My newest cat, Toby, has begun meowing at seemingly nothing. He's been doing it for a few months but it's getting a little more frequent. He's not quite an adult cat but I think he might just be about ready to be neutered, because I think he's been spraying. He's still got a sweet little kitten mew though, and he keeps meowing at something I can't see.
He is outside though, so I'm seeing him through a window. He'll sit and meow either staring under the bikes or at a spot in the driveway beyond my view, until he notices me watching and then he meows at me. It doesn't sound like he's hurt, or even all that distressed, mostly like he's chatting or he wants someones attention. At first I almost thought he was calling birds, but he doesn't quite sound chirpy enough, perhaps he's talking to mice? The old neighbors left their cat and she hangs around our house, but I don't think he likes her very much so I don't think he'd be calling to her.
Should I be concerned or should I just schedule more playtime? He's not alone, he has two more cats to play with, but maybe he wants more people time? Or is this part of getting older? I wasn't around my oldest male cat enough to really notice this kind of behavior, as the cats had free run of the yard when he was this age, and they're the only boy cats I've ever had so I'm really at a loss.
Another thing is...back when he was still allowed to wander around outside we had another cat who he spent all of his time with, Kiki. She was like his big sister, and I wonder if he might be calling to her? But she died in November...she was really torn up...which is why the cats are in their (moderately expansive) pen now. He saw her though, he was there and getting underfoot as we took her body and then buried her so he must know shes gone. Right?
He is outside though, so I'm seeing him through a window. He'll sit and meow either staring under the bikes or at a spot in the driveway beyond my view, until he notices me watching and then he meows at me. It doesn't sound like he's hurt, or even all that distressed, mostly like he's chatting or he wants someones attention. At first I almost thought he was calling birds, but he doesn't quite sound chirpy enough, perhaps he's talking to mice? The old neighbors left their cat and she hangs around our house, but I don't think he likes her very much so I don't think he'd be calling to her.
Should I be concerned or should I just schedule more playtime? He's not alone, he has two more cats to play with, but maybe he wants more people time? Or is this part of getting older? I wasn't around my oldest male cat enough to really notice this kind of behavior, as the cats had free run of the yard when he was this age, and they're the only boy cats I've ever had so I'm really at a loss.
Another thing is...back when he was still allowed to wander around outside we had another cat who he spent all of his time with, Kiki. She was like his big sister, and I wonder if he might be calling to her? But she died in November...she was really torn up...which is why the cats are in their (moderately expansive) pen now. He saw her though, he was there and getting underfoot as we took her body and then buried her so he must know shes gone. Right?
