Cat Owner's Manual › Chapter 3: Daily Interaction With Your Cat › Communicating With Cats ›

The Sounds Cats Make

Audible feline communication typically assumes one of the following forms:

Growl: Low-level rumbling sound designed to warn off potential aggressors.

Hiss: Another warning to potential attackers, though of a slightly more urgent nature. It can also indicate pain.

Spit: An even more emphatic warning than the hiss.

Shriek: Yet another warning to potential attackers.

Squeak: A high-pitched cry often associated with play and sometimes heard when a cat anticipates being fed.

Chatter: Not a pure sound but rather a chattering of the teeth brought on when a cat's predatory programming initiates, but cannot be implemented. For instance, a house cat may chatter as it sits at a window, looking at birds outdoors.

Meow: Standard cry of attention-seeking cats. The sound has no parallel among wild adult felines. Possibly an elaboration of the "mew" kittens utter to get their mother's attention.

Mew: A request for attention often employed by kittens. May be an immature version of "meow."

Moan: A louder, more emphatic request for attention.

Trill: An excited chirping sound that kittens and their mothers often use to greet each other. Adult domestic cats will sometimes employ this sound when greeting their owners.

Comments (2)

Chapter 3: Daily Interaction With Your Cat

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cool

purred by Bree Browne on Oct 6, 2008 AT 7:50 pm PDT
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hmm, what about purring? Is not on this list!

purred by Jen Laird on Oct 16, 2008 AT 11:04 am PDT
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Quirk BooksThe Cat Owner's Manual is a basic guide to cat care.
The book was written by a celebrated veterinarian and an acclaimed author. It provides cat owners with well-researched and helpful information presented in a lighthearted manner. The creators chose to write the book in a style similar to what you'd find in "operating instructions" for a car or computer. Of course they--and we--respect the fact that our beloved pets are not products or machines!