Excessive Vocalisation in Cats

Excessive vocalisation describes a pattern where a cat meows, yowls, or cries more frequently, more loudly, or at unusual times—often enough that an owner notices a change from what is typical for that individual. Cats vocalise for many reasons, and what feels excessive depends partly on the cat's baseline: some breeds and individuals are naturally more talkative, while others rarely make a sound. Owners often arrive here because their cat has started calling out at night, meowing persistently near food or litter, yowling without obvious cause, or vocalising in ways that feel different from ordinary communication. The sound itself can vary—from quiet, repetitive meows to loud, distressed-sounding cries—and the context in which it happens (time of day, location, whether the cat seems settled or unsettled) often shapes what the owner is wondering about. This page explores the signals that can accompany changes in vocalisation, the range of things that may be happening underneath (from medical causes such as pain, sensory change, or cognitive shifts, to behavioural and environmental factors), how the pattern is investigated, and the approaches that exist depending on what is found.