Blog – Page 3 – More Meows

Bengal cats are awesome because they look wild but are hybrids of various domestic felines. Like other domestic felines, Bengal cats have a tendency to meow. This article outlines the 13 reasons that a Bengal cat may be meowing so much! Check out the list below. 1. Are Bengal Cats Friendly? Bengal cats generally get along well with humans and other pets (A 4/5 rating for being good with dogs as noted by the VCA). They love to interact with their owners by meowing while rubbing their large bodies against their legs. The more time you spend with you Bengal, the stronger your bond becomes. So, the likelihood of your Bengal cat chatting because he feels friendly and is happy to be in your company may only increase as your bonds tighten. This brings us to our second point- feeling ignored. 2. Bengal Cats Need Attention However, according to the Veterinary Centers of America Inc., Bengal cats have a chattiness rating of 5/5. So, if your Bengal cat feels ignored, it might very well raise its vocals to get your attention. According to Hillspet, Bengal cats have high social and attention needs. Bengals tend to give louder and more persistent meows if and when you ignore them. The loud, constant meows may even include occasional headbutting and other strange noises. Bengals can also be a little jealous of other cats or pets, so when you're giving attention to another pet, expect some meowing from your Bengal in an attempt to reclaim your attention. Trying to fight it usually doesn't work; they are persistent little buggers. So, give in for a short while and give them the attention they so badly want. In addition, remember to respond to your Bengal gently and lovingly; this will reassure your Bengal cat of its place. In addition, engaging you Bengal in training is an excellent way to minimize its meowing resulting from loneliness. According to the VCA, Bengal cats score a trainability rating of 3/5. Your first task is to find a treat that your cat likes enough to put in a little work to achieve. Then, you need to follow the golden rule of changing behavior- reward positive behavior (being quiet) and remove the rewards for unwanted behavior. 3. Bengal Cat Activity Level Bengal Cat Many Bengals follow their owners right around the house, vocalizing at them to get their attention. They genuinely love being involved in whatever you're doing, whether it's making dinner, working on your laptop, trying to read a book, or having a minute to yourself behind closed doors. According to the Veterinary Centers of America Inc., Bengal cats are very demanding and want interaction with their owners and other pets. If they feel left out, they'll generally start meowing hysterically to remind you not to forget about them, especially when you go into one room and close them in another. I understand that it can be frustrating when trying to get something done without your furry friend "helping" you out, but if you own a Bengal cat, it's vital to understand their behavior. Bengal cats like to be in the same room as their owners. They often love following their owners around the home to keep an eye on everything they do and to get involved where possible. My advice to you, once again, is to give in. Allow your Bengal to sit in the same room or allow the kitty to follow you around the house. If this isn't possible, consider getting your Bengal a suitable playmate. 4. Bengal Cat and Litter Box Bengal cats are generally quite specific regarding their litter boxes. They tend to want their litter box exceptionally clean- at all times! Bengal cats are more particular than other breeds about the cleanliness of their litter box. However, Bengals aren't hesitant to inform their owner that it's time for them to start scooping. You may often come home to your Bengal yowling in your face to get to cleaning out its litter box, like asap! Unfortunately, some Bengal cats may want their litter box so clean that you'll find yourself cleaning out the litter box multiple times a day. Note: if you take too long to getting the litter box squeaky clean again, they may go off and find another "poop worthy" spot in your home. 5. Bengal Cats and Food A hungry Bengal cat equals a very noisy kitty! Bengal cats are one of, if not the most active of all cats. According to The Cat Fanciers' Association, they remain active well into their senior years. Due to their high activity levels and large bodies, Bengals often eat more than an average domestic cat. Therefore, Bengals are highly food motivated kitties, even when they get their meals on schedule. Their meows are inevitable when their eyes catch a glimpse of food or if they notice that you are prepping a meal. Bengals will come to find you and communicate if they feel that their bowl is empty longer than they like. These clever kitties may even go as far as to access their food once they figure out where you keep their food. Note that free feeding or feeding-first-thing are two everyday habits that most definitely contribute to your Bengal's excessive talking. So, if you are free-feeding or feeding your Bengal first thing in the morning, you need to consider stopping. According to TICA, most breeders recommend avoiding free-feeding adult Bengal cats. 6. Bengal Cats and Drinking Water Bengal Cat Adult Bengal cats need to consume at least 15 oz of water daily. If you are feeding your Bengal cat dry cat food, your Bengal needs to drink water for it to stay hydrated. In addition, if the dry cat food is a cheap brand full of preservatives, your kitty will generally be thirstier too. If you feed your cat wet canned cat food, your Bengal will likely get more hydration, but still need to drink water. Bengal cats generally prefer drinking freshwater and will tend to stop drinking water from a water bowl that has been sitting too long-they'll be sure to let you know when their water needs replacing with persistent meows! This contributes to why many owners complain that their Bengal cat drinks from the toilet instead of the water bowl (the toilet mimics running water). So, to prevent this unhygienic habit from reoccurring, always provide clean, fresh water for your Bengal to drink. 