All cats have a voice but some are more vocal
than others. This is true on an individual basis and breed
basis. Orientals are the quintessential loud mouths; they
unabashedly voice their concerns in their own unique way using
characteristic deep, loud throaty meows. Persians and Maine
coons are generally much less vocal.
Whether a cat is hypervocalizing or not, depends to some
extent on the breed and on the circumstances. What may be
excessive for a Persian may be par-for-the-course for a
Siamese. What may be an overreaction to life in the living
room may be an appropriate reaction for a cat stuck in a
closet. But owners tend not to consider such matters when
labeling a cat hypervocal. All they are concerned with is how
loud, how long, and how often. When faced with an apparently
hypervocalizing cat it is as well to consider why the cat is
vocalizing before trying to stop the racket.
Cat Language: Cats make a series of
different sounds, some pure sounds and others composite or
complex sounds. They all mean slightly different things. Many
of the simple sounds signal aggression e.g. the growl, hiss,
shriek, and spit. However, there are more pleasant sounds,
like the highly versatile murmur, used as a request or
greeting, the squeak of pleasure, and the ever-welcome purr.
Complex sounds include the mew, meow, and the guttural moan.
The term hypervocalization is usually reserved for excessive
meowing as a means of energy release, attention-getting
mechanism, or long distance communication.
Interpretation: Having determined that a cat is truly
hypervocalizing (meowing loudly and excessively to the
distraction and perhaps sleeplessness of the owner), the next
step is to determine why. One tomcat I described in the lead
chapter of my book, The Cat Who Cried For Help, cried
all night after she was made an indoor cat. I imagine that her
nocturnal crying was an expression of the frustration she felt
at having her freedom taken away. Some cats may have learned
to hypervocalize to get attention while others have medical
causes underlying their hypervocal behavior. Below is a list
of possible factors involved:
Motivational conflict (access limited)
Attention-seeking
Pain or hunger
Aggression
Anxiety/Fear
Compulsive behavior
Hyperthyroidism
Estrus
Brain tumor
Feline hyperesthesia
Cognitive dysfunction
Diagnosis: To determine which of the above factors
is operating in any particular case, it is important to take
into consideration the cat's age, breed, sex, neuter status,
it’s environment, living circumstances, the history of the
problem (recent onset vs. long standing), events coincident
with the onset of the problem, the owner’s reaction to the
cat’s vocalization, and possible medical factors.
Motivational conflict is often seen when an outdoor male
cat is brought inside and yearns for his former life.
Attention seeking is a learned behavior fueled by the
owner’s positive reaction to the cat’s vocal demands.
Pain or hunger is usually self-evident.
Aggression involves triggering by an adversary.
Anxiety and fear occur situationally (e.g. when cat is
left alone, during car travel, etc.).
Compulsive vocalization is repetitive, monotonous, and
seemingly without a cause.
Hyperthyroidism occurs in older cats that also show
other signs of this disease (ravenous appetite, weight
loss, bouts of hyperactivity, etc.). This condition is
definitively diagnosed at the vet’s office by means of a
blood sample for T4 level.
Estrus (heat) can cause intact female cats to
hypervocalize. Not all owners recognize heat for what it
is. To some it appears unexpectedly and mysteriously as
sudden onset displays of rolling, rubbing, and, yes,
hypervocalization.
Brain tumors occur most commonly in older cats. The
history is one of late onset changes in personality and
alterations in behavior. Hypervocalization may be a
feature in some cases, perhaps reflecting pain or
disorientation.
Feline hyperesthesia usually occurs for the first time
in middle age. It is characterized by enlarged pupils,
skin rippling, frenetic self-grooming, aggression, and,
sometimes, hypervocalization.
Cognitive dysfunction may cause some older cats to wail.
Other behavioral changes will be evident to, including
disorientation, altered social interactions, sleep
disturbances, and perhaps, house soiling.
Treatment: A treatment program depends on the cause.
Obviously, pain, hunger, and medical conditions, if involved,
should be addressed first. Motivational conflict arising from
frustrated wanderlust tendencies can sometimes be addressed by
castration. Females that yowl incessantly when in heat can
have their temporary displays of hypervocalization eliminated
by spaying.
Hypervocalization as an attention-getting behavior should be
conscientiously ignored, i.e. treated by attention withdrawal
on the part of the owner. Note, however, the problem may get
worse before it gets better. To hurry the process of attention
withdrawal, the owner can use a “bridging stimulus,” a
neutral sound used to signal the owner's imminent withdrawal
of attention or departure from a room. Duck calls, tuning
forks, or sounding a low note on a piano may be used as
bridging stimuli. The idea is not to punish but rather to
signal to the cat that there is about to be a transition.
Environmentally induced hypervocalization should be addressed
on a case-by-case basis. Aggression between cats should be
assuaged using whatever means it takes. Separation anxiety
should be treated by desensitization and, perhaps, medication.
Compulsive disorders usually direct that environmental
enrichment strategies and medication are employed. For
non-medical causes of hypervocalization, should medication be
necessary, it is as well to ask your vet to consider either an
anxiety-reducing drug like alprazolam (Xanax®) or buspirone
(BuSpar®), or an anti-depressant. The best anti-depressants
to try are probably clomipramine (Clomicalm®), fluoxetine
(Prozac®), or paroxetine (Paxil®). Cognitive dysfunction may
respond positively to deprenyl (Anipryl®).
There can't be much worse a plight than living in a house with
a cat that howls all day and night ... or even just all night.
Very often, by the time owners get round to seeking help for
this problem, it has escalated to the point where they are
necessarily seeking help for themselves. If medical factors
are involved and can be addressed, then all is well and good.
But make no mistake; hypervocalization from purely behavioral
causes is not a piece of cake to treat. Sure, it can be
controlled with drugs if need be, but behavioral modification
strategies can take a long time and are not often successful.
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