If your cat meows while carrying a toy, this post will show you a number of possible reasons why and what you can do about it.
So, why does my cat meow while carrying a toy? Possible reasons why your cat meows while carrying a toy are to make you aware of what your cat has caught, excitement, possessiveness, it wants to hide the toy, or possibly a pain in its mouth.
There are a number of possible reasons why your cat meows while carrying a toy and it might be due to a combination of them. However, there are some things you can consider when figuring out the main cause and there are some things you can do about it.
Reasons why your cat meows while carrying a toy
Below are a number of possible reasons why your cat has been doing it and what would make each of them more likely.
It wants you to acknowledge the catch
It is not uncommon for cats to catch things and to bring them to you as a gift. The reason why your cat meows when it is carrying a toy, could be that it wants you to see what it has caught. This would be more likely if your cat comes to you and gets your attention when it does it.
Excitement
The cause could also be that it is playing and meowing as a part of the excitement. This would be more likely if your cat does it when running around and playing with the toy.
It wants to hide it
Another possible cause is that your cat wants to hide the toy. This would be more likely if your cat does it while walking around in hard to reach places with the toy. It would also be more likely if your cat actually hides the toy after it stops using it.
Pain
It might also be the case that your cat has been doing it due to being in pain. This would be more likely if your cat has started doing it suddenly and it has been showing other signs of having a pain in its mouth such as bleeding. In this case, the best option would be to take it to a vet.
Possessiveness
Another possible cause is that your cat is being possessive. This would be more likely if your cat becomes aggressive when you try to take the toy.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main reason why your cat has been doing it.
If your cat always cried when carrying a toy
If your cat has not always cried while carrying toys, it would help to consider what else happened when your cat first started doing it. If it started doing it suddenly, it could be due to getting an injury or because it stopped being able to hide them in a certain spot.
What is different when your cat does not meow while carrying a toy
If there is a certain time that your cat tends to do it, it would also help to consider what is different about the timing. For example, if your cat tends to do it in the late evening, when cats are often more lively, it could be the case that your cat is doing it due to excitement and feeling particularly energetic at that time.
What to do about your cat meowing when carrying a toy
Below are some options you have when dealing with it.
Let it do it
If your cat seems to be doing it because it is playing, alerting you to the catch or because it is excited, the easiest option would be to just let your cat continue doing it.
Get help
If it seems like it might be doing it due to being in pain, the best option would be to get help from a vet. By doing so, you should be able to get expert advice tailored towards your particular cat and to rule out injury as a cause.
Redirect its focus
Another option would be to redirect your cat’s focus towards something else such as sitting with you, when it starts meowing.