Why Do Cats Caterwaul?

Our feline friends make lots of interesting sounds. Believe it or not, your cat can make over 100 distinct sounds—which is incredible if you ask me! Your cat knows how to meow, chirp, trill, growl, hiss, and—you guessed it—caterwaul. Every cat person has heard this echoing and very recognizable cat sound. But, although you know exactly what this sound is, do you know why cats make this sound? Keep reading to learn why cats caterwaul.

First of all, what is caterwauling in cats?

The Oxford Dictionary has a spot-on definition of this alarming cat sound. It is defined as “a shrill howling or wailing noise like that of a cat.” Many cat people will refer to this as yowling and technically speaking, these are the same things. The difference is that caterwauling is more like a combination of a yowl, howl, and whine. This startling cat noise happens for a few reasons, and it’s not just to capture your undivided attention. A caterwaul is used to get your or another animal’s attention, usually a cat. It’s persistent, hard to ignore, and most definitely used as a way for cats to communicate with humans or other animals that something is wrong.

Why do cats caterwaul?

Cats are notorious for using their many sounds to express themselves to the world around them. Your cat relies on their means of communicating with you—even if those forms of communication can be a pain in the ears sometimes. So, why do cats caterwaul? Well, they utilize caterwauling to protest, complain, or quickly get your attention.

Your cat is many things, but he/she is most certainly not a fan of change. Cats despise change with a passion—unless it’s on their terms. With that being said, caterwauling can often be heard when a cat is experiencing a sudden and drastic change in their daily life. Think of this form of caterwauling as a cry for help. In this case, do what you can to ease your cat’s mind.

Another reason why your cat is caterwauling? They could be doing this as a way to capture your attention directly. I’ve recently put my cat on a feeding schedule, and I can only say that he does.not.like.it. I’m doing this to help him shed some weight, and as a result, I’ve routinely heard him catering in my home when his food bowl is empty. Perhaps he’s crying to the cat food gods in hopes of a full bowl, but I can tell you that it gets my attention, and fast…especially when I am trying to concentrate while working on my computer.

Why do cats caterwaul at night?

You probably already knew this, but that cat sitting cozy in your living room is a crepsecular being. This means that they are most active at dawn and dusk. For cats that are permitted to travel outdoors, caterwauling can come as a result of catfights. Cats are territorial by nature, and this is especially true for cats that roam outdoors. Caterwauling is used among cats as a means to stake their territory. If an unfamiliar feline is to encroach on their territory, caterwauling can be heard loud and clear. This “back off now” signal is a cat’s way of letting another cat know they better get a move on—and fast. Cats love to roam when the moon is out, and they are in stealth mode, which easily explains why you’ll often hear cats caterwaul at night as they slink around in search of prey and other things that trigger their natural curiosity.

It’s reported that senior cats are more prone to caterwaul.

Sadly, cognitive dysfunction and vision impairment are all too common as cats grow into their golden years. VCA Animal Hospitals shares that, “Cats are historically nocturnal creatures, but with cognitive dysfunction, cats may howl at all hours. Since older cats often have hearing loss, they may turn up the volume on the evening concerts. With declining vision, they may wander aimlessly and stumble around the house and as they become increasingly frustrated, the caterwauling may escalate even more.”

If your cat’s caterwauling becomes an issue, it’s time to see the vet.

Your cat’s purr is mighty, and although cats are admired for their self-healing capabilities, not all wounds can heal independently. Your cat’s incessant caterwauling can occur when they are injured and experiencing significant pain. Cats are stoic beings who don’t like letting others know when they are hurting. This instinctual behavior stems from the fact that your cat doesn’t want to be viewed as vulnerable in the wild. Your cat doesn’t live in the wild, but this doesn’t mean this behavior isn’t hardwired into their brain. A cat caterwauling in pain is doing this as a last resort in a desperate cry for help. Don’t let them suffer; take them in for a checkup to see the underlying issue. This may stress them out, but getting them back to normal as soon as possible is necessary.

Want to learn more about interesting cat sounds? Check out this next article here on CattitudeDaily.com.