Bengal Cats are rather clever kitties, and it stands to reason that they might have more to say than the average cat. From regular meowing to chirping, there are numerous reasons that your Bengal Cat might be trying to communicate with you.
Types of Sounds Your Bengal Cat Makes
Bengal Cats make a variety of different sounds. The basic sound is the meow. They are also known to chirp and trill, making a range of different noises to communicate with you and get your attention. They can also yowl to get your attention.
Ignoring Them – If your Bengal Cat is feeling ignored or left out, they might start vocalizing to get your attention. Many Bengals will follow their owners around the house vocalizing at them to try and be involved in whatever you’re doing, whether that’s cooking dinner or trying to read a book.
Boredom – When your Bengal Cat is kept as a solo kitty, they tend to become very attached to their human caretakers. When they get bored, they tend to communicate this through vocalizations such as meowing. If your cat is doing this constantly, they may need another feline friend to interact with.
Friendliness – Your Bengal Cat is bound to be quite friendly: after all, most of them are. As you spend more time with them, their bond with you will only get stronger, and you are likely going to experience them “talking” to you. Many of these kitties will get louder and louder if you ignore them, so watch out!
Food – Bengal Cats are often quite food motivated, even when they are fed meals on a schedule. You’re bound to hear your Bengal vocalize when they see their food, so be prepared.
Territorial – Bengal Cats, like many other cats, are often territorial. When another animal comes into their territory, they will usually start off by warning the animal way through vocalizations. If you have multiple animals, offer each cat its own hideaway that is specifically for them, minimizing stress and territorial behaviors.
Clean Litter Boxes – Bengal Cats tend to want their litter box very clean. Some want it so clean that you may find yourself cleaning the box out multiple times per day. If your Bengal isn’t pleased with the box, you might find him meowing or yowling to get your attention, in an effort to have you clean the box out. While each of your cats will generally want their litter boxes clean, the Bengal tends to take things to extremes, so don’t be surprised if you find him in your face yowling if you forgot to clean out the litter box when you came home!
Birds and Small Mammals – If you own a Bengal and happen to also own another animal such as bird or hamster, you might encounter your Bengal making sounds at the other animal. Birds in particular seem to trigger Bengal Cats to make a variety of sounds, from meows to chirping sounds.
Should You Worry About Your Bengal’s Meowing?
For many Bengal Cats, meowing is just a way for them to communicate and bond with you, as well as let you know when they have a concern or to voice their displeasure. If you begin to notice that your cat is less active while meowing constantly, something more serious could be occurring. It’s especially a concern if your Bengal is not eating or drinking like they normally do. If you’re noticing any of these behaviors, contact your local veterinarian as soon as possible to get an appointment to have your kitty evaluated.
Can You Reduce a Bengal’s Meows?
While there are lots of reasons for your Bengal Cat to meow at you, there are a few things you can try to minimize their meows.
First you’ll want to make sure you have a litter box that your Bengal Cat likes to use and make sure to keep it clean. For some kitties, having a self-cleaning litter box will help ensure that they never experience a dirty box — and yell at you for it!
If your Bengal tends to make a lot of noise around mealtimes, you can try different things to engage them more. Using food dispensing toys or puzzle toys that they have to manipulate to get their food out will help provide enrichment mentally and physically and may cut down on meowing.
For Bengal Cats that live with other cats and have territorial disputes, make sure each cat in the household has an area that they like to go to undisturbed. Cat trees, hideaway boxes, and shelves are all great ways to provide your Bengal with their own space. Pheromones such as Feliway can also cut down on negative interactions between cats.
Help your Bengal Cat out with boredom. Provide plenty of enrichment activities and play with them regularly. You might consider training them to walk on a leash and harness to go exploring the outdoors.
In Summary
Bengal Cats tend to be talkative kitties, but sometimes they talk more than at other times. This is their main way of communicating with you, so it’s not something you’ll typically want to stop, but there are ways to reduce your cat’s vocalizations, by addressing the underlying reasons why they’re making noise, including boredom and territorial spats.
