Why Do Cats Meow Back At You When You Talk to Them?

Since cats are complex animals, it will be challenging for most cat owners to understand why they’re behaving differently, even though it might be challenging for you to interpret how your cat communicates or why she’s meowing at you. No matter if you’re speaking or not, it’ll be difficult to understand the reason behind your cat’s meowing. Most cat owners frequently ask this question: Why do cats meow back at you? Why does my cat meow at me when I talk to her?

When your cat meows at you, it probably means they’re greeting you. Sometimes, they want something like food or permission to go outside or play. Cats usually meow back to you when a human does because they always copy their caretakers to communicate with them similarly as they do.

Sometimes cats’ meowing also expresses their hunger, frustration, or aggression. Although cats may lack intellectual senses still, they can hear a variety of vocalizations that humans can’t. In addition to this, cats may meow back to you to get your attention and be heard.

So, if you’re curious to learn more about the significance of your cat’s meows and what it means when they meow at you, continue to read this article. This article will help you to understand what your cats are saying to you when they meow back. Let’s dive into the details:

Do Cats Like When You Talk to Them?

Yes. Although cats are famous as cold and stubborn animals, most cats eventually develop close relationships with their owners. Moreover, cats are attracted to their owner’s voices, mostly when their voice is soothing or gentle. When you’re communicating with your cat, it’s very important to consider your voice’s tone and volume.

Yelling or shouting at your cat may irritate or frighten them. Cats also understand and respond when you call out their names or if somebody calls their owners names. So, they meow or purr in return whenever you talk to them politely. 

Find Out: Do Cats Understand Words?

Benefits of Communicating With Your Cats

It’ll be beneficial for your cat as well as for you if you communicate with each other. However, they may not completely understand what you are saying. But they’re willing to answer questions and pay full concentration to you while you’re talking.

So, those people who share their issues, anxieties, and failures with their cats—feel less stressed. Thus, chatting with your cats is good for your mental well-being.

Talking to your cat will offer advantages for both of you in addition to your furry friend. Here you can read some of them:

• It helps to create a strong bond between you and your cat.
• When you spend most of your time talking to your cat, your cat feels comfortable with you. Moreover, it helps you to understand your cats’ actions well.
• Cats are smart creatures, and when you talk to them continuously, they’ll understand your nature, moods, commands, and emotions as well.
• The more time you spend with your furry fellow, the more easily you’ll get to know that there’s something wrong with them. In this way, you can quickly recognize whether they’re sick or uncomfortable.

7 Reasons Why Do Cats Meow Back at You?

Even if you meow like your cat to make her feel that you understand her, still, she’ll make every effort to let you know what they desire and require. As you’re the main caretaker of your cat, you must know the reason behind their meowing. Here I’ve enlisted 7 reasons that let you know why your cat meows back at you:

1. They’re Trying to Chat With You

Cats are also known as copy cats as they used to copy their owners. As they mimic what you do, they’ll give a polite meow in return for your meow at them.

This way, they’re trying to communicate with you by meowing to ask for food or affection. So, it is advised that you must treat them with their favourite treat or hug them in return; to show your positive response to their meows.

2. To Appreciate You

Cats are considered the sweetest pets, regardless of the nasty reputation they’ve developed through the years. In some cases, a cat may simply meow to express their love for you.

Cat’s murmuring, rubbing against your body parts, and slow eye blinking are the actions that show that they’re conveying their love to you.

3. Greeting You

If your cat is very close to you, she may miss you as you come back home from your office or on a long trip. They feel grateful as you eventually meet them by meowing at them. At that time, they may show tiny meows that signify “I miss you” or “Hello”.

4. To Grab Your Focus

If you’re busy doing your household tasks or a job requiring plenty of time and attention, then it’s normal for your cat to get jealous and start meowing continuously. This continuous meow also indicates that they need your time and attention.

5. To Show Their Emotions

Cats use different styles of meows to show that they are happy, sad, angry, or scared. It shows that if they growl at you, they’re angry or scared. But if they do short meow in a series with erect ears, it shows that they’re excited.

Moreover, if they look weak or produce mourning meows, then it shows that they might be suffering some pain or stress.

