EDIT: ROFL. I forgot to add purring. What kind of idiot am I. XD

Edit 2: Added some body language.




All of those strange sounds coming from your kitten may
sound confusing at first, and maybe you’re convinced the
communication bridge between you and Tiger will never
be whole. Well, he had you fooled!

Because it would be rather difficult to teach the reader
how to meow, we’ll focus on understanding the many meows that Tiger is capable of making. Cats can make over 100 individual sounds (compared to the measly ten of a dog, and the laughable 46 sounds in the English language). We’ll cover the basics, and most important, in cat language.

Cats are also capable of expressing complex emotions, and
for each of those emotions is a sound to accompany it--just
like our own language. Our pitch/tone changes with our
mood, as it does with many animals. The cat is no different.
Pitch is very important in a meow, because it conveys the
emotion your cat is feeling. Understanding the meow is
very simple, and maybe subconsciously you’re able to
decipher what your cat is saying, though you’re not outright
aware! Pitch is key for survival and understanding in the wild, without it friends and foes wouldn’t know what the other was saying. Deep, low sounds indicate frustration or anger, while high and frantic sounds usually indicate excitement.

So, let’s move on to identifying these sounds in your cat.

* PURRING

The most recognizable sound a cat can make, I think, besides that very furtive and annoying MRROW!

Purring in cats was a mystery until recently, and it's still a debated topic. It's thought to be caused by the frequent movement of air onto or across a portion of the voice box. Purring occurs both during inhalation and exhalation, which means cats can purr continuously.

Domestic cats purr in a frequency of 25 to 150 vibrations per second. Only those cats who are classified as being "small" (such as lynx, wild cats, and puma) can purr.

Purring is very important to a cat, because it causes comfort. Not just for you, but for the cat itself and surrounding cats. Purring is a way to calm the atmosphere, and to let the surrounding critters know that [i]this[/i] cat wants to be peaceable.

A cat can purr when its angry, confused, happy, sad, or any number of emotions, because again, it is a method to cause comfort. It isn't guaranteed, but it is a good way to send a quick, calming message to others.

Some dying cats have even been known to purr. A cat never purrs when its alone.


* SNORTING

A cat will snort for a select few reasons, but generally out of indignation or boredom (like you!). If you're frustrated with your cat for whatever reason, a snort will usually get their attention and let them know you're not happy with what they're doing.




* HAPPINESS

Expressed with high, frequent rolling meows. Also accented
with wide eyes and an elevated tail, as well as restlessness.

[link]

Note the “roll” in the second meow, which is generally a
sound that expresses eagerness as well as anticipation.

The cats in the clip were most likely anticipating food.

“Rolls” [link] are a large part of kitty communication, and can accent many moods or feelings. They can also used as a sign of comfort, or general speak, to indicate that the cat is experiencing
a neutral mood or that there is nothing to worry about.
Mother cats also roll to encourage their kittens. It’s a friendly meow that generally brings around aggravated or edgy cats if they're in a temper.


* CONFUSION

Many of the “upset” meows are expressed in the same way, with subtle differences. It’s important to take the situation into context, because things may be taken differently! Just like tone in the English langauge, if you say something with words, your tone might be saying something totally different.

Low, drawn out meows are a form of exasperation that can
denote confusion, frustration, disappointment, and even
anger.

It is also important to recognize when a cat is upset, and
when a cat is in heat, because these two are expressed in
similar ways. [link] (A cat in heat expressing eagerness.)

Serious confusion is expressed in an elevated tone, as it
is our own language. Consider the different ways of asking
“What?” High pitches indicate concern, lower pitches let
the listener know that you’re not enthused. Again, consider
the situation as well.


* EXASPERATION

Have you ever waken your cat up to be greeted with a very indignant meow? Well, your cat feels just the way you do when you're awoken from a particularly good nap, and will respond the same way.

"WHAT?"

[link]



* QUESTIONS

When a cat asks you a question it is short and simple, it is a singular meow low in pitch with or without a roll. (Note the link above was not denoting a question, but a demand.)

Demands can be expressed in the same way. Instead of accenting your sentence with a question mark, you end it with a period, right? "Get me some juice?" "Get me some juice." Your sentence goes from being accented at the end to being neutral, the cat's system is quite similar.

The cat in link three is expressing a demand, probably to be left alone.

[link] -> Another demand. The cat is probably being pestered. Note toward the end, around 11 seconds, there is clear frustration.


