Everyone knows the most common sounds made by our feline friends, namely a friendly meow, a contented purr, and a hiss to signal anger, but I think my favorite sound to hear from my cat is a cats chirping.
Table of Contents
What is a cats chirping?
The cats chirping is also known as a trill because it has a musical undertone, sometimes compared to the chirp of a songbird. The sound is produced when a cat pushes air over its vocal cords while keeping its mouth closed.
The short sound, similar to a chirp, can be preceded or followed by a snapping of the jaw, which gives it another name: snapping.
Most cats learn to chirp as kittens. The queen (mother) chirps to tell her kittens to be attentive and follow her. Kittens quickly learn to imitate their mother.
Some, but not all, cats chirp as adults to call their owners. More often, you’ll hear a cat chirping while looking out the window at birds, squirrels, and other creatures.
It has been hypothesized that cats chirping is an evolutionary advantage that cats evolved for hunting. Chirping is thought to imitate songbirds so that the prey will feel comfortable and let their guard down.
Our pick: The Best Interactive Toys for Cats Indoor
This seems unlikely for several reasons: Cats also chirp when they see squirrels or rodents, not just birds, and the best feline hunters are very quiet and stealthy when stalking their prey. Chirping draws attention to the cat and makes hunting more difficult.
A behavioral study carried out with a group of cats made it possible to study the different sounds emitted by cats and to classify them into different groups based on the configuration of the sounds. The study found that, in most cases, a cat coos due to feelings of anticipation or frustration.
This would explain why a queen chirps at her kittens, as anyone who has ever tried to herd cats can understand how frustrating this task can be.
Why is your cat chirping?
Cats that have strong hunting instincts may be caught looking out the window and chirping at birds and squirrels.
I’ve even seen cats chirp in response to a video of songbirds at a bird feeder. Based on what we know about cats chirping, when your cat sees prey, it chirps either because it is excited and anticipating a chase, or because it is frustrated at not being able to chase the prey that is coming. found in front of him.
Related: Adopting a Cat or Kitten: 8 Things to Consider
If your cat is not a great hunter, he may still chirp. He may coo in anticipation of dinner when you pick up his food bowl. He may also chirp when you come home after a long day at work to tell you it’s time to take care of him.
Cats chirp for many other reasons, but chirping is rarely a sign of a health or behavioral problem. Chirping, trilling, chattering, or whatever you choose to call it, is just another way cats communicate with us, and it’s usually pretty adorable.
Frequently asked questions
Why do cats chirp?
Mother cats chirp to attract the attention of their kittens and to guide them. Other cats chirp when they see a bird or squirrel. This is thought to be in anticipation of a hunt or out of frustration because they cannot reach their potential prey.
Why is my cat chirping and not meowing?
Cats make many types of vocalizations, each with a different meaning. When a cat chirps, it’s almost in response to something that excites it, like a bowl of food or a bird outside . A meow is a more generic sound that can be a greeting or a way to draw attention to something, such as an empty food bowl.
What does it mean when a cat chirps?
When a cat chirps at its kittens, it means “pay attention and follow me.” For other cats, this is often due to excitement, anticipation or frustration.
Why does my cat make little noises?
Your cat makes little noises to communicate its feelings. Each noise has a different meaning. Part of the excitement of having a cat is that we can by the time learn what these sounds mean and understand them better.