6. Need Food/ Feeling Hungry

When your cat is hungry, he may produce loud meows in series. So, you must fill up his food dish whenever you hear that sound.

It’s likely you’ve noticed your cat making the meowing sound when he’s hungry if you’ve had him for a while. When a cat wants to be fed, it often meows quite dramatically, and many cats don’t stop until they are fed!

7. To Seek Your Permission to go Outside

Your cat may meow to show that they need your permission to go outside to play. Independent cats won’t do this; instead, they’ll go out without your permission. However, your pet cat always seeks your permission to go in or out.

You Might Like to Read: What Do Cats Think About All Day?

Does My Cat Understand When I Meow Back?

Compared to other animals, cats aren’t able to understand any language. However, they try to communicate with their owners via a variety of vocalizations or tones, such as purring signals, screams, hissing, and growling.

However, most people frequently ask this question that Does My Cat Understand When I Meow Back? Yes, they may understand that you’re talking to them, but they can’t engage in long conversations with you.

The following actions will help you know whether your cat understands your meows or not:

• Escapes or hiding: This action shows that your meows have scared your cat.

• Approach: If your cat comes back to you when you meow at her, it shows that they want your attention.

• Cocked head while staring: If your cat cocks her head while gazing at you, it shows that she’s trying to understand what you’re saying.

• Tail motions: If you greet your cat or give her a command, look at its tail; if it’s pointed upward or bent into a question mark, it’s greeting back to you or obeying your order.

Do Cats Like It When You Meow Back?

It’s much appreciated if you meow back to your cat, as your cat considers it as a sign of affection or attention. When you meow back at her, your cat feels that you understand her and listen to what she’s saying. Thus, this action makes your bond stronger with your cat.

However, it’s important to note that cats have a variety of vocalizations and meows can have different meanings depending on the context. Some meows are used for greeting, while others may indicate hunger, playfulness, or even distress.

So, while meowing back at your cat can be fun and playful, paying attention to your cat’s body language and other cues is important to understand what they’re trying to communicate.

Also, Check Out: Do Cats Get Mad At You? Do Cats Get Angry?

What Do Their Meows Mean?

Cats can communicate in a broad range of ways, i.e. verbally/non-verbally. Meowing is the most common method that your cats prefer for communicating with you.

But before meowing back to your cats, you must understand what your cats are saying. It might be difficult to know what their meows indicate. Don’t worry, and here you’ll learn some common expressions of cats that help you understand what their meows say:

Types Of Cat Meows

• Purr: When your cats produce a purring sound and meow while you’re cuddling, they feel pleased with that time. Meowing at that time signals that they want you to continue purring. But if they meow harshly, it means that it’s enough for them, and you must stop purring them. 

• Chirp-chatter: A cat’s chirping is an adorable way of expressing happiness. Kitty chirps are usually quick, repetitive, “bird-like” sounds that are very quiet. He will often make this sound when he sees a bird out the window. Some owners consider it a chirp, while others think it is more like a chatter.

• Meow: A laid-back meow will signify several things. Meow shows that your cat wants to say hello to you or she’s trying to express herself. However, if cats may meow and stare at you continuously while meowing, it means they want to grab your attention. Likewise, a prolonged meow shows they need food, toys, permission, or other things.

• Yowl: However, if your cat yowls at you with a high pitch, it signifies they’re facing discomfort or wants to mate. In some cases, they may want to communicate with you to tell you about their conditions.

Also Read: Why Does My Cat Meow at the Door?

Frequently Asked Question

Final Wthoughts!

In a nutshell, cats usually meow to tell their owners what they are looking for and how they feel. By communicating with your cat via meowing back at her, you’ll be able to understand them better, and it also helps you to develop a close relationship with your furry friends.

Most veterinarians thereby advise that you must stay open and eagerly listen to your cat’s meows and try to understand what your feline fellow is telling you.

Even though cats may not recognize what you’re trying to say to them, it’s still important to meow back at them occasionally. As they try to interact with their owners after becoming tamed, meowing back at them is the best effort we can make for them to make them more comfortable.