Do you have a quiet cat or one that talks to you all the time? Or do you have one of each? Have you ever noticed that each meow is different in pitch and has its own distinct sound? Are you also aware (and this is an “aha” moment if ever there was one for a cat owner), that a cat rarely if ever meows at another cat? It is said that cats have about 100 vocalization sounds and that they reserve all of them for communication with their owners! The cat’s vocal apparatus differs from ours in that there is no thought of speech when it is utilized. Cats “speak,” and thus relay their feelings and intentions through body language, posture and facial expression.
To those not in the “meow know”, the simple “miaow” seems to be a generic and all-purpose word. Still, even the uninitiated realize that there are many different pitches, rhythms volumes and tones involved with each one. For example, a high pitched “mew”, from a kitten is usually a polite plea for help, while a loud and somewhat frantic “MEW” is a more urgent plea for the same. With an adult cat, a “mew’ is probably a request for some attention while a “meow” is more emphatic. “MEOW” would seem more a command than a request with “mee-o-w” adding a bit of protest or whine to whatever is going on. “MEE-oow” is probably the reaction to the carrier and/or a vet or grooming appointment, and “MYUP!” is righteous indignation. A repeated “MEOW” is a cry for help, and “merrow” from a tomcat is a challenge to another male cat. “Mer-ROW” from a mother cat means “no” or “stop it!”
All sounds need to be evaluated in the context of the animal’s facial expression and body language, which together tell the whole story. Familiarity with your pets will make their unique sounds recognizable, and help you identify which is a play growl and which may mean something else not so playful. So learn the lingo guys, and if all else fails, get down on all fours and ask kitty what is the matter. He or she will tell you, but will probably think you are nuts for asking rather than watching t to find the answer!
Happy cats!