Meows during this time usually indicates kitty distress or even fear. Your cat is in the vet's waiting room. Crying at the vets is common with cats and mean everything from the cat hating his carrier and wanting out, to being scared of the strange sounds and smells at the vet.
Cats are territorial and protect their turf. If a stranger (animal or human) comes inside their protected perimeter, they may caterwaul. Even if the intruder stays outside, they may yowl. Expect some singing if your cat sees birds, squirrels, mail carriers, etc.
One of the most common reasons that cats scream is because they are scared. If you've ever seen your cat truly frightened and fearful, then he may have screamed at the time.
A yowl or howl (they sound like loud, drawn-out meows) tells you your cat is in some kind of distress—stuck in a closet, looking for you or in pain. Find your cat if they're making this noise. However, in unaltered cats, these sounds are part of mating behavior.
Cats associate loud noise with danger, which is why they have a natural aversion to sudden bangs and booms. But while it's normal for cats to dislike noise to a certain extent, some cats can be so scared of noises that they develop heightened sensitivity to sound, or so-called 'noise phobia'.
Of course, your cat may understand that the change in your volume means something is different, but yelling may scare your cat or call too much attention to negative behaviours. Yelling may cause your cat to feel stressed and anxious, which can cause additional misbehaviour.
Yelling may cause your cat to feel stressed and anxious, which can cause additional misbehavior. Don't rub your cat's nose in an accident: The only thing you're going to accomplish by rubbing your cat's nose in her accident is upsetting her.
Hitting or shaking your cat can scare them, create hand-shyness or potentially cause harm. You're more likely to experience these unintended consequences than to teach a lesson. Similarly, yelling at your cat can stress them out and over-emphasize the attention to bad behavior.
Purring: Cats often purr when they are content and happy.
When a cat is receiving attention or affection from their human, it may purr as a way to express its appreciation.
Cats don't cry tears when they're sad or in pain. But Halls says whether your cat is experiencing emotional or physical pain, they'll exhibit behavioral changes that could include vocal crying. The sound of a cat crying is typically longer in duration and lower in frequency than day-to-day cat chatter.
Stay near your cat when you're trying to calm her down. Speak soothingly or sing a lullaby. Pet her if she seems to desire it, but don't grab her or hug her. If she comes to you and climbs on your lap, of course, you should allow her to get as close as she wants, but let her be in control.
Resist the urge to shout at her or give her any form of attention, even angry attention. Instead, be patient and wait for a brief moment of silence. Immediately give her the attention she craves. If she starts to meow again, walk away, and only return to her when she's quiet.
To summarise, cats don't think about their day or how they feel. But they do think about previous situations they have encountered. For example, when your cat is chilling out, it's not thinking about anything in particular.
They Feel Fear or Threatened. When your cat feels afraid or threatened, they will often meow more. This behavior could occur if there is a thunderstorm or fireworks outside and they do not like loud noises. This noise could make them cry or cower and hide in the corner.
These are “alpha cats.” They are natural leaders; they refuse to be led and attempt to take charge of practically every situation. These cats like their food when they want it and the way that they like it … or else. They may only let you touch them for short periods of time and then again, only on their terms.
Every cat is different, but there are a few feline behaviours that may be your cat's way of saying they'd like to patch things up. They include, Approaching you (it's a little gesture, but it means they feel safe) Head butting and rubbing.
Short meow or mew: A standard greeting. "Hello!" Multiple meows or mews: An excited greeting. "Great to see you!"
It's often possible to discipline a cat out of these types of annoying behaviors by clapping your hands, raising your voice, or using an air spray. It's not a good idea, however, to discipline your cat by hitting it, frightening it, grabbing it by the scruff of the neck, or other negative methods.
Our team of vets agree that using water bottles to discipline cats isn't the best course of action. According to Dr. Dwight Alleyne, “Spraying cats with water can create a negative association with humans. As a result, they may become more anxious or even aggressive over time.”
The good news is, despite their reputations for being antisocial, cats love bonding and they do forgive and forget. So, if you're at a loss as to how you're going to rebuild trust and affection with your cat, don't fret.
Being picked up and held can make some cats nervous, as they are being restrained in your arms. This limits their options for escape if anything were to startle them. Cats are independent creatures, and although they often like to be up high, they like to choose their own perch and not be restrained whilst doing so.
“Cats don't forgive, and once they realize a person is causing them anxiety or hurt, they keep away.” So says John Bradshaw, an anthrozoologist at Bristol University and author of “Cat Sense: How the New Feline Science Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet.”
Be calm and quiet, and move slowly and with purpose, no sudden movements or flailing around or loud noises. And most importantly: do your absolute best to never hurt or scare the cat again. Is yelling at your kid and hurting them abuse? By definition, absolutely, yes.