7. Bored Bengal Cat Bengal cats are generally extremely intelligent and active felines that need to have large amounts of attention, stimulation, and space to run, romp, explore, and play (Hillspet.com). According to Hillspet, The Bengal cat absolutely requires being able to run and exercise freely. In addition, pet Bengal cats can roam a territory of nearly 5 acres -that's a lot of walking within the confines of a house. A bored Bengal cat is sure to let you know that it's bored through plenty of loud meows! When your Bengal is a solo pet, they tend to become very attached to their caretakers. So, you need to ensure that your Bengal cat has plenty of toys to play with, with many of the toys being interactive. Bengals aren't happy being left in a room all day with zero entertainment and nothing to do. So, to alleviate boredom and let you know that they want out, they will meow continuously. If your Bengal paces up and down restlessly, gets into mischief more often than usual, and meows endlessly, your cat is bored. So, it's essential to set some time aside to play with your cat. Suppose your cat is constantly meowing from boredom or frustration, and you do not have the extra time to play with your cat as often as it requires interactively. In that case, you can consider getting another kitty for your Bengal. Another alternative to ensure your cat isn't bored and is getting enough exercise is to a cat wheel. 8. Territorial Bengal Cat Like many other cats, Bengal cats are prone to be territorial by nature. So, they tend to meow when they feel that something is threatening their territory. When another animal enters the Bengal's territory, the Bengals will generally start by warning the animal to leave through meowing and chirping vocalizations. They will, unfortunately, go to great lengths to maintain their territory. So a logical solution is to ensure that your Bengal cat is kept indoors (ASPCA.org). If you have other cats or pets, offer each their own bed or hideout specifically for them to minimize stress and territorial behaviors. 9. Bengal Cat Hunting It's prevalent for Bengal cats to meow and chirp when they see birds and other small creatures like mice and hamsters that they like to hunt. This is because birds and small animals trigger a Bengal's predatory instincts that they inherited from their ancestors. It is not advisable to own a bird and a Bengal cat. You'll fail miserably to get your Bengal quiet for even a minute! Birds, in particular, seemingly trigger Bengals. They will make a variety of meow and chirping sounds. 10. Bengal Cat Prey Drive To add to the previously mentioned reason, your Bengal will proudly announce catching a bird or mouse anytime it catches prey. Bengal cats have strong hunting instincts. So, if you allow your Bengal to roam freely during the day, they may surprise you with birds and mice as gifts. However, even an indoor cat might carry a weak-looking toy around in its mouth to feel the thrill of catching prey. 11. Why Do Bengal Cats Yowl? Also known as "calling," your Bengal cat may yowl or meow more than usual when in heat. When a cat is in heat, its meows tend to be excessively loud and annoying to get attention. It can drive owners nuts because a female Bengal will go on heat every 18 to 24 days throughout the breeding season (ASPCA.org). Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do about the yowling. It is a natural response to the changes occurring in the cat's body. According to the ASPCA, the best way to reduce excessive meowing in a female Bengal cat is to have it spayed or neutered. 12. Bengal Cat Health Issues Bengal cats are prone to Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Feline Infectious Peritonitis, and EPK-deficiency. According to Animal Health Center, Bengals are seemingly at higher risk for developing Feline Infectious Peritonitis than other cat breeds. Suppose your Bengal cat is constantly meowing loudly and exhibits changes in behavior such as being less active, a decreased appetite, or not wanting to play like usual. In that case, your Bengal might be stressed or sick. Note that Bengal cats are often misdiagnosed with Intestinal Bowel Disease. However, according to The International Cat Association, an appropriate high protein diet, as well as parasite testing, can clear any real issues. When your note these symptoms, you should get your Bengal to the vet as soon as possible. 13. Bengal Cat Aging Elderly Bengal cats can suffer from mental confusion or cognitive dysfunction (ASPCA.org). As a result, they meow more due to being disoriented. Elderly Bengal cats are also prone to develop cataracts during old age (can even occur in young Bengals). Cataracts can cause a cloudy appearance in the cat's eyes that can significantly impact the Bengal cat's vision. In addition, if your elderly Bengal suffers from Progressive Retinal Atrophy, it will go completely blind in most cases. So, your elderly Bengal cat might be meowing a whole lot more because of its limited vision and increase in dependency. Conclusion Bengal cats are wonderful felines that can have the tendency to meow or yowl. This article outlined 13 reasons that Bengal cats may meow a lot. Some of the reasons mentioned were Bengal cat aging, being territorial, and hunting. If you enjoyed this article, please check out a few more: Are Bengal Cats Easy to Train? (Training and Tips): Click Here To Read Article.Do Bengal Cats Like Water? Find Out Why They Love It: Click Here To Read Article.Can Bengal Cats Drink Milk? Important Information: Click Here To Read Article.