Her "vocabulary" of sounds
and body language helps her
communicate with you.

Cat Chat

One way to know how your cat is feeling is to simply listen to her. Some breeds are more vocal than others -- Siamese are known for being especially talkative -- but most cats at least occasionally get their messages across by making a variety of sounds. These can include hissing, growling, chirping, and clucking. Two of the most common cat vocalizations are meowing and purring.

What says "cat" more clearly than "meow"? Yet when adult cats talk amongst themselves, meowing seldom enters the conversation. Meowing is a means of communication reserved mainly for mother cats talking to kittens (and vice versa), and for cats talking to humans.

Not all meows sound the same. Just as a mother comes to recognize what each of her infant's cries means, you'll eventually come to know what each of your cat's meows signifies, from "It's dinnertime" to "Let's play!" Most meows, however, can be grouped into two broad categories:

High-pitched: The higher the meow, the happier the cat is likely to be. Your cat may give a high-pitched meow to greet you when you come home from work.

Low-pitched: A deep meow means the cat is unhappy or upset. Many cat owners think of low-pitched meowing as their pet's "going to the vet" noise.

The mechanism of purring is a mystery. Many experts believe that cats purr by rapidly contracting the muscles of the larynx (voice box). A few cats may purr when they are agitated or ill, but the majority purr only when they are happy or content. You may hear your cat purring as she nestles comfortably in your lap or basks on a sunny windowsill. Her purr is saying, "Life is good."

Some cat breeds, such as Persians, tend to be relatively quiet. Even among more-talkative breeds, there are exceptions to the rule -- individual cats who prefer to express themselves in nonverbal ways. If your pet has always been the quiet type, there's no need to worry or to try to get her to speak up.

However, if your usually chatty cat falls silent, a physical problem may be to blame. Sometimes cats stop talking or grow hoarse because their larynx is inflamed (the condition known as laryngitis). This can occur as a result of a medical condition or stress. Consult your vet to identify the cause and treat it promptly.