If your cat meows when you kiss it, this post will show you a number of likely reasons why and what you can do about it.
So, why does my cat meow when I kiss it? Likely reasons why your cat meows when you kiss it are intimidation, it is being affectionate, or that it has learned that it gets rewarded.
There are a number of possible reasons why your cat does it. However, there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main cause. Once you have a good idea of the main cause, it should become easier to figure out what to do about it.
Reasons why your cat meows when you kiss it
Below are likely causes and what would make them more likely.
Intimidation
It is common for cats to become intimidated when their owners kiss them. It could be the case that your cat has been meowing due to getting intimidated. This would be more likely if your cat moves away from you, it hisses, scratches, flicks its tail or tries to push you away.
Affection
Another possible cause is that your cat is showing affection back to you. This would be more likely if it shows positive signs such as purring, rubbing itself against you and kneading.
Encouraging the behavior
Another possible cause is that your cat has learned that it gets rewarded for meowing when you kiss it. If you tend to give it things such as extra attention or treats, after it meows, it will likely do it for more rewards.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider when figuring out the main cause.
If your cat always meowed when you kissed it
If your cat did not always meow when you kiss it, it would help to consider what else happened when it first started. If it started doing it suddenly, it could be the case that it started doing it because it wants you to stop. This would be more likely if it starts meowing before you kiss it and it shows negative body language signs.
What is different when your cat does not meow when you kiss it
If your cat does not always meow, it would also help to consider what is different when it does not meow. For example, if it does not meow when you approach and kiss it in a certain way, the cause might be that it gets intimidated when you kiss it a certain way.
What to do about your cat meowing when you kiss it
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Stop kissing it
If your cat seems to be doing it due to getting intimidated, the best option would likely be to stop kissing it. This will also help to stop germs from spreading.
Let Your cat do it
If your cat seems to be doing it due to being affectionate and it shows positive body language, another option would be to allow your cat to continue doing it.