calls to obtain resources, after all, they are favored without fear.
Category 2: Environmental factors
1. Anxiety and uncertainty (i.e. stress problems)
When cats are anxious and feel that they are not sure about the environment and have strong uncertain feelings, it will increase the cat's uneasiness and thus vent their cats through screams.
There are many reasons for anxiety and uncertainty. Anything that makes a cat feel threatening or fear can lead to anxiety, such as cats outside, noisy noise, moving, visiting strangers, putting them in cages, etc.
In fact, this is one of stress. For detailed contents of stress, you can take a look at the article on cat stress: About cat stress, it can be big or small, and an in-depth analysis of cat stress
Note: If a cat likes torture, and your solution is to punish it and try to shut it up, this may increase the cat's anxiety and may also make the cat afraid of you. Although sometimes, the cat really stops chirping, the emotions cannot be vented through the crying, so it can only be expressed through other behaviors, such as urinating randomly. So punishment is not a good solution.
2. Insufficient resources
When cats' basic needs such as eating, drinking, defecation, sensation, and sleeping are not met, then cats will naturally ask for it through shouting, just like when people are hungry, they will say they are so hungry and want to eat.
The basic needs of cats include: correct food, sufficient amount of food, sufficient water source, number of litter boxes, type, location, cleanliness, places to sleep, areas to play (climb, grind claws, hunting, etc.), good interaction, etc.
In other words, if the cat is too bored, it will also yell because the need for play is not met.
Category 3: Genetic tendency
1. Instinct of kittens
Before the kittens were weaned, kittens relied entirely on the protection of the female cat, and the most direct communication between them was the cry, and the kittens called the female cat through the cry. Owners who have brought kittens know that if the kitten is separated from the female cat, the kitten will chirp very loudly.
So if your cat has just been weaned and picked up and the cat keeps chirping, then we need to understand. First, they leave their mother for the first time and are very scared and try to call their mother to come and protect themselves. Second, the anxiety and uncertainty mentioned above lead to stress.
2. Sexual maturity
As the cat matures sexually, the cat will have estrus, which may be like to scream, hoping to attract the other half through the screams. This is also due to the cat's genetic nature.
3. Breed
Like dogs, cats of different breeds like to bark differently. This is portrayed in the genes. For example, Siam and Pastoral are relatively more popular than English shorter and Garfield. If you don’t want cats to be chatterboxes, you can choose to raise a breed with a calm and quiet temperament.
Category 4: The impact of diseases
1. Any disease that can increase blood pressure, increase hunger or cause pain:
There are no specific diseases here, because there are too many types of diseases, and they may cause or promote excessive sounds in cats, such as gastrointestinal diseases, kidney diseases, lower urinary tract diseases, joint diseases, neurological diseases, etc. You need to take a pet for a complete physical examination and any necessary diagnosis to rule out all possible causes of the disease.
What to do
1. Rule out possible causes of the disease:
Take the cat for a complete physical examination and any necessary diagnosis, such as blood, urine, biochemistry, ultrasound and X-ray examination. To rule out whether the cat is uncomfortable due to the disease and likes to scream. After the disease is diagnosed, a treatment plan can be formulated.
However, note that sometimes treating a disease may only play a role in improving, such as treating arthritis, thereby reducing pain and cats crying. But this behavior may not be stopped because you may have developed a habit.
2. Solve the basic behavioral needs of cats and ensure sufficient and appropriate resources:
Meet the needs of cats, including the correct food type, amount of food and feeding frequency, water availability, the number, type and location of cat litter box, the type of cat litter, cleanliness, comfortable sleeping areas, places where claws can be grinded, climbing, and having favorite social interactions.
To put it simply, prepare it so that the cat doesn't need to worry too much, including timely massage and play.
3. Find and eliminate stressors, eliminate anxiety and uncertainty in cats
Anything that can cause cats to be anxious, uncertain, and fear may be a stressor. If possible, it is best to eliminate stressors, for example, do not take the cat out, protect the cat from disturbances by strangers or naughty children, set up a safe hiding area for the cat, so that the cat can hide in its own safe area, etc.
If the stressor cannot be eliminated, you should try your best to avoid or minimize the occurrence of stress. For example, because outdoor cats cause cats to anxiety, then we should avoid cats seeing outdoor cats. You can pull the curtains up, or prevent the cat from approaching the windows so that it cannot see them.
4. Avoid punishment behaviors
This is mentioned above. This may increase cat's anxiety, and may also make cats afraid of you and bring your relationship to freezing point.
5. Adoption and sterilization of appropriate age
Some owners will separate the cat from the female cat before the cat has been two months old. This not only affects the cat's physical health and causes it to be weaned prematurely, but also prevents the cat from fully learning the necessary skills and interests, that is, social learning is not enough. Moreover, it is most normal for cats of this age to sing.
So you can adopt older ones, usually adult cats do not like to meow.
After sterilization at the right age, cats will not be restless due to estrus, and they will no longer need to attract the opposite sex through their calls.
6. Establish routine and predictable daily activity arrangements:
Start action before the cat starts seeking attention, add shorter and more frequent activities, increase reward training, games, food, toys, etc., keep the cat awake during the day or at night, and consume the cat's energy, which helps the cat sleep better in the middle of the night and reduces the behavior of seeking attention.
7. Last and most important: Don't reward any type of attention-seeking behavior, including calling.
We must learn to meet the needs of cats in advance and ignore the behavior of cats seeking attention until the cat calms down. In other words, if a cat screams because he wants to eat, we need to ignore it and give food or rewards before calling or after the cat calms down.
Finally, let’s end today’s article.
