Weird cat question

[The Snark]

Has there been any studies done of cat vocalizations? Our cat makes meow sounds constantly and there is a huge variety to these sounds. Since my brain is so strange at times I've been paying attention and have noticed about 20 decidedly unique 'words' it makes. I need a translation guide.

 

[MatthewM1]

If you come across such a translation guide please share because I feel the same about my cat. She is very vocal, she has many different "chirps" she's doesn't really meow at all

Sent from my LG-P930 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Formerphobe]

http://news.cornell.edu/stories/2002/05/meow-isnt-language-enough-manage-humans
http://www.vmth.ucdavis.edu/home/beh/feline_behavior/vocalization.html
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/cat-vocalizations
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/cat_communication.html

While many cat sounds are universal, many others are individual or breed specific (Siamese). Only you can figure out your cat's particular 'dialect'.
Using the cat's body language at time of the vocalization may help you figure out what it is saying... or not...
Cats were put on earth to perplex humans.

I've lived with a myriad of strictly indoor and indoor/outdoor cats (mostly Siamese), and in close proximity to an inherited feral colony. IME, the more 'domesticated' the cat, the more vocal it is. And, the more 'trained' the owner is, the more vocal the cat.

 

[bugmankeith]

I can't say but I own cats and after a while you can understand what each cat is feeling by its tone because you see them each day and get to know them. Your right there are many different vocalizations.

 

[lancej]

I think every cat has its own specific language for the most part. I watch their body language and actions when they are vocalizing and learn their language that way. It's kind of like trying to figure out what a woman is actually saying vs what words are coming out. You have really know them to know what they are saying!

 

[jbm150]

I feel like I've read somewhere that cats have the largest repertoire of sounds, outside of humans, of all mammals. Any truth to that?

 

[pitbulllady]

http://news.cornell.edu/stories/2002/05/meow-isnt-language-enough-manage-humans
http://www.vmth.ucdavis.edu/home/beh/feline_behavior/vocalization.html
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/cat-vocalizations
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/cat_communication.html

While many cat sounds are universal, many others are individual or breed specific (Siamese). Only you can figure out your cat's particular 'dialect'.
Using the cat's body language at time of the vocalization may help you figure out what it is saying... or not...
Cats were put on earth to perplex humans.

I've lived with a myriad of strictly indoor and indoor/outdoor cats (mostly Siamese), and in close proximity to an inherited feral colony. IME, the more 'domesticated' the cat, the more vocal it is. And, the more 'trained' the owner is, the more vocal the cat.

That's what my experience has shown me, that each cat is an individual, and a sound that means one thing in one cat might mean something different in another cat, or might be absent completely. I currently have two mixed-breed cats, strictly indoor cats. One, the oldest, is a longhaired cat that came from an animal shelter. That cat almost NEVER meows, and if he does, it generally means that something is wrong, somewhere-stove eye left on, food dish empty, something he considers a crisis. He makes soft chirping sounds if you are holding and petting him, and he purrs, but that's the extent of his vocalizations. The other cat was from a cat rescue, and was born into a feral colony. Although he was about 12 weeks old when I got him, he's a very high-strung, nervous animal, much more so than any bobcat or real wild feline that I've ever had. His build suggests a Siamese background, but his vocalizations are very squeaky and high-pitched, often more "beeps" than meows, very different from the voice of a Siamese. He is VERY vocal, however, and really seems to enjoy hearing his own voice. I'd read somewhere in one of those "cat facts meme" things that adult cats do not meow at other cats, only at humans. This cat didn't read that meme, because he meows at the other cat, too. It's almost impossible to carry on a conversation with another family member(human) and not have this cat butt in with his .2's worth. Unlike the older cat, he HATES to be held or picked up and will struggle if you do that, and start to panic if you insist. He loves to be petted, but only by me. If I pull him in closer, though, he'll get panicky and will bite if I insist on holding onto him unless I scruff him. That's in contrast to the last bobcat I owned, who would happily allow herself to be carried around by anyone 24/7 and who'd turn into a limp blob of boneless purring fur when picked up. Both of my cats are domestics, but that youngest one is still wilder than most real wild cats I've had, and he's by far the most vocal domestic cat I've ever had, to the point of being annoying.

pitbulllady

pitbulllady

 

[BobGrill]

One of my cats doesn't meow at all actually. Instead he makes a little squealing noise that sounds sort of like "Meh!"