Concern is easy to identify, as it sounds just like you'd imagine a concerned cat to sound. It can be expressed in high OR low pitches (kittens are generally going to express themselves in higher pitches than adults), but most cats (that I have experienced) show concern in low pitches.

[link] -> Concern in high pitch. Higher pitches indicate that the cat wishes to be careful and doesn't want to intrude without permission.

Lower pitches MAY convey a sense of authority, that you will intrude regardless, and that you will make things okay if they are wrong. That could get you in trouble with some confident cats though, if you intend to try mimicking the meow.

[link] -> Low pitch concern, note the first meow. The following meows indicate frustration and brewing anger. Consider that this cat has asked what the problem is, and is upset with the answer they get back.

* AGGRESSION

Is not all that hard to identify and shouldn't need a lot of description.

[link]

[link] -> An intimidation meow, comparable to name-calling and insults.

[link] -> Another method of intimidation.

If this doesn't work, the cats will usually fight. It sounds much worse than it looks. Cats are vocal and will delay a fight if at all possible. When you hear angry cats, it's most likely that they haven't made contact yet, and it's time to interfere!

The difference between high and low pitches in aggressive meows denote the intensity of fury. Low meows are warning, while higher pitches are used to command respect.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

PHYSICAL SPEECH

Cats aren't entirely vocal, some more than others. One thing every cat relies on, however, is body language. It is key to read your cat in this way, and to display appropriate signals back, or there could be conflicting feelings between the two of you.

* STARING

A cat speaks with its eyes, and staring is strictly prohibited if you intend to stay on your cat's good side. Staring is a challenge. The first one to look away or blink is, of course, the loser. A cat will stare in challenge to just about anything, but it is generally seen as a serious matter. Like in most animals, staring is used as a method of intimidation. Seeing as cats do not take well to offense, it would be a good idea to refrain from staring--or even looking directly in their face.

Young cats may take it as an invitation to play, but older, more dominant cats are likely to react back--and not in a friendly way.

Occasionally if you stare at your cat, they may take it as a form of punishment. If they really, really look up to you, they may try to suck up and get back on your good side. That generally only happens, though, if you are seen as top cat (a place I don't like to be).


* THE TAIL

A cat's tail can also say a lot about them, but generally conveys these important messages:

Greeting - The tail is fully raised and stiff. It is the cat's way of saying "Hello". Though you don't have a tail, some cats will take a hand wave in the same way.

Aggression - Rapid swishing from left to right in a full semi-circle around the body. Don't bother the cat.

Frustration and indecision - Fluttering of the tip, like a rattlesnake.

A cat who is bird watching will also flutter their tail to gain the attention of their prey.


* EARS

A cat has selective hearing, but we all knew that. Besides it, a cat has 32 muscles in each ear, and can also rotate their ears 180 degrees independently, which means one ear can face one direction while the other faces a totally different direction. A cat can detect a sound, and move their satellite-like ears to pinpoint it, ten times faster than the best watch dog.

Facing forward - The cat is in neutral. Alertness can be noted in perked ears, which are also accompanied by wide, interested eyes.

A cat in neutral: [link]

A cat on alert: [link]

Notice the difference in the eyes. One cat is relaxed, the second is very interested in a subject.

Angled - There's a sound the cat is trying to pick up on, or maybe they're eavesdropping. An angled ear may also indicate that they're acknowledging you, but are interested in something else at the moment.

Frequent twitching - They may be trying to flick an itch, if they're too comfortable or sleepy to interrupt themselves. Softer, slower rotations may be an attempt to pick up an unknown sound.

Flattened, sideways - The cat is on the offensive, and doesn't want to be pestered anymore. They're not ready to fight just yet, but they're saying they're prepared to!

A cat may also flatten their ears in this manner to hide them from prey, if hunting from behind a wall or obstacle.

If in play, the cat may flatten their ears for the same reason. Even if they're in the middle of the floor, its a hiding technique that says, "You can't see me!" just before they pounce!

-> [link]

-> [link]

Flattened, backwards - The cat is PO'd to the max. His ears are back all the way, flattened to the head, to protect them from claws and teeth as ears are sensitive, and good targets. The cat is prepared to leap into battle any moment, and it would be a good idea to get away as soon as possible.

-> [link]




Understanding certainly isn't as difficult as speaking back. I may do a quick tutorial on how to mimic a meow later, but either way it takes practice. x)



QUESTIONS Are well received and welcomed.