Cats are known to be quiet pets and dead reserved when they go in the litter box. You may never know the time your male cat goes to help himself. However, as a caring pet owner, you may be concerned about hearing your male cat meowing in litter box.
Your male cat meowing in the litter box could indicate a severe medical condition or behavioral issues. In part, your male cat could be marking his territory, especially after feeling threatened or anxious about other pets and changes in their environment.
If you’ve wondered why your male cat keeps meowing while in the litter box, this article covers you. You’ll also understand what to do if the problem continues with each litter box visit. Keep reading.
7 Causes of Male Cat Meowing in Litter Box and Solutions
Your cat could meow while in the litter box for several reasons. Some reasons are medical, and others behavioral or environmental. Let’s dive in.
1. A Dirty Litter Box
Naturally, cats uphold high cleanliness standards among most pets. That’s why you wouldn’t blink an eye before a cat licks their fur.
A full, messy, and smelly litter box is unattractive to cats. When the male cat visits the litter box and finds it dirty, he may complain. Therefore, he expresses disgust by meowing.
Next time, your cat may want to help himself in a different litter box. Most often, he finds somewhere else clean to finish the business.
Solution:
Regularly clean your cat’s litter box, scooping any droppings and clumps. Do this at least once daily because a healthy cat defecates or urines daily. Remember to clean the litter box’s edges too.
Also, you must empty the litter box weekly and wash it with clean water and soap. Don’t use aromatic soaps or chemicals, as they could cause health problems for your cat.
Fill the clean litter box with fresh litter.
Find Out: Why Do Cats Run After Pooping? 5 Causes and Their Solutions
2. Cat Is Locked in Litter Box
Cat litter boxes that have lockable doors may pose a few problems. For some reason, the litter box door may close while the cat is inside helping himself. It could happen while someone is arranging furniture or cleaning the space.
Once he’s done and notices he’s locked inside, the best option for him would be to meow loud for help. If you don’t go in time, the mess could escalate because of the cat’s high unrest.
What’s more, the smell inside that space might be too much for your kitty. Cats have a strong sense of smell and can’t simply stand being locked in a tight space.
Solution:
Be on the lookout when your cat goes to help out himself. You should ensure he’s okay, especially when the litter box has a lockable door.
When rearranging your space, take note of the litter box near you. You don’t want to knock on the door, accidentally closing it while the kitty is inside.
Equally important, try to place the litter box in a less busy location to reduce accidents.
Also Read: How to Euthanize a Cat With Over-the-Counter Drugs: 2 Easy Ways
3. Cat is Stressed and Anxious
Anything could make your male cat stressed and full of anxiety. For example, his anxiety could rise if the litter box has less privacy. Cats don’t like being watched as they urinate or defecate – it’s a secret affair. A stressed cat is likelier to meow while in the litter box.
So, if the litter box is open with no vertical spaces or hiding spots, that’s a toll order for him. He will meow to communicate discontentment.
Other stressors include the following;
- New people in the house
- A new home
- Change of cat’s diet
- Bullying by another pet
- Changing your cat’s routine
A cat under stress will express his frustration while in the litter box. Note that stressors may also include the most minor changes around the cat.
Solution:
Work to reduce stressors in the cat’s environment. You must identify if stressors are lurking around—like bullies that may launch attacks on the cat.
Provide hiding spots and vertical spaces to alleviate privacy-related issues. This creates a cat-friendly environment.
As for the daily routine, maintain consistent feeding, play, and interaction. Minimize changes and, if a must, make them gradual.
4. Your Cat Doesn’t Prefer the Litter Box
Your male cat meowing in the litter box could indicate he’s probably not loving life there. Cats can be selective and would do what they can to uphold their comfort.
Therefore, if the cat doesn’t like the litter box’s type, size, or location, he will express his thoughts by meowing. A litter box that is too small or too large can easily make him uneasy.
Similarly, if he can’t get in and out effortlessly, it’s not unusual for him to get frustrated. The same thing can be said of a litter box designed with a hood or liner – it makes the cat uncomfortable.
That being said, litter depth may also trigger your male cat to meow in the litter box. When the litter is too deep, that’s over two inches; he won’t be comfortable using the litter box.
