10 Common Cat Noises — and What They Mean
You’ve probably noticed that cats spend a lot of time and energy communicating with other cats in their lives, but that very little of that communication is in the form of meows. If they talked as much as they gestured (including marking their territory and their humans), the odds are good that you’d wish they’d just shut up. Of course, because most humans aren’t nearly as good at observing body language and understanding the feline communication of subtle ear movements and tail twitches, they often “use their words” to help us understand these cat noises.
A cats’ vocabulary is just as rich and subtle as cat body language (including ways they express affection), but here are some of my favorite cat noises and what they mean. Let’s start with the basics.
1. The meow
Kittens are much more likely to meow than adult cats. Because kittens are born unable to hear and see, they meow to alert their mother that they need attention. So, why is your adult cat meowing? Adult cats rarely meow at each other, but they may meow at us for the same reasons. (Humans sometimes meow at each other, but it’s usually for laughs.) Check out this kitten crying for its mother.
2. The purr
Cats purr when they’re content, but they also purr as a way to comfort themselves when they’re sick or injured. The auditory frequency of the purr, around 25 cycles per second, is thought to have healing properties, and it almost certainly acts as an internal massage. (Read more about cat purrs here from behaviorist Marilyn Krieger.)
3. The trill
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. The growl
Cat growling is clearly a warning sound. Cats growl at one another to say, “Back off before I have to use my claws rather than my voice!”
5. The chatter
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. This cat sound communicates either excitement or frustration.
6. The hiss
Cat hissing happens when your kitty is afraid or angry. The hiss is the next stage of warning after the growl.
7. The yowl
Female cats in heat make this desperate cry, hoping to attract tomcats to ease their pangs of kitten-making desire. The scream, a variant of the yowl, is the final vocal warning before a serious cat fight begins.
8. The beep
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 “eck” sound. I interpret this as “Ahem — excuse me.”
9. The burble
This cat sound is a hybrid between a purr, a meow and a growl. The burble has no negative meaning even though it incorporates a growl. It’s Siouxsie’s attention-getting noise and, like the word “Aloha,” it has more than one meaning. She also burbles when she’s grateful for my attention. You can hear some of Siouxsie’s burbles in this video, along with an assortment of other noises she likes to make. (I’ve come to the conclusion that “burble-myak!” means “Look at me, I’m outside! Yay!” not “Holy crap, I’m outside and freezing my butt off!” because she loves to make those noises any time she’s out walking around.)
10. The wail
I feed my Bella in the bathroom with the door closed, because if I don’t do that, she wolfs down her food and then steals Siouxsie and Thomas’ meals as well. Usually she finishes before the other cats and then starts in with her heart-rending cries of “Pleeeease, let me out!” “Just a minute, Bella,” I reply. Of course, I do let her out once the other cats are finished eating.
Tell us: What are your favorite cat noises Did we miss any cat sounds that you would like to know more about? Please share them in the comments.
Thumbnail: Photography ©graphixchon | Thinkstock.
Read more about cat noises on Catster.com:
- Caterwauling — What Is It and Why Do Cats Do It?
- Which Cats Meow the Most?
- 9 Weird Cat Sounds and What They Mean
About JaneA Kelley: Punk-rock cat mom, science nerd, animal shelter volunteer, professional cat sitter, and all-around geek with a passion for bad puns, intelligent conversation, and role-play adventure games. She gratefully and gracefully accepts her status as chief cat slave for her family of feline bloggers, who have been writing their award-winning cat advice blog, Paws and Effect, since 2003.
33 comments on “10 Common Cat Noises — and What They Mean”
I don’t have an issue with people using leashes when actually ‘walking’ their cats outside, but I DO have an issue when they tie the cat to a tree or post for hours at a time … Oh yeah, I also have an issue with people putting clothes on their cats (or dogs, for that matter).
My cat, Peaches, is a squeaker. She does not meow and never has. She’s always had this soft, little squeak. She also doesn’t use it all that often. Even her purr is a softer volume than her kitty companions. Her squeak does not match her size, at 12lbs.
Vikki, the tabby, is very vocal and loud. She also has a growl that she uses on us and the other cats that we are sure is her swearing at us. We will often hear her doing it as she trots up the hallway to get away from whatever displeases her.
Civi, who is 14, has never really meowed, but has a truncated version. It always means either food or pats. She is very much into touch.
