Post by Tiger on Aug 21, 2010 0:50:24 GMT -5
Cat Talk
There are sixteen different cat sounds that have been identified. The sounds are broken into three different categories.
- Murmurs
- Vowel Sounds
- High Intensity Sounds
Murmurs: are made when the mouth are closed. The most commonly known mummer is a purr. But the go from grunts to brief utterances of acknowledgment. Grunts are normally made by kittens but occasionally made by an older cat when confronted with an obstacle.
Vowel Sounds: is generally meow which can mean many things like the Hawaiian word Aloha. Depending on the tone of meow used will determine the difference and a cat can make demands, express bewilderment, complain, and wail in anger by opening their mouths. The vowel sounds are generally made from cats 12 weeks and older although younger cats can produce and angry wail.
High-Intensity Sounds: are open mouth sounds that are usually made by cats during emotional intense experiences. Cats most often growl during a fight but a mother will growl at her kittens when they are in danger. Kittens also will growl at their litter mates while playing or attempting to steal food that their mother had given them. A snarl is even louder and more abrupt sound during a fight. Then there’s the hiss that can be variant in a spit, a loud or even a short pfft sound.
