Why Does My Cat Meow When I Sneeze - T-Tees - Your Answers Await, Life's Questions Unraveled

Table of Contents

Nothing makes a person feel more judged than when they burst out a sneeze and their cat meows distastefully back at them. Some cats may even hiss, attack, or run away from you, while other cats will ignore you completely. Cats can have all sorts of reactions to a sudden, loud sneeze, just as a human do when they’re not expecting it from the person next to them. A “meow” is the way cats vocalize themselves, and they may be doing this out of surprise, annoyance, or several other reasons.

You may be interested

Understanding why cats do certain things will help you understand your cat better. It also helps you know how to respond to them when they do a particular behavior. We don’t really know why cats meow when we sneeze, but experts have summed it up to these five reasons below.

You are viewing: Why Does My Cat Meow When I Sneeze

Why Do Cats Meow?

Cats can only communicate with you through their body language and meows, so they use this language to get their needs across. Cats meow for many things, such as greeting you when you arrive home, to get your attention, to let you know that they’re hungry, to indicate to you that there is a problem, or due to mental confusion, which is common in elderly cats.

Refer to more articles: When In Doubt Follow Your Nose

You may have seen kittens meow at their mothers, but how often have you seen adult cats meow at each other? Interestingly, adult cats frequently meow at humans but rarely at each other. When it is at each other, it’s typically a drawn-out sound called a yowl. These are used during the breeding season to find a mate.

Cats often meow in response to a sneeze or the reasons above. However, if they meow excessively, you should take them to the vet for an evaluation, as they could be in pain or discomfort from sickness or injury.

cat meowing — Image Credit: Stanimir G.Stoev, Shutterstock

The 5 Reasons Why Your Cat Meows When You Sneeze

1. They Got a Fright

If your cat was napping peacefully on your lap or beside you, your sudden sneeze may have woken them up with a fright. Think about how you react when you get a fright—you probably give out a bit of a scream or gasp. In the same way, your cat may jump up and respond with a quick, surprised meow as they process what just happened.

2. They Are Annoyed

Cats know what they do and do not like, and if you do something they don’t approve of, they’re going to let you know. If you pet your cat when they’re not in the mood for it, disturb their sleep, or aren’t on time with their food, they’ll make it known that they are displeased by meowing at you. As with any loud, sudden noise, if your sneeze disturbs your cat, they’ll meow at you in annoyance.

Refer to more articles: When Is The New Mote Aquarium Opening

3. They Are Trying to Copy You

If you sneeze and notice that your cat is looking at you with interest as they meow back at you, they might be trying to copy you. They’re not doing this to tease you but rather because they are watching and learning your behavior.

Your cat’s imitation won’t sound like a sneeze, of course, but their meow is their version of your sound. They may even be mimicking the response people give when they say, “Bless you” to a person after they sneeze.

A cat attempting to imitate their owner’s sound is a bigger deal than many people realize, as it indicates that cats aren’t as antisocial as previously believed and, instead, want to engage and respond to their owners.

woman sneezing into tissue because of allergy to cats — Image Credit: Kmpzzz, Shutterstock

4. They Think You’re Hissing at Them

Misunderstandings happen all the time, even in cats. Every sneeze doesn’t always sound the same as the last, and your cat may interpret one to be a hiss instead of what it actually is. A hiss is often used by a cat to express fear or displeasure. It is also used when they feel stressed, when they’re in pain, to confront, or to tell someone to back off.

5. They Are Confused or Intrigued

If your cat has never been around for a sneeze before, imagine how strange hearing one for the first time must be! Cats meow at foreign sounds when they’re confused or intrigued by them, as they want to understand where they came from and what they mean.

Refer to more articles: When Was Allure Of The Seas Refurbished

You can satisfy their curiosity by pretending to sneeze again, but be sure to reassure your cat that everything is okay afterward. This is especially necessary if they were a stray who might be fearful of loud, sudden noises.

Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock

Conclusion

Sneezes can be loud and startling to people and pets. Your cat might meow back at you because you disrupted their peace and they’re annoyed by it; they’re trying to copy your sound or mimic the response people give; they mistook your sneeze for a hiss and are questioning your behavior; or because they’re not used to sneezes and are intrigued by it.

It is normal if your cat typically meows in response to something or to get your attention. However, if they meow all day and all night, they need to be examined by a vet as something could be causing them pain or discomfort.