So if your cat is chirping at you while she walks toward her food bowl she is likely saying “follow me to my food bowl and feed me,” or if she chirps while she is walking out the door she may be trying to lead you to something she found outside. Many scientists believe that trills and chirps are a mother cat’s way of getting her kittens to follow her. They don’t want us helpless humans to starve! Cat Sound: Trills and Chirps Some scientists believe that cats see humans as large, helpless creatures that are incapable of hunting, which is why some cats will bring us prey like mice and birds. One theory is that cats developed their meow as a means of communication with their newfound human friends. If you are aggressively rubbing her belly and she is giving you a crankier-sounding meow, it’s likely a threat that she intends to bite you if you don’t stop immediately. For instance, if you walk through the door after a day at work there is a good chance your cat’s meow means “hello.” The best way to know what your cat means when she meows is to pay attention to the context and her body language at the time of the noise. Be it an empty food bowl, a greeting, a friendly wake up call or a warning-different tones can signal different meanings. This is a broad category, as cats meow for a myriad of reasons. Like us, each cat has his or her own voice, so pitch and volume will be different from cat to cat, but one thing is always the same-the reason behind your kitty’s sounds. While some cats are more vocal than others, they all make their fair share of noises. But what do these cat sounds mean? From chirping to purring, growling to hissing and everything in between, we’ve got you covered on kitty language basics. Rich says that a soft, deep meow can mean your cat is in a good mood.If you are the human companion to a cat, it’s likely that you’ve heard your feline friend make a plethora of sounds. It turned out the cat had a tooth problem. A cat owner Rich worked with told her that his cat was meowing more frequently than usual. If your cat doesn’t stop meowing, she may need help. “A longer meow may indicate worry or they’re annoyed or objecting to something.”

“The frequency of the meow is also an indicator of the frame of mind,” Rich says. Pet owners should take note of how often their cats meow and the tone of the meow. Rich tell us senior cats may have louder meows as many older cats suffer from hearing loss. “Whether it’s attention or food or maybe they want to get access to a room,” she explains. Rich also says that meowing is usually a cat trying to tell you what she needs.

“Directed to another cat, it can just be a greeting. “Directed toward humans, it’s often a solicitation of ‘pet me,’ ‘feed me,’” says Crowell-Davis. We’ve all heard the sound of a cat meowing, and usually, it’s a sign from the cat indicating she wants something. “An increase or change in purring in combination with other signs that the cat’s not feeling well, it’s definitely an indication to see your vet,” says Crowell-Davis. “Cats that are happy and healthy tend to purr a lot.” If you put your hand on your cat’s body, you should be able to feel your cat purring.Ī purr can also be a care solicitation or your cat’s way of saying, “keep scratching me” or “take care of me.”īut paradoxically enough, cats who are sick or are dying may also purr.

And queens when they’re nursing,” says Sharon Crowell-Davis, DVM, a professor at the University of Georgia and a board certified veterinary behaviorist.

We also have it in kittens, when they’re suckling. And that certainly seems to be the case for domestic cats. “Most people think as a sign of happiness. What they know for sure: purring involves the larynx, the diaphragm, and other structures involved in respiration and vocalization. Believe it or not, researchers and veterinarians actually don’t know exactly why or even how cats purr, according to the Library of Congress.

Cat sounds