Do Cats Cry? Explore Different Meow Sounds and What They Mean

If you’re a cat parent, then you’ve likely heard all different types of meows from your furbaby. Maybe you’ve noticed their voice particularly loud when you’re getting their food ready or have heard their meows get smaller and softer as they’re getting ready for a nap. You might get the feeling that your cat is trying to communicate and express their emotions to you through their meows and wish to understand them at a deeper level. Here, we discuss if cats cry and what meanings could be behind their various voices.

Do Cats Cry?

As humans, it’s common for us to shed tears over something that is troubling us, whether it be pain or feelings of sadness or anger. However, rather than crying out of their eyes, cats will often sound a cry with their voices. If you hear your cat let out a low-pitched and long meow and notice other behavioral changes, these could be their way of expressing physical or emotional pain.

Learning the various ways your cat meows and what they mean can help you to better understand them. The more connected you are with them in this way, the more bonded you will feel, and the easier it will be for you to notice if they aren’t feeling their best.

Howling or yowling can indicate that your cat is feeling stressed, lost, or worried. If you hear your cat making this unusual sound down the hall, it’s important to check in on them. They might just be wondering where you are!

What Do Different Cat Sounds Mean?

Just like in the human language, the tone, volume, and type of sound a cat is making can be its way of communicating different things. Let’s explore some of the most common sounds that our feline friends make and what meaning might lie behind them.

Hissing and Growling

It’s easy to see what emotions your cat is having when they begin to sound deep growls or strong hisses, and they aren’t very positive. Typically, cats will growl or hiss at what they are not happy with. This could be a human, another cat, another animal, or even being placed in a bath. These sounds can indicate that a cat is feeling very angry or anxious, and it is important to avoid getting too close to a cat in this state if possible. They could quickly lash out at you, even if you aren’t doing anything wrong.

Trills or Chirps

Have you ever noticed your cat making a brrr sound at you while hardly opening their mouth? These chirping sounds, or trills, are ones that kittens learn from their mothers! Mother cats often use this sound to get their babies’ attention when walking around together. So, when your cat trills at you, it could be their way of communicating that they want your attention or that they are excited to see you. How sweet is that? Cats can also chirp with their kind. This sound is most often an indicator that your cat is feeling happy and positive.

Chattering

Chattering (also known as twittering) is when a cat makes small chirp-like sounds while quickly chattering their teeth. If you’ve never seen this before, it might worry you. However, in most cases, there is no need to worry when you see your feline engaging in this common behavior. Cats begin to chatter their teeth when they have a strong urge to hunt prey, just like they do in the wild. With an indoor cat, this behavior could be easily set off by a bird they see flying outside the window or even by one of their favorite toys. This sound likely indicates that your cat is frustrated and/or excited by seeing this opportunity to use their predatorial instincts.

Check In With Them

Cat lovers always want their cats to feel healthy and happy, and also want to be able to better understand them. These are the most common meanings behind typical cat sounds, but as always, if you feel like something else is going on, it is important to talk to a professional veterinarian.

Continue to build a bond with your cats by playing with them, giving them their favorite snacks, and spending time with them. This will lead to a better understanding of their personality and emotions.