Meowing is one of the ways of cat communication, over time one learns what he wants to say. My boy does the most when I leave home and don't take him with me. It swears at the whole round and when I return home with a completely different sound, it greets me. If he's hungry (which doesn't often happen), he doesn't meow, but he literally pushes me into the kitchen. He can even show what he wants and especially what he doesn't. (happy)