So, my cat used to be uber quiet, and then all of a sudden...

Hi y'all!

First off, I'm quite sure it's not health related vocalization, because this poor guy's been traipsed to the vet three times in a month, the last visit being two days ago. Right now we're looking at a possible viral infection, because he's still got what I call "blinky eye", but beyond that, the vet says he's in excellent health.

When I first adopted him, Binx wasn't very vocal, except for annoyed/scared meowing while riding in the cat carrier (don't most?). I got used to his lack of vocalization, but in the last week or so, all of a sudden I'm getting random meows and I have no idea what they mean.

I've gotten the knack of recognizing the quiet "wake up and feed me, Mom" meow (which usually comes with a few pokes at my face), the "YAY! FOOD TIME!" meow, "Look, Mom, I made poo!" meow, and possibly a "Hey, you're home!" meow... but beyond that, I don't quite get what he's trying to tell me! It's so confusing, and he's a Russian Blue, so I'm even more lost, because his expression is almost always stern!

There's random "mrrrs", "mew", "mmmrrow?" (I may be imagining the question mark), "mauw"... just to name a few, and he's a silent purring machine (when he lets me pet him, I can only hear him purring of I put my ear near his body), so I'm not sure if I'm being reprimanded, queried, if it's playtime, or if he's telling me that needs something other than personal attention (which is always "fun", because he won't let me pet him often, he just stares at me  )

Help? Suggestions?



This is my first cat, and apparently, I picked a doozy. He's just too dang adorable and fluffy; the little stinker stole my heart the second I laid eyes on his adoption photo.

Thanks in advance for any advice/assistance/therapy!

V/r,

Raksha (Binx's mama)

Maybe he's bored and looking for attention. Try engaging him more with play and see if that helps.

See, I've tried that approach, but he just walks away from me, or looks at me like I'M the strange one.

How long have you had him? Sometimes cats take a while to get comfortable in a new home, and are more subdued to start with. He could just be coming out of his shell. Some cats just are very vocal. Asha took a while to feel safe, and had a very quiet voice. Now she talks to me all the time - loudly! We just have conversations together. She's got a huge vocal range, rather like your boy. Don't stress about it. Just accept that you've got yourself a noisy housemate :lol3:

Like @Columbine  has said, some cats just are very vocal after they get settled in. Nothing to worry about! Sometimes, they might be calling for you to see where you are. My cat does that. And don't be surprised to hear some LOUD meowing when they have a toy in their mouth.

My adopted cat was the same. Super quiet and raspy when I first got him. Now he greets me all the time and is quite loud in comparison when I first met him. 

I would probably be only concerned if your cat is in the litterbox and meowing - then you've got a cat straining to pee/poo and that is a health issue. 

ETA: Also some cats are  silent purr-ers. I'm sure he loves it when you pet him As long as his tail isn't puffing up and swinging around, or he's pawing at you to stop, then I would keep on petting!

Thanks for the advice, y'all! I think I do have a chatterbox coming out of his shell. He's started meowing when he wants to play, which means the human "hides" the mouse from him around the corner of a box (or doorway) and hopes that they don't get clawed when he "strikes". It's fun to watch, though ^_^

Now if only I could get him to adjust his evening playtime clock to ANYTIME earlier than 11pm -_-

Have you thought about some motorized interactive toys (for the life of me, I can't recall what the proper term for those toys are!).

Toys like the hexbug, the undercover mouse, automatic laser pointers, etc. Some of these toys will need to be supervised, of course, but it beats getting clawed!

I've tried the laser pointer thing, and my cat doesn't even bother with it -_-. I've thought about the hex bug, but hear it doesn't work so well on carpet :/ I'll look into the undercover mouse, but when I introduced him to the toy that has feathers that move around underneath a cover, he just sits on the feathers :/

I keep wondering when someone will invent a fur covered R/C mouse with a feathery wand-tail (that works on carpet!). If I had the resources, I'd build my own!

Oh yes, the hexbug doesn't work on carpet. I would scrap that idea.

What about puzzle toys and feeders?

You and I are on the same boat: our cats don't care about lasers. Probably one of the biggest disappointments of my life. Haha!!

I've been looking around for puzzle toys, because Binx is a grazer, and haven't quite found the one, yet. I just got him a peek-a-prize toy box... we'll see how long that interest lasts.