There is no simple answer to the question–why do cats meow, the only way to truly explain it at least somewhat is to go into greater detail; cats are complex animals and will use their vocalization in order to signify many different things, not just one. One of the primary reasons why cats meow is that they want your attention. Now some cats are more independent than others, but some will truly crave human attention, and even the independent ones will sometimes come around looking for some interaction from time to time.
If the meowing is within a tolerable level and you don’t mind the occasional lick, whisker nuzzle and lap time then this meowing is definitely not a problem, however in some cats the meowing can get out of control, and other times the meowing is trying to signal something much more than just your average garden variety “hi there”.
Sometimes a cat meows because they are sick or in pain, you have to listen with a very discerning ear. Many people are intuitive enough to tell the difference, but just know that it pays to pay close attention to your cat and how they vocalize themselves because it can clue you in to all sorts of problems. They might have hormones issues, kidney problems, fleas, or an injury. So always listen carefully when your cat is “speaking” to you.
Cats will also meow when they are hungry, sometimes they are simply saying to you “hey, where’s my dinner, I’m starved”. You should be able to tell if this is the reason just by knowing your cat’s little habits, but don’t succumb to this pressure and feed your cat every time they meow otherwise they will pack on the pounds and that’s just not healthy at all.
Sometimes kittens will meow and meow… and meow some more when they are looking for your attention, this is particularly prevalent in certain breeds. So, what’s the best way to deal with this behavior? Well, just like with your own children (if you have any) the best way to deal with this is to ignore it. If you continue to ignore this self centered behavior then the behavior will go away on its own.
And just like with rearing a child you must have an iron will, you’re doing your cat a favor by allowing them some independence, just think of it that way and it will be much easier to stick to your guns. As you can see there are many reason why cats meow, not just one. If you have a good loving relationship with your cat and you listen carefully you will very likely be able to tell what your cat is signaling, and that is a very valuable thing to their health and well being.