Chrissy, our dilute tortie, is a normal cat. Her vocalisations leave you in no doubt of her intentions. She’s pretty easy to get on with. She is more likely to use body language with the other cats and leave her vocalisations to communicating with us humans.
I’ve always thought that the cat who lived with us was the only one who ever burbled – but there’s the burble in your report on “typical” cat sounds! Actually, looking again, the trill, too, I didn’t think was typical. I’ve long known that cats DO talk to us, and I’ve always thought that they understood us when we talked back, even with the language barrier. Great to see that other people love cats like I do!
I’ve never seen a kitty on a leash before till now!! And OMG am I so glad I did. Our Bobby (gotta say it in Hank Hill voice) loves going outside but has been grounded after getting himself stuck in a tree for hours, he wants to go outside so bad he tries to sneak out anytime the door is open. But this would be a great way for him to go outside. Thank you!
I have 4 ferals, one on my lap right now sleeping. They are all very happy living here. They never even ask to go outside. Why would they? They enjoy the life they have here too much! Each one has his or her own sounds. Patches has an emphatic sounding MEOW! when she greets me, or wants to know where I am. If I call her when she does it, she comes to me. Booties often says a soft “Mew” when she see me. Blackie has a louder “Mew” when he sees me and he makes burbles a lot while he is playing. Tiger is SUPER talkative. He makes all kinds of different sounds.
I love the bip n eck sound, that’s how my cat communicates with me when I stroke her tummy between her sleep.
My cat, a tabby, recently started a new sound when she is near me. I had a hip replacement and she decided she would be my nurse. She shadowed me closely and started to make a soft sound in her throat. It’s not a mew, she doesn’t open her mouth. Now that I’m up and about I thought she would stop the sound but when I’m in my lazy boy she comes up on the head rest and makes that sound to me. I’ve never heard that before from any other cat. Any ideas?
She was a great nurse, by the way.
omg
We have three cats, including one we decided to foster about a week ago. They all make different sounds. But the question I have is a cat snack called Temptations. When I even pick up a bag and it crackles a little bit, the cats go bananas. And I’m not talking a little dancing and prancing around, Garfield will actually grab the top of the bag and try to help me open it faster Gray, who’s kind of shy will get up beside me and when I put them down for him to eat he practically swallows them whole. Garfield, too. The little one who is tentatively Duchess, gets almost vicious when she tries to get her share. She’s started life as an alleycat living behind a dumpster, so I can forgive the bites and nips and claws because she had to scrounge for food. But my question is is there something In the ingredients that makes them so crazy? These are gentle, polite cats at dinner and eat like a lady and gentlemen. They eat what they want and leave the rest for later what usually means for another cat. But they will actually lick the place where these cat treats are sitting. And they eat like they’re starving. I’ve decided not to give them anymore when this bag is empty, because it changes their personality into pushy, nasty, kitty cats. Any ideas?
Being a Vet I would think that you would support the safety and well being of an animal.
I have lost a couple of my cats to own negligence of not realising the dangers of the outside world and although I have a highway that is on the backside of my fence that was not how they died one was in my backyard sleeping in his favorite tree when a red tailed hawk grabbed him and dropped him at a very high flight and the other one was walking along the fence between my house and my neighbors when her dog jumped up and grabbed him off the fence .I will never forget the sound of his claws screeching down the fence when that dog grabbed him. After seven years I now have a 6 month old kitten that not allowed out doors but he is so curious when I let my dog out to go potty I am considering a leash to satisfy his curiosity.
A leash for cat? Why do humans try to bend everything to their will ? In this instance, the consequence is an unhappy cat. Shame on you. I am a vet and it p***** me off to see the essence of a cat extinguished to become an object of servitude to it’s owner.
Yes, a leash for a cat. Not all cats are unhappy being on leash. And as a vet you would think that you wouldnt be so narrow minded on that subject. Shame on you! Not all cats are the same, and they are not objects of servitude to their owners. They’re family members. If i went outside and wanted to have my cat outside of their carrier, i would most certainly have a leash on him/her. I wouldn’t want for anything to happen to my loved one. Anything can happen in a split second and the last thing i want is for my cat to get hit by a car or run away. So “bending that to our will” is for the better. But you know i didnt really have to tell you all that because ur a vet! :) i wonder what you must think about dogs being on leashes?
