Why do cats chirp

He may be chirping to say hi or hoping to get you to feed him or play with him. When your cat is chirping at you, the best thing you can do is to try to figure out what he wants. Try reacting in a number of ways and see if what you do satisfies your cat. Some cats will go as far as to stalk their prey and attempt to pounce on them through the window.

Playing with toys on a string can give your cat a good workout, helping to keep him healthy and entertained. Even getting a second cat can encourage your cat to stay active, providing him with a playmate to run around the house with. Cats use noises to convey all sorts of different things, and in most cases, a cat who is chirping is excited or trying to get your attention. Why do cats chirp? The cat becomes riveted to the prey, and starts to chirp, tweet and chatter. And it's not only real-life prey that riles up your furry friend.

They'll chirp and trill at toys, too. Supervise a play session with a feathered toy on a string and keep an ear out for fun chattering. When the friendly cat chirping starts, notice how your cat's body language reflects their chipper mood: bright, blinking eyes, tail swishing, ears up and pointed to the side and gentle head-butting. While chirping at an unwanted guest such as a bird, however, your furry friend will probably adopt an alert stance such as a crouched stalking pose.

They may also have dilated pupils, sideways pointing ears and an arched back. Engaging in interactive play is a terrific way to see if your cat is a chirper. If your cat isn't a chirper, do not worry; this doesn't mean that they don't love you and can't find their own unique ways of communicating with you!

Christine O'Brien is a writer, mom, and long-time cat parent whose two Russian Blues rule the house. Her work also appears in Care. Find and follow her on Instagram and Twitter brovelliobrien. Select Your Region. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram Youtube. As used herein, denotes registered trademark status in the U. Your use of this site is subject to the terms of our Legal Statement. When they are older and trying to be more independent, she will also use these sounds to get their attention and guide them in a different direction.

However, they more commonly make these noises when they are excited. Like, when a cat sees prey outside the window maybe a squirrel, rodent, or bird and anticipates a hunt. I have even seen some cats start chirping just while watching YouTube videos of birds at a feeder! A chirping noise can sound like the warble of a songbird. This has led people to hypothesize that chirping is an evolutionary advantage when hunting, to deceive their prey into letting their guard down.

However, watching a cat hunt dispels this theory. Cats are stealth, silent stalkers who pounce without warning. Chirping at their prey would ruin the element of surprise and spoil the hunt. Chirrups and squeaky little trills might also happen when a cat is excited and happy. You might have heard your cat chatter her teeth while longingly staring out a window at a sparrow or squirrel in a tree.

Some claim the chatter is actually a mimicked bird or rodent call, but this is anecdotal at best as the hunting prowess of cats is dependent on silence and stealth. Sounding like of a steak sizzling on the grill, it means your cat feels threatened and is ready to fight if need be. A big, goofy dog who gets too chummy with your feline is sure to provoke a hiss and perhaps more. Spitting can also occur with a hiss. When your cat takes on this serpent-like guise, back off, and do what you can to remove the perceived threat.

Some friendly, outgoing felines might hardly ever hiss, while a more shy, reserved cat will resort to it whenever unsure of a situation. Unlike the reasonably happy, searching sound of a meow, the yowl is a longer, more drawn-out moan that denotes, worry, discomfort, territorial concern or mating issues.

Cats who get relocated to new territories or adopted out to a new home can often yowl out their regret at the lost digs. And some cats will yowl simply out of boredom. If your cat begins to incessantly yowl, check for signs of illness; a trip to your veterinarian might be in order. If he or she has not yet been altered, see to it as soon as possible, especially if you let your cat outdoors.

Be sure your cat has ample toys and that she gets enough attention from you. Sometimes all it takes to end a case of the yowls is just an extra play session each day. During the caterwaul, the un-spayed female will do all she can to get outside to meet up with males cats, who will most likely be milling about, yowling and fighting for the honour. If the un-spayed female is outdoors, her caterwauling will draw in a male, whereupon mating will surely occur.

She will assume a head-down, rear-up position called lordosis , while the male bites her neck and begins the mating process. The moral here: have your cats sterilized!