Why does my cat do this?

Cats are so funny.

They create those little weird habits, like some sort of rituals or code of conduct they concocted by themselves.

Each cat is different and will get different habits and change them from time to time…

Unlike dogs who like to be trained and obey verbal commands, cats only obey to themselves and want to train YOU.

My kitten is doing a great job training me, meowing different ways to get different things…purring to get petted, pawing to get into my bed, scratching the windows blinds to get me to open them…

I don’t have to command her because she seems to read my mind and behave accordingly.

She ask for food, I feed her, she eats, then drink water then use her litter box, then she grooms…she’s very clean.

She uses a large litter tray to bury her pee balls (in 3-4 inches of litter) and a small tray to bury her poo (1.5 inch deep).

“Du maître ou du chat, le maître c’est lui”

(Of the master or the cat, the master is the cat).

God invented cats so you could pet a tiger at home (Victor Hugo)

I think cats still need some structure so they act and react in specific ways in specific situations.

Maybe (just a guess), your basement is a better hunting ground for your cat and he catches more bugs there so when you’re raising your voice while being in the basement, he comes running to your rescue to kill whatever bug/rodent might have made you speak louder, like you were calling for help…then rubbing on your legs to reassure you that he’s there now and everything will be all right.

Maybe the loud “meow meow meow meow meow” means “I’m coming, I’m coming, I’m almost there!” and to warn whatever bugs put you in danger to skedaddle before he gets there.

This may create anxiety in him. They do this sort of behavior to intervene in what they think is a potentially dangerous situation. Or it may be only his anxiety, such as if it sounds different from down there or hurts his ears. But it sounds like he would like to lead you somewhere. If he steps off, follow him and see if he tries to lead you somewhere (like upstairs) where it's safe in his little mind.