Do Siamese Cats Meow a Lot: What Makes Siamese So Vocal?

Ever since the first Siamese cat came to the United States in 1878, cat lovers have fallen in love with this ancient and distinctive cat breed.

As Cat Town Oakland charity explains, Siamese cats have been companions to the rich and powerful right from the start.

Presidents, emperors, and countless celebrities have chosen to spend their lives with these long-lived, intelligent, low-shedding cats.

But there is one important question you must ask before making a lifetime commitment to any feline family member – are they noisy? Do Siamese cats meow a lot? Let’s find out!

Do Siamese Cats Meow a Lot?

Yes, Siamese cats meow a lot. This is one of the hallmarks of the Siamese cat breed. It is one of those “love it or hate it” breed characteristics that you need to be aware of before you choose a Siamese cat.

Listen to a Siamese Cats Meowing

This popular YouTube video showcases the vocal talents of a Siamese cat nicknamed “Mule” who loves his dinner time so much his owners can’t get it out of the bag fast enough.

As you can easily hear, the Siamese cat breed is not the right pick if you are noise-sensitive – and especially if you need to have a very quiet room to sleep in at night!

Siamese Cats Are Regarded As the Most Vocal Cat Breed

Any Siamese cat owner will tell you that Siamese cats are known for vocalizing loudly and often at any time of the day or night.

But as Animal Friends UK charity explains, many people also think Siamese cats are the most vocal of all the cat breeds!

The Animal Clinic of Woodruff states that there are at least 71 registered cat breeds through various western cat breeder organizations.

The Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) currently recognizes 45 registered purebred cat breeds.

The International Cat Association (TICA) recognizes 71 cat breeds. Plus, TICA allows even non-pedigreed cat breeds such as hybrid cats and mixed breed cats to be shown.

So there are likely literally hundreds of different cat breeds, hybrid breeds, and mixed breeds in the world. And out of all these different breeds, the Siamese cat is the number one most vocal feline.

This is really worth considering, especially when you think about how long a Siamese cat can live. As Animal Planet explains, Siamese cats for living 15 years or longer.

Learn About the Unique Siamese Cat “Meow”

In addition to the traditional “meow” sound that pet domestic house cats are known for, Siamese cats make a range of other distinctive and somewhat unusual sounds.

Depending on who you ask, these sounds are often described as a “chirp,” a “scream” or even a “baby crying.”

Some Siamese owners simply state that their cat “talks” to them – this is how unlike the normal purr or meow cat sounds a Siamese cat’s vocalizations can be.

What causes the Siamese cat to make sounds that are so different from those of other cat breeds?

The Independent shares information compiled from cat experts about possible reasons why the Siamese cat breed has evolved to make such unique types of sounds.

Feline anatomy

The shape and size of a cat’s vocal cords – which is a genetic-influenced phenomenon in the majority of cases – can greatly affect the types of sounds one cat breed or another may be able to make.

This may help explain why Siamese cats, with their slim necks and small vocal cords, tend to make higher-pitched sounds.

Cat gender

Being a male cat or a female cat can play a part in the timbre and tone of vocalizations regardless of breed.

High need to socialize

Siamese cats need more interaction with their people than the typical domestic pet cat. These cats are happiest when they have lots of options for companionship and they really don’t like being alone….ever.

This is unusual among most pet cat breeds and can take some getting used to if you are caring for a Siamese cat for the first time. A lonely or bored Siamese cat is probably going to be even more vocal than a “normal” Siamese cat.

Learned behavior

Siamese cats may be among the most intelligent of all cat breeds, but all cats will learn some amount of their behavior from watching and interacting with their people.

If your Siamese cat has learned that vocalizing more or more loudly or making certain types of sounds reliably gets your attention, you can absolutely expect your Siamese to make even more of those sounds!

For example, the famous Siamese “baby crying” and “chirping” sounds are both sounds that people don’t typically associate with a pet cat.

So it is not outside the realm of possibility that the Siamese cat breed has learned over time that these sounds get more human attention than normal “meowing” cat sounds and has evolved to make these sounds more readily than the others.

In particular, a ground-breaking research study titled “Meowsic” noted that cat vocalizations can be quite complex and melodic in their attempts to converse with humans.

