My cat is acting crazy and now I feel crazy!
He wanders around the house and meows. But, he wanders into rooms that are empty to do this.
I can’t figure out why he is doing this, and this has been happening now for days!
I’m busting my brains trying to figure out the answer to, “why does my cat meow in another room?”
Looking for the answer to this question? It comes up more often in cat ownership than you might think. Read on to determine the cause of your cat’s unearthly behavior, and solve their wandering meows.
Your cat will meow in another room if they want you to meet one of their needs, if they want your attention, if there is something living in the walls and/or ceiling of that room, if they are looking to find a mate, if they are aging, or if they are ill. Although their behaviour may seem strange to you, there is surely a cause. You will need to do some investigating on your end to solve the mystery. This will include doing an inventory of their needs to make sure that they are met (including the need for attention and play from you) and thinking about your unique household and relationship with your cat. In some cases, your veterinarian may need to assist you- as in the cases of aging, illness, or the need for more wisdom.
Your cat is trying to get your attention to draw your attention to something that he/she wants.
Since your cat is a smart cookie, they have figured out that meowing loudly against walls amplifies the sound of their voice and that doing this in another room is out-of-the-ordinary behavior. And, they have figured out that this is a powerful combo to get you, their beloved owner, alert and wondering right away!
But, what your cat needs or wants can definitely vary greatly. Finding the unmet need will depend on some sleuthing on your part, and on the knowledge of your relationship with your cat.
For example, your cat could want to go outside, your cat may have an empty food bowl or water dish, your cat may want access to a room, or for you to fix something that has gone wrong in another room- like a loud noise that’s bothering them, coming from you blending up a smoothie in a Vitamix.
To find the answer that you are looking for:
1) Do A Mental Or Physical Check Of All Your Cat’s Needs. (A physical check is better- if you walk around the house you might find something that you don’t expect.)
To illustrate, walk around the house and check. out. all the places that your cat frequents and uses. Is. the litterbox needing a cleaning? Is their food bowl empty? Is their water fresh? Is something blocking access to a favorite thing like a room or toy?
This is of course not an exhaustive list, and will, of course, be at least somewhat unique to your home, you, your cat, and other family members.
2) Try To Think Outside The Box.
For example, when your cat is not meowing, what are they usually doing? Do they love climbing on a tall piece of furniture that has recently been taken away? Cat’s love their vertical space. Your cat could be meowing in another room because they are looking for more vertical space to climb and missing it!
Or, has there been a recent change that may have alarmed your cat? Perhaps you are sauteing vegetables and they don’t like the sound of that!
Is there something alarming in the room they just came from? Something could be broken or causing a problem- maybe a tussle with another family pet in the adjoining room and your cat wants to be left alone.
If your cat is frequently going to another room, meowing, and pacing around in no apparent pattern, this is one thing.
But, if your cat is going into another room, but also seems fixated on a specific spot in the wall or the ceiling, they may be meowing at something living inside your walls or ceiling!
Cats are very skilled at hearing small critters inside your walls. You may have rats, mice, or simply insects scurrying around inside there- and your cat can hear it!
This is an entirely different topic all together. The key is to observe if your cat is focused and meowing keenly at something. Most of the time, they will just be wandering and meowing, and will not be frequenting the exact same spot in the room, like a preferred spot in the wall, or ceiling.
If they are doing this, check out our thorough articles below for extra guidance.
related =====> is your cat meowing at specific places in the wall? For answers why see this article here.
related =====> is your cat meowing in a different room, but you’ve noticed it’s at the ceiling in that room? See this article to solve.
related =====> is your cat meowing at a ceiling fan in another room? Consult our article here.
A very common reason that cats meow in another room is because they want your attention!
Approach your cat and note if they nuzzle. your leg, rub their head against your leg or flip over for a tummy rub.
These are all sure signs that your cat wants to engage with you!
Make sure to spend some extra quality time and TLC on your kitty-kat!
It’s important to note that even though your cat may have lots of toys, they can still be lonely for you. Cats need regular playtime with their owners, something that is often overlooked or treated as a ‘dog thing only.’
It is definitely not a dog thing only and your cat needs daily playtime with you to be emotionally and physically well and happy.
Of course, your cat could be in heat if they are not spayed or neutered.
Spaying and neutering your cat is important if they are an outdoor cat to avoid stray kitten litters on the streets. However, it is also important for your cat’s health.
Certain cancers, among other illnesses, are more likely to be avoided if you spay or neuter your feline. It can also increase your cat’s lifespan.
In a similar way to aging humans, as your cat grows older, their cognitive abilities may decline.
Symptoms of this can include disorientation and the need for constant contact. Both of these things may lead your cat to meow in another room.
Simply put, they need reassurance from you because they feel confused or can’t remember clearly. In this situation, they may need you to come alongside them and remind them that you are there and that you are caring for them- this will help bring clarity and remembrance.
As Better With Cats had noted, aging cats tend to have a meow with a more urgent tone, and they tend to meow more at night.
If the cognitive decline continues, your cat can develop dementia.
If you suspect that this is your cat, we highly recommended visiting a vet to help you understand your cat’s condition. They can give you the right tools to care for and love your cat in this context.
They can also help with specific concerns like wandering and meowing in random rooms of the house. Be sure to remember to bring this up with them! They are often wells of insight.
Additionally, cats can meow excessively from certain illnesses at any age. It’s always wise to have your cat checked out by a vet to rule out any underlying health concerns.
Particularly, a trip to the vet may be in order if you cannot determine an obvious cause for their behavior if it is accompanied by other strange behaviors if it is accompanied by other symptoms of illness, or has randomly started out of nowhere.
Is your cat wandering around your house meowing in different rooms?
This article has you covered.
There are many reasons that your cat may be doing this, from asking you to meet an unmet need to showing symptoms of illness or aging, and everything in between.
Some observation and detective work, along with this article, will help you on your quest.
You now have a thorough guide to help you solve the mystery of, “why does my cat meow in another room?”
Leave a comment