Why Is My Cat Crying? The Real Reasons Behind Feline Tears.

From purring to meowing to hissing…our feline friends have a ton of ways to communicate with us. But it’s still pretty heartbreaking when you see your cat crying tears! So you might’ve wondered: why is my cat crying? And why is it happening in the first place? Read on for some reasons behind why your cat is “crying”, why they tend to cry at night, when it can signal a health issue, and how you can catch on to one early.

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Why is my cat crying tears? Or just, well, crying?

Your cat might be crying for a number of reasons. But we assure you, these aren’t “tears” the same as ours when we’re sad. Cats really don’t cry tears for the same reasons humans do. They simply lack the emotional response that triggers tears in humans – i.e. sadness, frustration, anger, or stress.²

But at times, you might’ve noticed how your feline friend might have watery eyes. Or what looks like a “tearful” discharge. So here’s a deep dive into the reasons why your cat is crying tears:

• Attention seeking
  Cats learn pretty quickly that certain behaviors (like, say, meowing) might be likely to get them your attention. So if you’re wondering why your cat is “crying” in a way that sounds like a sob or wail, don’t be fooled. They’ve learned that it gets your attention and affection – even when they show no signs of distress otherwise. 
• Mating instinct
  An unspayed female cat might yowl or “cry” more than usual. This is how she attracts male cats and signals that she’s ready to find the purr-fect mate.
• Environmental allergens
  Including dust, mites, some types of food, or even household cleaning products. These might trigger allergies in the form of watery eyes, runny noses, sneezing, and coughing. If your cat shows these symptoms along with sneezing or coughing, drop a visit to your local vet to get a proper diagnosis and treatment.
• Eye infections
  In some cases, your cat’s “crying” eyes might indicate that they’re experiencing an underlying ocular problem. These might include conjunctivitis, corneal ulcers, or something as simple as a foreign object stuck in their eye – all of which can cause excessive watering. If your cat’s eyes are red, swollen, or they’re indicating any discomfort in their eyes, head over to your local vet for a full check-up.

💡An Activity Tracker for cats can help you pick up on the warning signs of illness – like lethargy, or a drop in your cat’s activity – much in advance. So you can take action early and get your cat to a vet before they get worse.

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Why do crying cats sound like human babies?

You might’ve heard a far-off yowl in your neighborhood and wondered if that’s your cat or a neighbor’s newborn child. (And you wouldn’t be wrong for confusing them!) “Crying” cats can sound quite similar to crying infants.³ And that’s at least partly because cats are smart and have learned that this sound (indicating helplessnes) is most likely to get a human running over immediately. (Often with treats and toys at hand.)

Another reason your “crying” cat might sound like a baby is because they’re master mimics. If you have a newborn at home who’s been pretty insistent about mealtimes, your cat learns that yowling like a baby can get them fed too.

So keep an eye out for whether your cat is in any sort of pain or discomfort when they “cry.” It’s more likely the case that they’re bored, hungry, or just want some cuddles.

Why is my cat crying at night?

If you’ve been woken up more than once with a case of feline midnight melancholy, you’re definitely not alone. Here are some reasons why your cat is “crying” at night:

• It’s when they’re naturally most active
  Cats are crepuscular animals, which means they’re the most energized at dusk and dawn. So you might experience this if your cat has learned that crying gets them meals around then. Spend some time playing with them before bedtime to tire them out or give them a heavy, warm meal around then.
• They’re stressed out
  A change to your cat’s routine can be stressful. This could mean a move to a new home, a visitor sleeping over, new guests, or even another new pet. As a result, they might “cry” more often at night when you’re not around, so they can get your attention and affection.
• They’re in pain or discomfort
  If you’ve noticed your cat’s night-time crying accompanied by any other health symptoms like vomiting, lethargy, or diarrhea, get in touch with your local vet immediately. Older cats, for example, might be more likely to experience conditions like arthritis or cognitive decline – so they might be more restless and cry during nighttime. Other conditions, like urinary tract infections (UTIs) can make it difficult for them to urinate properly, so they might meow and cry insistently to wake you up and help them with the litter box.

How you can catch on to an illness early

Even a sick cat might seem normal and healthy – so it can be easy to miss any signs of sickness. If they’re already crying for your attention (or out of pain), it could be that their health condition might’ve worsened. Which is why vets recommend keeping an eye out for changes in your pets’ behavior. Like if they seem less active or more listless, lethargic, or out of it. (Or, on the other hand, more hyperactive than usual!)

With an Activity Tracker for cats, you can now catch on to a drop in your cat’s activity much in advance. Strapped to their collar, your trusty Tractive GPS both monitors where your cat’s been off wandering, how often they’ve been on the move, how well they’ve been sleeping, and whether there’s any weird change that might need a checkup at the vet.

So…why is my cat crying?

Remember: your cat is most likely “crying” out for attention – and not every case might be an emergency. Also, if you see it accompanied by watery eyes, it’s not usually a sign of emotional distress. Rather:

• Check if anything in your environment is triggering a potential allergy. (Like dust, mites, or even pollen.)
• Consider getting your cat spayed to prevent any unwanted pregnancies.
• Give them an extra cuddle or two – and a little time to adapt to their new environment.
• Adapt to your cat’s body clock, in case they cry mostly at night. Meaning, play with them in the evenings and feed them a warm, heavy meal right before.
• And finally, if you’re observing a change in their sleep and activity levels by monitoring their health data – get in touch with your vet.

“Great little tracker, perfect size and weight for cats.

Tracks activity and sleep habits making it easier to spot issues and discuss activity levels with her vet. Also tracks her when she decides to roam the neighborhood.”

– Clayton Ward, (Source: Trustpilot)

Get health alerts for your cat

Our cats can’t always tell us if something’s wrong. But if their tracker detects unusual changes in their routine, you’ll get an alert, helping you catch potential issues early.

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Got a loved one or a neighbor with a feline friend who’s keeping you up with their caterwauling? Share this post with them – and let’s help build a safer, kinder world for our furry friends together.