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Why does my cat meow when I pet them?

If your cat meows, when you pet it, you might be wondering why and what you can do about it. This post will show you a number of possible causes and what you can do about them.

So, why does my cat meow when I pet it? Possible reasons why your cat meows, when you pet it, are that it wants you to stop, it wants you to pet it more, it wants you to pet it differently, injury, or it is showing affection back to you.

There are actually multiple reasons why your cat might meow, when you pet it, and it might be due to a combination of reasons. However, there are a number of things you can consider when figuring out the main cause and there are a number of things you can do about it.

Why does my cat meow when I pet them?

Below are a number of possible causes and what would make each of them more likely to be the main cause.

It wants you to stop

It could be the case that it does it because it wants you to stop petting it. This would be more likely if it shows other signs of wanting you to stop such as pulling away from you or getting agitated.

It wants you to pet it more

On the other hand, it might also be the case that it wants you to pet it more. This would be more likely if it rubs itself against you and brushes its head against your hand.

It wants you to pet it differently

Another possible cause is that your cat wants you to pet it differently. This would be more likely if your cat rubs its head against you in a different way to the way that you are petting it. Often, cats do this when people are petting their heads and backs but they actually want their chin to be rubbed.

Injury

It could also be the case that your cat has an injury and you are hurting it by petting it. This would be more likely if your cat has started doing it suddenly, it doesn’t like it when you pet it in a certain spot and if your cat tries to make you stop petting it.

It is showing affection back to you

Another possible cause is that your cat is showing affection back to you. This would be more likely if your cat seems to be ok with the way you are petting it and it also starts purring.

Things to consider

Below are some things to consider when figuring out the main reason why your cat has been doing it.

If your cat has always meowed when being petted

If your cat did not always meow, when being petted, it would help to consider what else happened when your cat first started doing it. If it started doing it suddenly, it might be due to things such as a change in the way that you pet it or getting injured.

What is different when your cat does not meow

It would also help to consider what is different when it meows. For example, if it only meows when you pet it in a certain way, it would be more likely that your cat does it because it either likes or dislikes the way that you are petting it.

The body language it shows

It would also help to consider the body language it shows when you are petting it. If it shows signs of being agitated such as wagging its tail and moving away, it would be more likely that it is meowing because it wants you to stop. Whereas, if it does things such as purr and rub its head into you, it would be more likely that it likes the way you are petting it.

What to do about my cat meowing when I pet them?

Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.

Make sure to pet it the right way

Since your cat might be doing it because it wants you to pet it differently, it would help to make sure that you have petting it appropriately. It would help to pet it gently, and cats often do not like it when your stroke their entire backs. Often, cats prefer to be rubbed below the chin.

Be aware of when your cat wants you to stop

It would also help to be away of when your cat wants you to stop. Often, cats will want to be petted a little bit but will quickly become agitated. When your cat starts to show signs of being agitated, such as pulling away, it would help to either pet it differently or to stop petting it.

Why does my cat cry when I pet it?

If your cat cries when you pet it, the cause could be that it has an injury which would be more likely if your cat has started doing it suddenly. Another possible cause is that it feels intimidated or doesn’t want to be petted which would be more likely if it cries loudly and pulls away.

Why has my cat suddenly started meowing when I pet it?

If your cat has started doing it suddenly, it might be because it has gotten an injury or because you started petting it differently.

Why does my cat meow when I touch it?

Your cat might meow when you touch it for any of the reasons mentioned above. It would help to consider what is different when it meows and if it has started doing it suddenly.