You noticed your cat rubbing against you sometimes. This didn’t look strange to you at the beginning. But, as time passed by, you noticed she seemed to be rubbing against everything. And, she’s meowing excessively while she’s doing this?
What’s going on? Do you have something to be worried about?
Well, I’ll tell you right at the beginning that your cat isn’t showing this type of behavior without a good reason. Actually, there are 5 common reasons why your cat keeps meowing and rubbing against everything.
By recognizing the root of this behavior, you’ll be able to stop it, since I believe this is quite annoying for all cat parents. This is why I’ve also prepared some decent solutions for all potential causes of this cat’s behavior.
1. She Wants Your Attention
Your cat keeps meowing, and rubbing against you, or any other object in your home?
There might not be anything wrong with her; she just wants to get some attention from you! Maybe she wants a little bit of petting or some playtime.
She’s meowing because this is her way of communicating with you, and she’s rubbing against everything because she knows you’ll not ignore this type of behavior! She’s expecting you to give her what she’s asking for.
How To Solve?
Since cats are quite independent pets, most of us have asked at least once if our cats even know how much we love them.
They might not show attention seeking behavior too often, but cats do need a lot of our time and devotion. Try petting her, giving her some new toys, and spending more time with her.
If she responds positively, it would be clear that your kitty just wanted to get a bit more attention from you!
2. She Might Be Anxious
Unfortunately, a cat that meows loudly and rubs against everything might be experiencing stress and anxiety.
She’s meowing to let you know she is in discomfort; she feels safe with you, and in some way, she probably sees you as her mother and is expecting you to help her deal with the bad feeling she’s having.
And what about all that rubbing?
She does this to transfer her body pheromones to objects inside your home. Cats feel better when they can smell their own scent, so this is their way of leaving their scent in as many places inside the house as possible.
Rubbing against everything is your cat’s attempt to relieve her anxiety.
But, why would your cat even be anxious?
According to Marta Amat and her associates [1], there are several causes of anxiety in cats, such as some environmental change, like the arrival of a new household member, any kind of deviation from her standard daily routine, or an inter-cat conflict.
Some anxious cats might also show decreased appetite, hiding behavior, or peeing in unexpected places, such as your bed.
How To Solve?
If your cat is dealing with anxiety, she will need a lot of love and support from you.
Make sure she’s comfortable and has everything she needs. Also, spend as much time as you can with her.
You should also try to figure out what’s stressing your cat out.
If things don’t seem to be getting better, you should consult your veterinarian. Your kitten might need medications to relieve her anxiety issue.
3. She’s Missing You
Some cat parents might find this reason even funny. Aloof, independent cats missing their hoomans? Is this even possible?
Oh yes, it is! If you’re spending a lot of time away from home, your cat might be lonely. And, she will try to show you this with some behavioral changes, such as meowing and rubbing against everything.
Separation-related problems are usually connected with dogs, but they can also be seen in felines.
Daiana de Souza Machado and her associates [2] imply how separation anxiety is more common in pets living in households with no other animals, and the ones without access to toys.
How To Solve?
I know it isn’t really possible for us to spend all of our time with our kittens.
But, there are some things you can do to make things easier for your cat when you’re not home. You can try leaving a radio or TV, to let your cat enjoy some calming music.
You should also provide your cat with enough toys to keep her busy while you’re away.
Also, all cats should have a place with access to heights, a nice and warm place to sleep, and an area appropriate for scratching.
If you have ever wondered if cats really need a cat tree, well, it meets all these three conditions so that the cat is happy and entertained even when her owner is not at home. So, yes, you should definitely provide your cat with a tree!
4. She Is In Heat
Do you have a female cat that hasn’t been spayed?
Then the most likely answer to your question: Why my cat keeps meowing and rubbing against everything? is pretty simple: she’s in heat!
When cats become sexually mature, they’ll manifest this through some changes in their behaviors. Males will run away from home to search for felines in heat, while females will meow loudly to let males in their surroundings know they’re ready to mate.
As Susan Little [3] describes, together with vocalization to attract the attention of males, female cats in heat might also have a poor appetite, might be restless, and are likely to show increased affection to their owners.
And, what about rubbing against everything?
Females are probably doing this to spread their smell as much as they can. It’s another way for them to call the males!
How To Solve?
If you’re a first-time cat owner, you should know that a female cat in heat might mate with multiple males, several times a day.
If you want to avoid this, you should keep your cat inside and make her comfortable as possible.
But, if you would like to permanently solve this issue, the only useful step would be to spay your cat.
This way, you’ll prevent her from having offspring, but, this procedure also decreases the chances of your cat having uterine infections, and even breast tumors!
According to VCA Animal Hospitals, if you spay your cat before her first cycle, there is less than 0.5% chance of her developing breast tumor.
Read Also: How To Get A Cat Out Of Heat With The Q Tip Method?
5. She Could Be Sick
Why my cat keeps meowing and rubbing everything?
She might be injured or ill. Cats can’t use words, but they can show some uncommon behaviors to tell us they aren’t feeling well.
Your cat excessively meowing and rubbing against you, or against any other item in the house, could be her attempt to ask you for help.
Once again, you’re the person your cat trusts the most and she believes you’ll help her.
You might expect your cat to cry loudly if she's in pain, but this isn’t likely to happen. Cats in the wild never showed their pain, because this would be interpreted as a sign of weakness, which could make them an easy target for predators.
So, cats have natural instincts to hide their pain. This means you’ll need to recognize some other signs that might show your kitten isn’t feeling well.
How To Solve?
You should check whether there are any visible wounds on your cat; maybe she got in a fight with another cat, or she got injured in some other way.
More importantly, you should consult your veterinarian right away. Since cats are good at hiding their pain, there might be a severe underlying health issue your cat is dealing with.
Therefore, don’t wait – ask for professional help as soon as possible!
References:
[1] Amat M, Camps T, Manteca X. Stress in owned cats: behavioural changes and welfare implications. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 2016;18(8):577-586. DOI, Retrieved April 24, 2023. [2] De Souza Machado D, et. al. Identification of separation-related problems in domestic cats: A questionnaire survey. PLoS One. 2020 Apr 15;15(4). DOI, Retrieved April 24, 2023.[3] Little, SE: Chapter 40 – Female Reproduction. The Cat: Clinical Medicine and Management, 2012, Pages 1195-1227. DOI, Retrieved April 24, 2023.
