A cat owner has joked that she has "figured out why she was dumped" at the shelter she rescued her from.
In a viral video on Instagram with more than 430,000 views, Caitlin, 32, who didn't give a surname, shared how she has embraced the constant chatter of her beloved six-year-old cat, Clover. The feline was sadly returned to the shelter, twice, possibly due to her insistent vocal nature.
Caitlin first met Clover while working at an animal shelter, where she frequently spending lunch breaks among the adoptable cats. Unlike the others who mostly kept to themselves, Clover would run up to her, loudly demanding attention.
"I was never much of a cat person but I fell in love with her," Caitlin told Newsweek. "She was due to be taken to a pet supply store the day I took her, kind of like how they have adoptable cats at PetSmart... I told them they had to make sure she didn't go and I adopted her that day."
Originally named Patches at the shelter, Caitlin gave her a new name inspired by her knack for finding four-leaf clovers—a fitting symbol for their shared luck.
Clover, now in her loving forever home, has always been noisy. "Her favorite things to scream about include reminding me that it's dinner time for the entire 2 hours before the time she actually eats, screaming her thanks after she eats, greeting me when I come in the door and her favorite, for no reason in the middle of the night," Caitlin said.
Why do some cats meow so much?
The most common theory as to why cats meow stems from the fact that they learned and adapted to do so some time after becoming domesticated. Cats rarely meow to each other and outside of their households, saving these particular vocalizations for catching the attention of people.
Just like people, some cats are more chatty than others. Reasons that some cats meow more than others vary, depending on breed, personality, upbringing, environment, health, and learned behaviors.
Certain cats, including those who are well-socialized or have learned they get more attention from vocalizing, will simply meow more than others.
It usually isn't a cause for concern if your pet is more vocal, though if your cat's vocalization changes or is suddenly excessive or different, it is always a good idea to consult your veterinarian.
The recent lighthearted video of Clover's incessant chatter captured widespread attention, as the caption said: "She actually got returned to the shelter twice. Prolly bc [probably because] she never stfu [shut the f**k up]."
It amassed hundreds of thousands of comments since being posted to the site last week, as it prompted many to share their own experiences of noisy pets. "My tortie talks allll the time. Never shuts up. I just mimic her meows to see how close I can get or I predict them. Turned it into a game," Syddd17 said.
And Ladymocha83 said: "I have 2 cats that never shut up. But I love them so much. Had both for over 10yrs."
"I was nervous it may have reached the wrong audience and people were thinking I would actually get rid of my cat," Caitlin told Newsweek. "But luckily it seems like the reception has been mostly good and it has been fun to read all the comments from other chatty cat owners."
Despite the occasional sleep disruption with her chatting, Clover is an essential part of the family. "How lucky we are to have the privilege to be annoyed by them," Caitlin said. "She's my daughter and she's stuck with me for life!"