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My Cat Keeps Meowing And Rubbing Against Everything! But Why?

Posted in: Cat Care - Last Updated: April 24, 2022 - Author: Dexter Jones
Posted in Cat Care 
Last Updated: April 22, 2022  
Author:  Dexter Jones
My cat keeps meowing and rubbing against everything

Cat meowing and rubbing against everything is a common behaviour among all felines. While they seem to be just seeking to play, they do it for many other reasons. 

Read on to learn why your kitty is meowing and rubbing against you and things.

My Cat Keeps Meowing And Rubbing Against Everything! The Reasons

Reason #1: I Love You

If your kitty meows and rubs against you, it might be trying to tell you just how much it loves you. 

Cats use this cute gesture as a sign of affection to their mother, siblings, and other cats from their pack. Since they consider you a part of their family and pack too, they'll treat their pet parents accordingly. 

Do not meet this gesture with cold indifference as it may make your cat think it did it in vain and get upset. Bless them! 

Always try to respond with kindness and lots of cat parent love by petting or head-butting your feline. This will let it know that you care.

Reason #2: Need Something

Meowing and rubbing are common ways for our speechless friends to communicate something. 

They might inform you that it's time to feed them or they are bored and want to play. 

A lonely, stressed or concerned cat may also use excessive meowing and rub against you to tell you that it feels bad and ask you to comfort it. 

You have to seek out and remove the source of concern to stop your kitty from constantly meowing and rubbing.

Reason #3: Excuse Me!

If your feline feels it gets insufficient attention from you, it will pounce, start meowing, and rubbing against you. 

By doing these two actions at the same time, it tries to appeal both to your hearing sense and tactile sense. 

In this way, it wants to make sure that you will notice it and give it the attention it needs.

my cat is rubbing on everything and meowing

Reason #5: Watch Out! It's Playtime

By meowing and rubbing against you, your cat invites you to play with it. 

Don't ignore this invitation as your kitty needs time with you. It's their dire necessity to play and communicate with their owner. 

Try to allot at least a couple of minutes a day to grooming and playing with your cat, even if it doesn't send you signals that it needs it. 

When you don't have time to play, don't let your kitty feel bored. Leave it a few cat toys or install some cat stairs so it can climb them for fun and work away from its excess kitty energy. 

Also, consider getting a second cat to keep your kitty company when the owner is gone or busy with household chores.

Reason #6: Hello!

Cats also use the meowing and rubbing behaviour as a greeting form. 

They do it in the morning or when their owner comes back home. In this way, they tell you that they missed you and are happy to see you. 

Besides, they don't miss the opportunity to sniff you to learn more information about where you have been and whether you have interacted with other animals.

In case they spot unfamilair scents, they will rub intensively against you with their cheeks and forehead to leave their pheromones and reclaim ownership over you. 

Reason #7: "Nom Nom Nom"

Has a lot of time passed since you last fed your kitty? 

Then most probably the reason it is meowing and rubbing against you is it is hungry

They will try and communicate to you that it's time to give it food. 

If their meowing annoys you, stop feeding your cat when it is doing that. Offer it kitty food when they quiet down. In this way, it will understand that meowing doesn't work and it's better to stay silent to receive the meal. 

To be honest, though, excessive vocalization should not be the result of having a hungry cat! 

Do not let the cat reach the point of meowing desperately out of hunger. Try to be a caring and considerate "Hooman" and keep their food bowl fully stocked. 

But that should go without saying really.

my female cat keeps meowing and rubbing against everything

Reason #8: I'm Lonely

Meowing and rubbing may also be a sign that your cat feels lonely. It gets into your way to capture your attention and ask for petting time. 

If you are super busy with your stuff, give your kitty interactive toys to have fun when it feels bored and lonely. 

Another great kitty hack is to put a bird feeder next to the window. Your cat will have a really nice time interacting with the birds when you are not home. Let the "yipping" begin! 

Don't forget to recharge the feeder on regular basis to make sure it is visited by many birds.

Reason #9: You're Mine!