When Do Siamese Cats Vocalize and Meow the Most?

Even though you now know that Siamese cats are the most vocal cat breed and that they will vocalize at any time of day or night, are there particular times of day when your Siamese might meow more frequently or more loudly?

Let’s find out!

Mealtimes

As you probably noticed in the YouTube video you watched here in an earlier section, Siamese cats can get quite vocal when it is time to eat!

Because Siamese cats tend to meow or vocalize more when they want something, mealtimes are one of the times owners say these cats meow the most.

Heat cycles

Some owners choose not to neuter or spay (“fix”) their Siamese cats. There are various reasons why you might not want to fix your Siamese. Perhaps you want to breed Siamese cats. Or perhaps you are worried about health issues linked to these procedures.

Or maybe you are just waiting until your cat is fully mature before scheduling your spay or neuter procedure.

In the case of a Siamese cat that is not fixed, you can expect your cat to meow more when they go into heat (in the case of a female Siamese) or sense the presence of a female cat in heat (in the case of a male Siamese).

Evenings

Evenings are a time when Siamese cats are notorious for meowing and vocalizing quite loudly.

Pet MD points out that most cats will increase the amount of vocalizing and meowing they do at night, even if the cat tends to be quieter during the daytime.

As the Animal Humane Society explains, today’s modern domestic cats are still wild cats in some ways, including their nocturnal circadian rhythms.

This means that just around the time you are thinking about going to sleep for the night, your nocturnal Siamese cat will be starting to wake up and get more active – and vocalize more.

Health problems

Sometimes cats that don’t feel well will become more silent and lethargic. But a Siamese cat that is in pain may also vocalize more out of distress or discomfort.

Fear or anxiety

Siamese cats are intelligent and sensitive cats. They can be especially sensitive to loud noises such as thunderstorms, fireworks, leaf blowers, vacuum cleaners, or even a car backfiring in the neighbor’s driveway.

Siamese cats are also particularly social cats that dislike being alone. This is why many breeders suggest getting two Siamese cats if you have to leave the house for long periods of time on a regular basis.

A Siamese cat that is anxious, or fearful may meow a lot more than a cat that feels safe and calm.

No reason at all

Siamese cats are quite simply vocal cats. They meow a lot and they “talk” a lot.

While there are ways to manage the amount of nighttime (or daytime) vocalization your Siamese cat does, the Siamese will never be a quiet cat breed.

This means that your Siamese cat may have a reason for meowing a lot or they may simply be being a Siamese cat!

What to Do if Your Siamese Cat Meows Too Much

Even though the Siamese cat breed is well-documented as being the most vocal of all cat breeds, there can still be such a thing as too much of a good thing.

In other words, if your Siamese cat is keeping you up all night every night, this is clearly an unworkable situation for you.

But is there any way you can train your Siamese cat not to meow so much or so loudly?

Luckily, the answer to this question is a resounding yes.

You can absolutely influence how much and how loudly as well as when your Siamese cat vocalizes meows, cries, purrs, or chirps.

But it is also important to remember that helping your cat un-learn unwanted behaviors may take some time.

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Understand why your Siamese meows too much

The first step to take to address excessive Siamese vocalizing is to try your best to understand why your cat makes so much noise.

If you can identify the reasons (other than a simple known Siamese cat behavior) your Siamese is meowing excessively, you can try to meet the underlying needs. The result may be a quieter, happier cat.

Provide another cat for the company

Your Siamese cat may benefit from the company of a second Siamese cat to add more enrichment, activity, and fun to their day.

Stop reinforcing the vocalizing behavior

The one thing your Siamese cat wants most is your attention. So if you jump every time your cat makes a sound, you can guarantee your Siamese will vocalize even more.

It can be hard to stand firm and ignore a noisy cat. But the more you can stop responding to vocalizing, the quieter your cat is likely to become, especially during high trigger times like mealtimes.

Take your Siamese cat for a veterinary checkup

Sometimes, your Siamese may be vocalizing a lot because they don’t feel good. When in doubt, it is always smart to make a veterinary appointment to rule out underlying health conditions.