Cats make many sounds, and what you may not realize is that each one is meaningful. Dogs, who are ‘man’s best friend,’ in fact, make less.
This blog series will go over the most common cat sounds. If you want to see your cat through different eyes, keep reading- understanding their cat language will definitely change your perception of your cat!
This article is the first of a series on cat vocalizations. Here, we are going to focus on the most well-known, the “Meow!!”
We all learn, as young children, the sounds animals make. Cows go, “Moo,” and dogs, “Bark!” Cats, of course, “Meow…” and this is the quintessential sound associated with the cat besides the famous purr.
But, think about it- do you really know what the meow means?
Moderncat explains that the meow can mean many things. Most commonly, your cat is asking for something. I’m sure that you figured that one out. But a meow has many subtleties that can range from requests to signs of worry, annoyance, loneliness, objection, or illness.
So, even though cats commonly ask for something with a meow, it is very important to keep in mind that the meow could mean something else. If you keep this in mind when observing your cat’s meow, you will be less likely to miss their true meaning.
Although the cat’s meow is complex, understanding it doesn’t have to be frustrating. It can be simple. Let’s break it down.
Now to add another layer of understanding to our cat’s “Meow”.
The second key to understanding what your cat is saying is paying attention to the rise and fall of their voice- or the fluctuation of their voice.
High-frequency mewing or quick vibrations in their tone of voice means what you would expect- “Hey! I want your attention right now! It’s important!”
Moderncat calls this “rapid-fire” mewing which is a great term, because it gives that sense of urgency away.
If the tone of voice is more drawn out and less rapid in frequency, your cat is probably expressing worry, or protest to something- like, “do I have to?” This kind of mewing can sound throatier.
It’s very important to note that a constant and unceasing mewing could be evidence of sickness, a wound, or an injury. Examine your cat carefully and plan a trip to the vet. Cat’s will mew incessantly when they are in trouble. So don’t be annoyed! Your cat could be sounding a warning to you and asking for help!
Another way to think about the secont layer of the meow is to consider. the tone, or the ‘pitch’ of the Meow.
High-pitched meows can be roughly translated into human yelps. Usually, they mean just that. Probably your cat has been suddenly surprised or hurt!
Low-pitched meows are usually drawn out and express grumbling. These are more of a grievance or complaint. Your cat is probably whining at you about something that isn’t their cup of tea, like the fact that you won’t give them more treats when they have already had their daily amount!
When you think about it, these two sounds are very similar to what humans would do when suddenly hurt, or when irritated by something. Our voices are generally high-pitched when surprised and lower when grumbling.
Purina also talks about the long-drawn-out mew, which I can certainly have heard from my cat. This is when your cat wants something in particular- like breakfast, and you’re still in bed! This one happens to me all the time. My cat is very routine-driven. If it’s breakfast time and I slept in, then he hasn’t. He will use this mew to ask for his breakfast. It is usually long and drawn out, I suppose to get his point across.
I also hear this mew when my cat wants access to a room and a door is shut, or if he wants to go outside and I’m slow in getting to the door.
Is your cat sending out a mid-pitched, short meow? And then rubbing up against your legt? Did you just come home from work? Then most likely your cat is greeting you.
My cat will send out a standard-sounding meow over and over again when he is excited. I noticed this first in him when I pulled his favourite food out of the fridge!
Thinking about the context in this situation, my cat was clearly expressing excitement, and not injury or illness, which could be another reason for an unceasing ‘meow.’
Interestingly, cats reserve their mewing just for us. As young kittens, they would mew at their mother to ask for milk, attention, or love. As their owner/master/pet owner, you become their permanent ‘mother’ in their eyes, even to older cats. They use their mew just for you, to get your attention and to ask for something from you.
Kittens meow the most, of course, and this meowing fades as kittens grow up. But, when humans enter the scene, cats will meow again.
Different breeds of cats are also more vocal than others, And your cat will have its own specific meows shaped by their life, personality, and experience. Individuality is important. Take your cat’s uniqueness into consideration in addition to the facts about cats when you are translating your cat’s meowing.
There are definitely general rules and principles that you can follow when you are trying to understand your cat, and these are enormously helpful.
Knowing the common types of meows, and that they are only a few among many, as well as the context of your cat’s meowing will only aid your understanding.
However, your cat is also an individual, and taking your cat’s uniqueness and quirks into consideration is another important key to success when it comes to understanding your furry friend.
Your cat doesn’t meow just because they’re a cat and that’s what they do. You can decode their sounds 🙂
I’ve included some great video’s from Jackson’s Galaxy that are really good to help your understanding.
As always, leave comments below about your cat’s language! We would love to hear from you.
Videos:
Sources:
https://moderncat.com/articles/12-sounds-cats-make-and-what-they-mean/
https://www.purina.co.uk/articles/cats/behaviour/understanding-cats/what-do-cat-sounds-mean
https://www.thesprucepets.com/cat-talk-meowing-554066
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