Cats spend a lot of time and energy interacting with other cats in their lives, but very little of that interaction takes the form of meowing, as you may have noticed. It’s likely that you would want they would just stop talking if they talked as much as they gestured, such as when cats rub up against you. Naturally, cats frequently “use their words” to explain these cat noises to us because most humans aren’t nearly as good at interpreting body language and comprehending cat communication, such as subtle cat ear movements and cat tail twitches.
A cats’ vocabulary is just as rich and subtle as cat body language (including the ways cat express affection), but here are some of my favorite cat noises and what they mean. Let’s start with the basic cat noises:
1. Cat meowing
Compared to adult cats, kittens are far more prone to meow. Kittens meow to let their mother know that they need attention because they are born blind and deaf. What causes your adult cat to make these cat noises, then? Adult cats hardly ever meow at one another, but they might do so when they hear us. (Humans occasionally meow at one another, but it’s usually just for humor.) Watch this kitten’s mother-related sobs.
2. Cat purring
PurriOne of the most typical cat noises is purring. Cats purr when they are happy, but they also purr when they are ill or hurt to comfort themselves. Since the purr has an auditory frequency of about 25 cycles per second, it almost likely functions as an internal massage and is regarded to have healing powers. Popular Read: Why Does My Cat Scratch The Sides Of The Litter Box? – Simple Explanation
3. Cat trilling
Cats use a trill, a cat noise somewhere between a meow and purr, as a friendly greeting. This cutie is meowing and trilling to beat the band!
4. Cat growling
Cat growling is among the cat noises that give off a warning. Cats growl at one another to say, “Back off before I have to use my claws rather than my voice!”
5. Cat chattering
If your cat sits in the window staring at squirrels outside, ears erect and eyes focused, but he can’t get outside to chase them, he may make a cat chattering or cat chirping noise. These cat noises communicate either excitement or frustration.
6. Cat hissing
Cat hissing is among the cat noises you may hear when your cat is angry or scared. The hiss is the next stage of warning after the growl.
7. Cat yowling
Female cats in heat make this desperate cry, hoping to attract tomcats to ease their pangs of kitten-making desire. And cat screaming, a variant of cat yowling, is the final warning sound before a serious cat fight begins.
8. Cat beeping
When my cat Thomas wants to get in my lap, he’ll often sit on the floor staring up at me and make a quick “bip” or “eke” sound. I interpret this as “Ahem — excuse me.”
9. Cat burbling
These feline sounds are a cross between a growl, a meow, and a purr. The burble includes a growl, yet it has no negative connotation. Like the phrase “Aloha,” it is Siouxsie’s attention-grabbing noise and has multiple meanings. She gurgles as well when she appreciates my attention. In this video, Siouxsie makes a variety of sounds that she enjoys making, including some of her burbles. (I’ve deduced that “burble-myak!” is code for “Look at me, I’m outside!” Yay!” Not “Holy crap, I’m outside and freezing my butt off!” as she enjoys yelling it whenever she’s out for a stroll.)
10. Cat wailing
If I don’t do that, Bella wolfs down her food and then steals Siouxsie and Thomas’ lunches as well, so I feed her in the bathroom with the door closed. Usually, she finishes ahead of the other cats and then begins to cry aloud, “Please, let me out!” I respond, “Just a minute, Bella.” Of course, after the other cats have finished eating, I let her out.