When your cat rubs against you, it might be marking you as its cat territory. 

Cats leave their scent on favorite things, including people, to claim ownership over them and tell other cats to stay away. 

Your feline might leave its scent on you in other ways, like head-butting, nuzzling, and snaking through your legs. Most of the time they use their head for scent transfer because most scent glands are located on the cheeks, chin, and forehead.

My Cat is Rubbing On Everything And Meowing

Cats meowing and rubbing behavior starts in kittenhood. Kittens meow and rub against their mother to express affection and gratitude for being cared for. 

They also do this when they feel insecure. Having direct contact with their mother's body makes them feel safe and protected. Meowing, purring, and rubbing have a major role in stimulating a mother's milk production. 

Kittens engage in massaging their mother's mammary glands while nursing. Such behavior of its offspring calms and brings satisfaction to the nursing cat while increasing milk production. 

Kittens alert their mother that they are hungry by meowing and rubbing as well. Moreover, they do it to seek attention and playtime. 

Meowing and rubbing are important tools not only for communicating but also for competing for mom's attention with siblings. If a cat gives birth to many kittens, it might find it hard to give equal attention to all of them. 

They will have to compete against each other to be the first one groomed and the first one with whom mother plays. They will use meowing and rubbing to capture their mother's attention. 

Mom will also use these tactile and hearing warning signals from its kittens to make sure no one is left unfed and ungroomed.

my male cat keeps meowing and rubbing against everything

Why Do Cats Meow and Rub Against Random Stuff?

The main reason felines meow and rub against furniture and other items in the house is to mark their territory.

Cats are territorial creatures which means they use their scent to claim ownership over favorite areas, things, and even people if we talk about domestic cats. 

So when you see your kitty rubbing against the couch or rolling over the carpet while meowing, it's marking them as its territory. 

Other cats will sense the pheromones and step back most of the time. 

Some felines, though, might challenge the territorial claims and get into a fight to conquer them. So be on the lookout for hissing, growls, or a yowl! You may have to step in. 

Moreover, cats might meow and rub against items when they feel bored and look for play. 

Such behavior may also be linked to anxiety, stress, and pain. If your cat meows loudly and desperately without interruption and rubs hard against furniture and your body, it might be something more than showing affection or looking for playtime. Take your pet to the vet to check it for potential injuries and conditions.

My Female Cat Keeps Meowing And Rubbing Against Everything

Female cats meow and rub against stuff and owner when they want to mate. 

Usually, during this period they are more sensitive, affectionate, and easily irritated. When they are in heat, cats rub their hind feet and hindquarters against every item that gets in their way.

They take the mating position repeatedly, howl frequently, and keep their tail up most of the time in the hope that a male cat will respond to their inviting gestures.

Most adult cats experience their first heat when they are 6 months old. The heat lasts for 5-7 days every month and this period might be quite annoying for the owner. 

Female cats are extremely eager to find a mating partner. To say the least! 

To achieve this goal, they spray the walls, floor, and furniture with their urine so male cats can find them by their smell. 

If they can't mate, they become aggressive and irritable, up to the point of scratching the doors to go out and also pouncing on us unsuspecting cat owners. 

If you don't want your cat to get pregnant ever in her life, you should arrange her spaying

Neutering will definitely make her less irritated and aggressive and prevent her from spraying walls and furniture with her scenting urine.

My Cat Keeps Meowing And Rubbing Against Everything! But Why? The Verdict

My cat keeps meowing and rubbing against everything, our takeaway.

Your cat meowing and rubbing can be annoying but it tries to convey to you some valuable information. It might be hungry, bored, needing petting, or she may be looking for a mating partner. 

However, nine times out of ten, once you give your cat food, pet it or play with it, it will stop meowing and rubbing. 

About the author

Dexter Jones has been a solid member of the ‘Mad Cat Dad’ club since time began! Dexter has been a keen cat writer for many years and lives in Croatia. He lives with his two tabby cats, Milly & Marly, who also flew in from the UK to start their new Adriatic island life together.

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