Wow, Dr. Jake, pretty harsh response coming from a professional. We have four cats (now split into two pairings after an amicable divorce). As Melanny says, not all cats are alike and ours are not viewed as pets, yet rather family members as well. Three of our cats didn’t tolerate a leash (therefore we ended it quickly) the fourth seems to love it and the walks outside on the porch. The others are fearful of the outdoors. So, please keep a response as harsh as yours to yourself.
I wonder if you feel the same way about children. You don’t put a leash on something because you want to control it for the sake of controlling it. You use the leash to protect that cat when you go outside with him or her. Just like you might hold your child’s hand when you cross the street. Or they even make leashes for children for the same reason. You’re very judgemental and probably shouldn’t be a vet.
Yes, Heather, when l was growing up, having a leash for a small child was quite common in Australia. Although you may not see it now. l would definitely use one on my cat, because she is my ” fur child ” as many people have these days. Trish
I find by having an indoor cat on a leash is not only fun for the cat to experience the outdoors, it’s a good cat owner who does this.
I don’t want a loose cat in my yard chasing the birds I have at my feeder.
In my opinion it’s a responsible and caring cat owner who takes time out of their busy day to allow their kitty some outdoor fun.
Quick google search does not reveal any doctor (human or animal) by the name of Jake Trilson. Got a license or DEA number for proof?
Amen!!!!! cats are the world’s best hunters and it is wrong to deny their natural instincts.
Yes, cats are great hunters. They’re also endangered hunters if left outside to their own devices. Wake up! If you love your cat, keep him/her close; away from danger. You don’t sound like a very experienced cat owner. There’s a zillion pitfalls for our furry friends outside! You and Mr. Vet! Ugh!
As a vet you should know the dangers of letting your cat out WITHOUT a leash. None of my cats go outside and have no urge to either.
That’s kind of a shocking response from a vet. I leash trained my cats as babies, that’s their only experience with the outdoors, because I love them and want them to survive. Because, in my area, cats allowed to roam freely outdoors have a very short lifespan. We have many bands of coyotes that roam our neighborhoods, even in the daytime. I don’t often say “shame on you”, but I think it’s appropriate here.
Good Answer! I agree! Shame on Mr. Vet! Thank you!
Oh please! I have an indoor cat and he’s free to roam all through the house, but when I treat him to going outside, I put a leash on him, lest he be grabbed by a preying coyote, Fox, or incoming falcon! My neighbor never saw her housecat again from a coyote stalking in broad daylight! Surely you understand cats dont respond to commands like dogs! People that put leashes on their cats do it to protect them from various dangers. Not for reasons you misinterpret. Get over yourself Mr. Vet! If you’re really serious, you’re either naive, immature, misinformed, or just plain ignorant! And more than likely never even HAD a cat for a pet! Ugh!
Absolutely correct. Anybody who lets their cat out unattended in my opinion is an irresponsible pet owner. The least of which, I want to thank all you people that let their cats out for leaving me big piles of poop in my garden. Thanks, much appreciated.
All of my cats have happily walked on a leash – to visit my sister in the house next door and to see my father in an apartment below mine.
Shame on you. Vet, or not, you’re so judgmental, you don’t know what you’re talking about.
HA HA….no vet would ever say that. A pretend one perhaps.
I have two cats Benji and Kimchi. Benji is a male and is very vocal and meows back to me when I talk to him. Kimchi is a girl and she’s not as vocal especially around stranger’s. Her meows are so adorable they’re like little squeaks and sometimes talks back to me. When she wants to play or wants me to pick her up she gets very vocal. It’s super cute
My 13 year old cat Daji sits in the bathroom (I assume because of the echo and the benefit of louder messages) and makes a kind of “speaking” noise about an hour before daylight almost every night. It really sounds like she’s trying to talk, but comes out in some very odd language. It does most times succeed in waking me, which I note could be the purpose. It began immediately after the loss of our favorite all-time soul-cat Buddy, a few years ago, and I note that was the time of night he would often choose to run and play. Could there be a connection here?
I have a female cat that, like an earlier female who owned me, makes this sound like, “Vroom, VROOM!” when jumping up onto the bed to join me, or just before she takes off running.
Same here, I didn’t know how to describe it, but a VROOM is exactly it! It’s kind of like a trill, but not as high pitched. Usually makes that noise as a greeting, waking up from a nap, or if I’m not playing with her to her satisfaction, haha. She’s just under a year old now, but haven’t really heard her meow, it’s almost always that VROOM.
I love my boy’s trill, because I know he’s relaxed, content, and happy. I had a horse who did this a lot, a trill, kind of his soft voice, or whispering snort.