Does your best friend greet you upon your return with chirps and purrs? Or do they yowl loudly around dinnertime? Young cats actually have a wide range of vocalizations! Let’s review common noises your kitten might make and what they mean.
Meowing
This well-known cat sound serves multiple purposes. Interestingly, this vocalization is thought to be used almost exclusively for humans. It’s sometimes used to greet you, but your cat may also be asking for something. For instance, loud meowing around dinner time means “feed me!”
Purring
Purring is usually associated with a calm and relaxed cat. If your cat is calmly resting in your lap or making air biscuits (kneading with their paws) while purring, this is probably the case. However, it can sometimes signify stress or pain. If you’re concerned that the purring isn’t a relaxed purr, you’ll want to check out your cat’s body language and other signs. Are the ears pinned back? Is your cat hunched and hiding? Have they stopped eating? Your VCA care team can help you determine if there’s a medical issue.
Chirping and trilling
This is a friendly sound. Your cat may greet you with little chirps and trills when you come home or start to approach their food bowl.
Growling
A growling cat doesn’t want to be messed with. Continuing to interact with them might escalate the cat to hissing, spitting, scratching and biting.
Hissing
Hissing is a sign to back off. A hissing cat is not pleased. If you’ve ignored growling, the cat may progress to hissing. They may also use a hiss to warn away other cats or dogs. Occasionally, hissing may include spitting.
Yowling
Some people think this sounds like a cat moaning. It can indicate that the cat is distressed, uncomfortable or isn’t feeling well. For instance, a cat shut in a closet might yowl to let you know they’re trapped. A cat who has urinary issues might yowl in the litter box due to pain. Of course, yowling can also be the sign of a cat in heat or looking for love. If your unspayed female cat is rolling around on the ground, acting extra affectionate and yowling, she’s searching for a boyfriend.
Screaming
This sound is usually reserved for fighting, extreme and sudden pain or mating. A cat screaming because of a fight or pain needs your intervention. If you suspect a screaming cat is in pain, you should see your veterinarian as soon as possible. A female cat who is in the act of mating will yowl because of pain caused by barbs on a tomcat’s penis. These barbs stimulate the female to ovulate.
Chittering
This sound has various names, but it’s the one they make when they’re looking out windows and see something particularly interesting, like a bird hopping around. This sound is thought to relate to predatory instincts. Anecdotally, some have said the cat is mimicking the sounds of prey to lull the animal in, but this is not backed by research.
Together, your young cat’s vocalizations, pheromones and body language make them quite the little communicator. And you’re now one step closer to “speaking cat.”
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