The Many Cat Noises & sounds

The more you talk to your cat, the more it talks to you and you will eventually begin to understand one another. This will also entice your cat to become even more expressive.

Most cat-owners are aware that there are a whole variety of miaows that differ in pitch, rhythm, volume, tone and pronounciation but studies disagree on the actual number of feline vocalizations.

Using body language, posture, facial expressions and Cat Speak our feline friends can communicate their feelings and intentions to us and each other. Although some cats are more vocal than others there is more to Felinese than the simple "meow". Using a variety of vocalizations, felines possess their own vocabulary of sounds.

Cat Speak/Cat sounds:

Mewing ("meow" or "miaow"): cats have different meows for different purposes.

There is the longer 'meow', which calls for reassurance - sometimes accompanied with a padding or, if they are in the carrier, a paw sticking out of the gaps, seeking contact and reassurance.

Purring. This cat noises simply means I'm in the mood to be social. I'm relaxed, content and I wouldn't mind a neck rub!

Purring is another form of cat communication. Typically, it can mean one of two things. Either your cat is happy and content, or it is uncomfortable and irritated. Usually, a cat purrs when it is content and looking at the animal's other body signs will indicate one way or the other.

Hissing simply means :  Would you like that with or without spit? This is my warning call to Back Off!. Hissing is also a fairly obvious form of communication. Hear that and you should probably back away because the cat is not happy and may attack.

Hissing is their way of expressing that they are not happy with a situation and are feeling under threat. Usually a cat will produce cat noises like hiss when their are around other cats, as either an aggressive or defensive gesture, and again it all comes down to the cat's body language to determine what exactly is going on (if a cat's ears are flat while they are hissing, for example, it is likely that they are preparing for a fight).

Chirrup or chirping: there is the short chirrup, which means ' hi'. Cats may  do this when they haven't seen us for a while or if we disturb them when they are taking a nap.

Cats can also make a strange 'chirupping' noise from time to time. This noise is actually a greeting, and your cat is letting you know that he's happy to see you. Some cats, of course - particularly the Siamese breed or those with some Siamese in them - will make these noises a lot, as they like to talk to their owners and let them know when they are happy.

Clicking. This cat noises, simply means: There's a bird outside the window! I'm so excited my teeth are chattering

Growling, means: I'm feeling very aggressive you might want to leave now.

Growling is also a fairly obvious form of communication. Hear that and you should probably back away because the cat is not happy and may attack.

Caterwaul/ Yowl - a heart wrenching signal of stress - the cats do this when we put them in the car. Cats can also make a strange yowling sound sometimes. In the case of female cats, this can be because they are in heat and are calling out to try to attract a mate. Sometimes though, spayed cats and male cats will also make this noise, just as a method of calling other cats - or their owners, if they feel they are not being paid enough attention. Cats can be surprisingly social animals when the mood takes them, and this is one of the methods they can use.

Short, sharp 'woooah' which means you trod on their tail or startled them.

Sluurp. When our big boy cat eats, he slurps really noisily. Our female cats reads this as a signal to stay away from him when he eats. When they groom both cats make little noises of contentment and then there is the growl.

Growl. Oh yes, cats can growl but it is very different from the full throated growl of a dog. A cat's growl starts softly, way back in their throat and either subsides as a danger passes or grows louder until they eventually release a sharp, noisy yowl. This is often a sign that a fight is going to break out.

If your cat seems to be particularly quiet, it's not cause for concern. Much like humans, some cats just don't have a lot to say and prefer to express themselves only occasionally, while others like to talk endlessly and about nothing in particular. Only if a cat seems to be completely silent and has never made a noise should investigations be made.