Cats make different sounds to communicate with other cats and with people, and in different situations. They can do it as a welcome, in reproductive moments, for courtship, as a sign of hostility, for example.
But not all cats meow the same. Domestic cats have been seen to make shorter, higher-pitched meows than feral cats. This shows that domestic cats have evolved, in this aspect, by living with man, in this aspect, by living with man.
What kinds of sounds do cats make to communicate?
1. Closed-mouth muttering
Among them we find two very characteristic sounds, the purr and the gurgle (in English chirrup)
- I purr . It is one of the most characteristic sounds of the cat, and the one with the lowest frequency. This sound is produced by contracting the laryngeal muscles during breathing, with the mouth closed.
The purr frequency is more or less stable in each cat, what can vary is the volume at which they do it. This volume can increase or decrease depending on the intensity of the emotion you are feeling.
In fact, there is a record in the Guinness Book of Records in which a cat, named Merlin, purrs at 100 decibels, which can be compared to a high-revving motorcycle accelerating.But why do cats purr?
Cats can purr in different situations, most of them considered pleasant.
They can do it:- while the kittens feed on their mothers
- while the mothers feed their kittens
- when they sleep next to their favorite person
- when they are caressed by their favorite person
- while brushing them
- while another cat grooms him
- when they want food or attention from a person
Although it has also been seen that cats purr when they are in pain, or when they are very sick. With this, we want to show that purring does not only mean something pleasant, and just because our cat purrs, we should not only think that it is happy.
- Warble (in English chirrup – for the resemblance to the sound). It is a very characteristic sound that cats make to interact and say hello . It is a guttural sound that they make with their mouth closed and they usually do it when they are happy with something.
2. Vocal sounds, which they make by opening and closing their mouths
- With different intonations. In fact, when we live with cats we know perfectly well what meow our cat is making and what it is doing it for.
We can hear meows of game calls, to ask for food, when we come home to greet each other, or the meows of the kitten calling its mother, for example. - Sounds of female in heat. High-pitched and long, which we can hear when the females are in heat and they use it to attract the males.
- Meows of anger . Generally more serious and directed at another cat.
- Chatter. It generally occurs when the cat sees prey, but cannot access it, such as a little bird on the other side of the window, or a fly that it cannot catch.
The reason for this sound is not really known, but several hypotheses have been considered:
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- Frustration at not being able to reach the dam
- Anticipation of the hunt
- Imitation of the sound of the dam to be able to better access it
3. Sounds of tension that are produced with the mouth open and are generally used to communicate negative emotions such as fear, frustration and pain
- Grunts. Generally, they make them in moments of anger , although there are occasions when they can make sounds similar to these growls while they are eating , without any sign of anger. In fact, it is unknown why they do it at that precise moment.
- We will listen to them in times of fights or conflicts between cats. Although it has been described in some situations in which the cat is disoriented or lost due to not being able to see or hear in its environment.
- They show stressful situations for them, be it fear or pain.
- We all know what a cat snort is. They are more or less intense. Some will just mean “do not disturb”, while others may mean “don’t even think of getting an inch closer”.
- “Spit” This is a sound similar to a click. It is a short sound, usually accompanying the snort, which is made in tense situations. Either against another cat or person, or they can even do it against objects that they are afraid of.
As we can see, there are multiple sounds that our cats can make to each other or to us. Even being able to make a mixture of them.
Therefore, when in doubt, about what the sound is, and what they are trying to tell us. Or if, in situations between our cats, we hear some of these sounds, it is advisable to record them to be able to show them to veterinarians who are dedicated to the behavior of cats, so that we can help them interpret the situations.
References
Yeon, S. C., et al 2011. Differences between vocalization evoked by social stimuli in feral cats and house cats. Behavioural processes, 87(2), 183-189.Tavernier, C., et al 2020. Feline vocal communication. Journal of veterinary science, 21(1).Etmektsoglou, I. 2018. Cats don’t just miaou! Exploring animal sounds in soundscape improvisations: a tool for developing environmental awareness, empathy and aesthetic sensitivity.
