CAT MEOWING WHILE CARRYING A TOY? YEP, THAT’S A THING! AND NEWTIE DOES IT!
The only word that comes to me to describe it is that. Although cat meowing is close, it lacks the proper edge and crispness. Dog companions: This one concerns cats. If you want to discover a humorous cat-ism, continue reading. If you want to read something dog-related today, I strongly suggest this article about social skills for shy dogs and their owners.
Or, maybe it’s more of a mournful holler?
Nevertheless, Newtie has been yowling for roughly six weeks straight, every single night without fail. She always yowls when she walks upstairs while we’re downstairs if we’re on different floors. Then, while continuing to yowl, she takes up a cat toy in her jaws, moves it someplace else, drops it, and yowls once again.
She would never, ever, ever do this while we are close by, so it took us some time to make the connection between the toy moving and the yowling, but once we did, it made me think of her bond with Teddy. Do you folks still think about Teddy?
She spoke with Teddy, which is the primary difference. It was spoken informally. Chirpy. She spoke with Teddy, which is the primary difference. It was spoken informally. Chirpy.
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And it was when she was transitioning to life with dogs.
This led me to ponder: Is there any connection between this conduct and transition? Is Newt experiencing comparable stress now that Violet is here and Violet has become very mobile/terrifying? Or is there another factor at play here than stress?
What then do we do when we have a question? We research it! (I’m sorry. I’m sorry. (Having Sesame Street in mind…)
It turns out that people often Google “cat meowing while carrying toy”! There are around 5 million pieces of information online concerning cats that yowl and tote toys.
Side note: At first, we believed she was angry, so we would shout, “It’s OK, Newtie! Come down and grab a treat!” Or we could drive up to see her. Naturally, the actions would end right away. The image above. She is the one asking, “What?” as she peers over the steps at us. Now that we know she’s not unhappy, I want to record her doing this since it’s entertaining and very loud for a cat her size. However, if she senses our presence, she won’t do it.
Does your cat do this?
I’ve learned that cats vocalize more often while hunting or transferring kittens.
A very old Q&A I came across struck a chord with me (apart from the adorably adorable way British people spell “miaowing”):
Pet cats sometimes exhibit a modified version of this behavior, carrying toys about and perhaps concealing them. Additionally, some female cats may preserve toy collections that they often move about as if they were relocating a litter of kittens.
This behavior might make you feel sad since the cat is attempting to make up for whatever she is missing, but it’s more probable that these are merely ingrained habits of behavior that some cats find confusing and utilize in somewhat unsuitable circumstances.
On top of that, I discovered another intriguing piece that expanded the “inappropriate” portion of the first point to include play:
Mother cats would often capture prey and bring it back to their kittens to teach the kittens how to hunt, providing the kittens something to practice hunting on. Kitty wants you to notice when they make a big deal about having a toy in their mouth. Playing with toys isn’t the only activity that cats engage in. This kind of play gives your cat both cerebral and physical excitement while teaching them to display their riches via meows and other sounds. Cats meow when they find something fun to play with or when they want you to notice them or the object in their mouth. The cat’s meow may seem as if it is in despair, but in reality, cats are exactly the contrary and desire your attention.
Only because she dropped the toy and stopped playing when we went upstairs to check on her do I think she was being invited to play. She does the feline shoulder shrug.
That leaves us with two viable hypotheses, then:
- Ripley will be taught how to hunt by Newt. (Or Violet, perhaps?)
- Since Newtie was a street cat who was adopted after reaching sexual maturity, maybe she had kittens? Additionally, as stated in the first sentence, is “a bit confused” and still wants to relocate the cats.
Naturally, I’m not sure of the solution. Newt also won’t reveal anything! She’s trying very hard to explain something to me, but I’m the stupid one who can’t get it.
Conclusion:
If you’ve ever questioned why your cat meows while holding a toy, you may now understand that it’s a habit known as “meowing with prey.” Although they may not need to seek food within your house, cats have a natural urge to hunt. Therefore, when your animal companion proudly approaches you while meowing and holding a toy in their jaws, they are effectively displaying their hunting prowess and treating you as a member of their social group.
Understanding this behavior might help you and your cat develop a closer relationship. You can satiate their innate hunting drives and maintain their mental and physical activity by participating in interactive play with them and giving them intriguing toys. You also get to see their lovely demonstrations of devotion and playfulness, which is an additional treat.
FAQs:
Q: Is it normal for cats to meow with toys?
Cat Meowing when carrying toys is quite typical for cats. It’s an innate tendency derived from their propensity for hunting.
Q: Why does my cat meow with a toy in its mouth?
Cats meow to connect with their human friends by holding toys in their mouths. They share their “prey” for hunting with you since they see you as a member of their social group.
Q: Should I be concerned if my cat meows with a toy all the time?
Most of the time, there is nothing to worry about. However, it’s always a good idea to speak with your veterinarian to rule out any underlying health concerns if you see any abrupt changes in behavior or excessive cat meowing with toys.
Q: How can I encourage my cat to engage in play with toys?
A selection of interactive toys that resemble prey may help you get your cat to play with toys. Find out what piques your cat’s curiosity by experimenting with various materials, sizes, and motions. Additionally, employing wand toys or laser pointers during interactive play sessions with your cat might assist pique their natural hunting tendencies.
Q: Are there any toys specifically designed for cats that meow with prey?
A broad variety of interactive toys are available that appeal to cats’ natural hunting instincts, even if there aren’t toys made especially for cats that meow at their prey. To attract cats, look for toys that imitate mice, birds, or other tiny prey animals.
