by RS Coolidge

Created on: January 20, 2009   Last Updated: January 27, 2009

The thing about cats that makes them different from other pets is that a cat does not see himself as a pet. In the mind of a cat, he is the master and the human his pet. So it behooves you to understand what your cat wants and needs. After all, you are 'his' pet. There are two ways that cats try to communicate verbally with people: by purring and by meowing.

Conventional wisdom states that a cat purrs when he is happy. For example, when he is being gently petted beside a warm fireplace or when his belly or neck is being rubbed he is likely to emit a soft purr. However, there are other reasons why cats may purr. Sometimes cats will purr when they are threatened . In addition, scientific studies suggest that the sound frequency of a cat's purr may stimulate bone growth and healing. Therefore, a cat that has been badly injured or even dying will typically engage in long, deep and intense purring. It is his way of trying to get better. In another words, purring serves a very important role for the vitality of a cat.

When a cat meows it is his most direct attempt at communication. It is his way of trying to speak to you using the language that he knows(catspeak). It is up to you to decipher his code for he has no desire to learn your language. A cat's meow can mean a myriad of different things. Sometimes he is telling you 'feed me I'm hungry' while other times he is simply saying'hey I want some attention'. Subtle differences in meows, expressed through tone and inflection, makes all the difference in terms of what your cat wants. Study your cat and learn his meows so that you can decipher what he is trying to tell you.

People often wonder what their pets would say if they could only speak. For cat owners, that is not the issue. Cats are happy to speak but its you who must learn to listen.

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