One day you had the bright idea to mimic your cat.
He/she meowed at you and you decided to do your best to imitate them back.
Surprisingly, they seemed to understand something and they meowed back.
A meowing contest ensued!
But does meowing back at cats do anything?
We can all agree that they won’t be speaking the English language fluently any time soon and that we will not be able to mimic the mighty meow perfectly any time soon, either.
So, does meowing back at cats do anything?
Or are we just wasting our breath?
Keep reading to find out.
Yes! Meowing back at your cat definitely does something. In fact, meowing back at your cat does a number of things. Firstly, it strengthens your bond with your cat. If you want to be and feel close to your kitty-cat, then communicating with them is the way to go. Secondly, meowing back at your cat respectfully and in a non-threatening tone and volume communicates to them that you care, because you are giving them your full attention. Cats understand when you give them attention and generally when you are trying to communicate with them- especially if you do this the way they try to communicate with you, by way of meows and cat sounds. Thirdly, meowing back at your cat will help you understand each other better, as both of you learn to decipher one another. Lastly, Meowing back at your cat will help you understand the many reasons why your cat meows at you, from “feed me” to “open that door for me” to “your all right with me- I kinda like you.”
Is It Normal? Yes!
Many cats will meow back at you when you talk to them or meow at them.
Are you normal for meowing back at them when they meow at you?
Surprisingly, you are. You just really like cats.
According to my research, this question, “Is it normal for my cat to meow back at me,” is popular on Reddit, Quora, and many cat blogs, which shows us that many cat owners are talking or meowing to their cats.
One day I noticed that if my cat meowed at me, and I meowed back, he would keep meowing. This was very amusing to me. We kept it up meowing back and forth at each other, probably for a minute.
I can’t remember if I get tired of meowing first or if he does. I will take note of that next time we have a meowing contest. Meowing contests happen often at my house.
The first time I meowed back at my cat, I was trying to be cheeky and funny. I didn’t expect him to respond, but he did 🙂
The answer to this will not surprise you if you are a seasoned cat caretaker.
No cat is the same. Cats are all unique. There is a cat range from silent to very ‘talkative’. Please do not be upset or mad at your cat if they are not the talkative type.
If you treat your cat well, there is no doubt that your cat will adore you- whether they are very ‘verbose’ about this or not. Look for their affection in other ways. You will see it. But it will be very unique to them.
Dilara Göksel Parry, interviewed by BeChewy, states that “There is a pretty big range from mostly silent to quite chatty”.
Personally, my cat is about in the middle. But, interestingly, he talks most to the people he knows and trusts.
He will be verbal around those he is wary of or untrusting of, but in an aggressive, defensive way- not a social way.
Meowing back at your cat will strengthen your ties to your cat. You will feel closer to them and end up understanding them better.
However, it’s important not to scare your cat! Loud meows are the same as loud noises to them, and scary growly meows are still scary and growly.
If you do this, your cat will just get irritated, angry, scared, or all three.
On the other hand, if you meow back at your cat in a similar tone and volume level to their meow, it’s almost like you are showing them respect and attention.
After all, you are showing them respect and attention. You have most likely faced them, stopped your other activities, and given them your full focus, and because cats meow mainly at humans and not other animals, your cat will understand that you are trying to communicate with them.
How many times has your cat sat on your keyboard to get your attention? Swatted your leg as you have walked by? Meowed incessantly at you around supper time? Your cat totally understands when and when you are not giving them attention.
Cats may not understand the complicated nuances of the English language, (or whatever language you speak), but you don’t need a language to communicate to your cat that you are giving them your full attention.
I always feel a little closer to my cat when I meow back at him or try to ‘speak’ his language.
In fact, my cat has his own little terse “bbbllleeerrrfff” noise he makes when I walk by or enter the room, coupled with a head nod.
I have learned this is his way of greeting me. I couldn’t quite believe it at first. But he literally gives me a cool-cat, “hey your okay with me,” nod of the head and cat trill when I enter his space.
Sometimes even if he is half asleep.
A neat side effect of communicating with your cat, with meows or words or both, is that you learn to understand how they are trying to communicate with you throughout the day.
You become more in tune and in sync with their mannerisms, specific meows, specific tones and sounds, when they use them, and what they mean.
The next time they meow at you or make a noise that communicates their way of greeting, requesting, or showing that they are irritated- you will pick up on it and notice.
Cat meow back at us for all sorts of reasons. Common ones include:
-Greetings, human!
-Hey you are in my space, back off a bit or you might get a swat!
-Food, please!
-It’s past lunchtime. I want to eat. I mean I really, really, really want to eat!
-This is my favourite food! Feed to me now! Feed to me now! Feed to me now!
-Hey, I want some attention and love, please. You’ve been typing on that clicky thing too long, so I’m gonna sit on it so you’ll see me.
-Hey, I was sleeping and you woke me up!
-Hey, I was sleeping and a loud sound woke me up- what was that sound? Is everything okay?
-Play with me now!
-I want to go outside.
-I want access to this room.
-I want fresh water- this water you give me sucks. It’s stale and old. I want water from the toilet now.
-I love you. You are the best 🙂
Trying to communicate with your cat by mimicking their sounds, tones, and volume is a lot like getting down on the floor and playing with your cat at their level.
Will your cat understand exactly what you mean the next time you explain the plot line of your favourite movie?
Sorry, I don’t think so.
But cats will appreciate and see the effort you are making to communicate, and you will end up building a better relationship with your cat.
Both of you will get to know each other better and everyone wins!
Interested in understanding your cat even more by learning about what makes them happy? Check out our article on cat psychology here —-> how to make your cat happy!
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