by Charles Simmins

Created on: February 07, 2009   Last Updated: June 23, 2009

Cats learn very early that purring and meowing lets them talk to you. While some cats and some cat breeds are not very vocal, most cats are not at all shy about letting you know they want something by their vocalizations.

What did that cat just say? If you are owned by a cat, you will say that at least monthly.

The cat purr is the most mysterious sound a cat can make. They purr when they are happy. They purr when they are scared. The act of purring seems to make them feel better and it has the same effect on people.

There are two types of purring. The first is a low, steady vibration that does not vary with the cat's breathing. The other is a loud and clearly breathing related purr.

The vibrating purr appears from deep within the cat. It may be a sign of contentment or a sign that the cat is afraid.

The loud purr is the one that humans can often imitate. It is nearly always a sign of pleasure and contentment.

Beyond the purr are the other sounds that a cat can vocalize. Some cats and some cat breeds are very vocal while others are not. The classic "meow" is only one of the sounds you might hear.

A cat that is alerted to prey, by a bird outside the window for example, may chirp or twitter or even sound like it is chattering its teeth. I have known several cats that would announce their arrival on my bed with a chirp. Other cats have trained me to come when they speak the sound "Mouw!"

A cat will make a kitten sound, "Meew!" if it is lonely. Cats will often engage in extended conversations with you, with a dialogue, because they understand that your sounds should be answered by their sounds. Some cats learn to use the sounds "Mama!" because the woman in their life is so delighted and affectionate when they say that to her.

Cats vocalize to humans because of the way we react to those sounds. They quickly discover which sounds will result in their being fed or being petted. The actual content of their vocalizations may be nil to them. They have learned that we assign meaning so they go with what seems to work.

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