Cat experts reveal why cats cry and how you can help a crying cat
Whether it’s a sorrowful meow or a more urgent yowl, you may have heard your cat crying out around the home. There are many reasons why cats cry. Cats Protection experts explain how cats cry differently from humans and what to do if your cat is crying.
Can cats cry tears?
Cats don’t cry tears in the same way humans do. Cats do have tear ducts that produce tears, but this is only for keeping their eyes moist and healthy. Cats don’t cry tears as an emotional response to sadness like we do.
If you notice your cat having watery eyes, this could be a sign that they are ill or have something stuck in their eye. Speak to your vet if you notice any change to your cat’s eyes.
How do cats cry?
Instead of crying tears, cats cry by making a noise. Cat cries usually sound like a loud meow or yowl or sometimes a faint whine or whimper. The crying sound your cat makes can vary depending on their age, breed and personality, as well as the reason they’re crying.
Reasons why your cat is crying
1. To get your attention
The most common reason why cats cry is to get the attention of their owners. Cats don’t usually communicate with each other using vocal sounds. Instead, they use body language cues and scent. But when communicating with humans, they may use meows and yowls as they’ve learnt that this is an effective way to get their message across. A cry could mean many different things:
- They’re hungry and want you to feed them. Try sticking to a consistent feeding routine with your cat, so they don’t need to remind you for food. If you’ve already fed them their daily allowance of food and they are still crying, try distracting them with play instead. It’s also a good idea to discuss this with your vet, in case it’s a sign of a medical condition
- They want you to open a door for them. Cats are curious creatures and often want to know what’s happening on the other side of a closed door. If you don’t want to be their full-time doorperson, consider leaving doors open. Or get a cat flap so they can come and go as they please
- They want some fuss. If you have a close bond with your cat, they may cry when they want you to pet them or play with them. Make sure you set aside plenty of time each day to give your cat the attention they need to prevent them from getting bored. Find out more about how to help a bored cat
Be aware that if you give your cat what they want every time they cry, they will learn that this gets results and keep doing it. If you want to discourage your cat from crying to get your attention, try to pre-empt their crying with our tips above.
2. Medical issues
If your cat starts crying more than usual, it could be a sign that they are ill or in pain. Speak to your vet to find out if there could be a medical cause for their crying.
3. Stress/frustration
Some cats may cry when they’re feeling stressed, anxious or frustrated. This could be to let you know that something is wrong in their world, so you can fix it. Find out how to help a stressed cat.
4. Cognitive dysfunction
If your older cat starts crying excessively, this could be a sign of cognitive dysfunction, like dementia in humans. They could be crying because they are confused or disoriented. Speak to your vet to find out how you can help your cat. Find out more about caring for elderly cats.
5. Mating behaviour
If your cat is not neutered, they may cry loudly to attract a mate. Yowling is a common reproductive behaviour for both unneutered male and female cats. If you want to prevent this calling behaviour, get your cat neutered. Find out more about neutering.
Why do cats cry at night?
If your cat’s cries are waking you up at night, there could be two potential reasons.
- They’re bored. If your cat is meowing or yowling at night, the most likely reason is that they are bored. If they’ve not had enough attention or playtime throughout the day, they may try to get your attention so you can entertain them. Find out more about why cats are awake at night.
- Medical problem or cognitive dysfunction. Excessive crying at night could be a sign that your cat is in pain. Or if you have an older cat, they could be confused or disoriented. Speak to your vet if you notice a change in your cat’s behaviour.
Why are my cat’s eyes watering?
If your cat has watery eyes, they’re not crying due to sadness. Watery eyes are usually a sign of a health issue in cats.
Possible causes of watery eyes in cats:
- Cat flu. This can cause discharge from the eyes and nose, and respiratory symptoms such as sneezing. Your cat may seem unwell and much quieter and more withdrawn than usual
- Infections. Conjunctivitis is an eye infection that can be either viral or bacterial. It can cause discharge, discomfort and watery eyes
- Foreign object/eye injury. Your cat may have damaged their eye, causing a scratch to the surface. Or a foreign object, such as a grass seed, may be stuck in their eye. This will be very painful for your cat, and the eye will produce tears to try and flush out the object and keep the eye clean. This can often turn into an eye ulcer if left untreated, so speak to your vet straight away
- Eyelid problems. Eyelids can roll inwards, causing the lashes to rub against the eye surface. This condition is called entropion and is very painful
- Blocked tear dusts. This can cause tears to run down the face, and you may see tear staining where areas of the fur are worn away
- Breed-related. Certain breeds of cat with flat faces, such as Persians, can have increased issues with watery eyes. Their tear ducts can become blocked due to the shape of their face
When to see the vet about watery cat eyes
Call your vet if:
- your cat’s eyes are watering more than usual
- there is discharge or tears weeping from their eyes
- there are sores or scabs around their eyes
- your cat seems to be grooming around their face more
Your vet will ask you lots of questions about your cat and their symptoms. They will then let you know if you should bring your cat in for a check-up.
Find out more about eye problems in cats.