 

[The Snark]

Thanks for the responses! I hoped we hadn't gone round the pipe.
Had a small breakthrough thanks to Thai-ness. Thai language is all about tonal sound variations that can be all but impossible for non Thai's to pick up on. Rising, falling, high mid and low tones alter the meaning of the word drastically. (On many occasions I asked various people to go eat a mountain with me: Pbi geen kow(rising as in a question which means mountain when it must be mid even tone meaning rice). Anyway she instantly noticed the cat recognizes No! In this cat that is a short m-OW mid tone. She will stop what she is doing when told that firmly. She also sometimes queries the order with a 3 syllable me eee oowww, falling tone.

 

[Spepper]

Our most vocal cat chirps(getting petted), does what we call a "purry meow" where he purrs and meows at the same time(getting petted), yowls (taking him to the vet), and purrs(getting petted). And then there's also the various random tones and pitches he puts into regular meows, when he is talking just because I repeat everything he says. Does anyone else do that? "Talk" to a cat by repeating what they say? You can get quite the "conversation" going. LOL Sometimes I wonder what they're thinking when I do that.

 

[The Snark]

On to something. SERIOUSLY unscientific but...
Cat's have variations on, essentially, one word. What the different sounds they make, tonal inflections, extended, truncated or otherwise modified create their repertoire and dialogue. A dialogue that is basically universal at least to similar cats. How the kitten communicates to it's mother would be a basic example.
I strongly feel that the felines combine this tonal range of sounds with empathy that could easily extend to a degree of telepathy. It's been well established that animals can pick up on the various states of mind of other animals around them. Put someone who has a serious fear of horses into a corral with a bunch of placid stable nags and watch how the horses act if you want serious graphic proof. It seems to me that cats have incorporated this into their communication ability.
???

 

[PlaidJaguar]

Animals don't have telepathy. What some animals have is an incredible ability to see and interpret very subtle body language, even from other species. Cats are amazing at this because they are ambush predators and need to be able to predict where their prey will be in the immediate future.

Humans tend to think of themselves as mostly vocal, but did you know that 70% of our language is nonverbal? Whenever you "just know" how someone is feeling, that's your brain processing hundreds of tiny cues for you and providing only the relevant info to your conscious mind.

My cats will both "talk" to me when they want something. Pyrat isn't much of a talker; mostly just a little squeak when she's hungry. But Rabbit has learned quite a lot of vocal communication. The interesting thing is that he never meowed when we first got him, but my husband likes it so it's been rewarded over the years. Now Rabbit meows to convey his every whim, and will always meow back at you when you talk to him. It's pretty cool.

 

[PrettyHate]

Is this the all white cat? Pure white cats have a higher rate of congenital deafness, which often explains why they are "mouthier" than other color variants.

 

[PlaidJaguar]

Is this the all white cat? Pure white cats have a higher rate of congenital deafness, which often explains why they are "mouthier" than other color variants.

Were you talking to me? My girl is a silver tabby and the fatty is a uniform gray. Both have excellent hearing and come when I call them.

It's interesting that you mention deafness though. I'd never thought about less hearing correlating with more talking. I know some dogs that seems to hold true for.

 

[The Snark]

Is this the all white cat? Pure white cats have a higher rate of congenital deafness, which often explains why they are "mouthier" than other color variants.

Yes it is. Even has the mismatched eyes. But she responds to noises and sounds very well. She even detects the tiny noises geckos make.

 

[Alexisd]

my cousins cat make maw sounds when you walk past her then she attacks but my cat never meows unless you accidentally hurt her but never and if you find a translation guide share cause that would be cool to see

 

[The Snark]

I got into an arguement with her this evening. She wanted to go upstairs and hunt geckos and I wasn't into having her beetching and moaning about all her potential victims being up at the ceiling. So I told her no a half dozen times, which she understands, but she started the meow noise getting more and more loud and strident in cussing at me until I told her I might give her a bath. She knows that number too, clammed instantly, scrammed down the stairs and is now laying low and quiet.

 

[Deathmetal]

My cat knows how to command the stupid human to do the following: where are you?! , feed me! , I have no water , let me in the garden? , and yes/no. There's more but I hear these on a daily basis...