Solution:
Choose a sizeable litter box—not too small or too large. The optimal litter box size for your cat should be 1.5 times the length of the cat from the head to the tail base. Ideal measurements such as 24” (60.96 cm)long, 21.6” wide (54.86 cm), and 8” (20.32 cm) tall will work for most cats.
For the cats that don’t fancy covered boxes, provide open-type ones for maximum comfort and better response.
Moreover, ensure the litter depth is between 1-2 inches (2.54-5.08 cm) deep. Most cats will appreciate a shallow litter layer rather than a deeper one. Meanwhile, the litter should not be scented so you don’t provoke him to sensitive elements.
5. Cat’s Probably Marking His Territory
Even though your cat is in the house, his wild roots remain intact. The urge to claim certain areas in the house is so strong that he can accompany such with meowing sounds.
A cat can mark his territory by rubbing and scratching surfaces to leave their scent. However, they also make use of the litter box.
They can urine-mark on vertical and horizontal surfaces of the litter box. This tells other cats that there’s a bonafide owner of this place.
Solution:
Provide enough litter boxes in the house if you have more than one cat. This helps stop bunfights.
Remove bullies from the cat’s surroundings to eliminate fear or intimidation. Also, place the litter box in a quiet place where the cat can’t see people or other pets approaching.
6. Male Cat Sensed a Female on Heat
Interestingly, male felines can smell female cats in heat, even from far distances. The moment they sense this, yowling is imminent. So, an unspayed female could be lurking in the area.
Your cat will meow excessively until he gets what he wants. In response, a female nearby may also yowl to indicate acceptance of the male.
Don’t be mistaken; meowing is natural for cats in heat. Nevertheless, it can get too much to bear when it happens under your nose.
Solution:
You should take your cat to the veterinarian for spaying or neutering. This is a reproductive function driven by hormones. When the vet stops the reproductive hormones, the urge for a female also stops.
A cat meowing for a female should be handled more skillfully. The last thing you should do is yell at him. This could corner the cat and stress him further.
7. Cat Has Medical Issues
Several medical conditions can make your male cat’s life hard. The most common issues are:
- Digestive problems
- Constipation
- Cognitive dysfunction
- Arthritis
- Hyperthyroidism
Cats can have a hard stance when it comes to hiding diseases. So, when they suddenly begin meowing loudly, you know something is amiss.
Diseases cause significant pain, distress, and discomfort. Meowing indicates they can’t bear it anymore.
A cat that’s constipating will have a rough time defecating. Similarly, urethral obstruction due to urinary tract infections can inflict immense distress on your male cat.
Imagine your cat’s urine pipe blocking. When he wants to help himself, it won’t end easily. To express his predicament, he will cry loud to seek help.
Lastly, old-age cats will have many problems using the litter box. Usually, they find entry and exit challenging due to eyesight issues. Additionally, they may not hear themselves well, which can activate tension.
Yet, if the cats develop dementia, they get confused, losing their way. To seek reassurance that he’s safe, the old cat will meow.
Solution:
It’s vital to consult your veterinarian if meowing continues for extended periods. Keep your vet informed whether it’s a digestive issue, constipation, or UTIs.
Generally, the vet will diagnose the problem and recommend appropriate treatment.
Some of the recommendations veterinarians offer on diseases include:
- Using appropriate antibiotics
- Providing your cat with enough hydration
- Feeding the cat a balanced diet
- For cats suffering from arthritis, provide them with easy-to-access litter boxes while putting them on supplements to enhance joint health.
- Hyperthyroidism cases should be treated through surgeries or radioactive iodine.
- Always be there to provide high-quality care to your old cats to avoid them knocking on walls and objects.
So, Is a Male cat Meowing in Litter Box Normal?
While it’s normal for a male cat to meow in a litter box, the behavior could indicate an underlying condition, especially if it occurs for long.
If you notice your male cat meowing consistently in a litter box, take the necessary steps to alleviate the problem. Check to ensure the litter is clean and the cat is not being pressed.
If the problem persists, it’s most likely that your cat has an underlying medical condition. Therefore, consult your vet as soon as possible for diagnosis and treatment.
