Why Does My Cat Meow When I Pick Them Up?

Most cat parents go into their relationships with their cats expecting to hear some meowing. But sometimes, cats can meow at unexpected times, including when being picked up. Especially if this reaction to being airborne is new — or you’re a new cat parent — you might be concerned, but there are a few common reasons your cat might meow when picked up. 

Why is my cat meowing when I pick them up?

Your cat might meow when you pick them up for reasons including: 

• They’re communicating discomfort or pain. Since cats are limited in their methods of communicating with their humans, their meowing may be their way of telling you they don’t feel well. “Cats may meow when they are experiencing certain medical issues,” Mikel Delgado, a certified applied animal behaviorist and cat behavior consultant at Feline Minds, told The Wildest. Especially if your cat is only meowing in a concerning way when you pick them up, you may be touching a particular area of their body that is in pain. “If your cat is meowing non-stop, or is meowing more than they used to, that’s a good reason to check in with your veterinarian,” Delgado added.

• They’re getting older. Parents of elderly cats may notice them meowing constantly, including (but not limited to) when they’re being picked up. This could be a sign that your cat is experiencing feline cognitive dysfunction; older cats with this disorder often meow more frequently due to confusion. 

Read this related article on Kinship

Why Does My Cat Meow So Much? Reasons Your Cat Meows Excessively

How to decode your cat’s love language when one meow has many meanings.

• They’re seeking attention. Most cats have learned that “when they meow at us, we often respond — by talking back, petting them, or giving them treats. When we do this, we are reinforcing or rewarding the meowing behavior,” Dr. Delgado says. “That makes the meowing more likely to happen in the future when our cats want something from us.”

• They’re stressed. Cats love routines — and picking them up, especially abruptly, can disrupt what they’re used to. They may meow out of surprise or displeasure at the change. 

How to get your cat to stop meowing 

If you’ve ruled out any medical issues, you can work on addressing your cat’s behavior in several ways. First, you can rule out boredom by increasing their exercise and mental stimulation to rule out boredom. While some people assume training a cat is impossible, you can use clicker training techniques to reinforce quiet behavior. And, if all else fails, you can work with a professional cat behaviorist.