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Cats Have Their Own Language

© Faith Antonioni

Cats are like people. They have their own vocabulary. According to "Cat Chat-Can Cats Talk", an article, http://www.messybeast.com/cat_talk2.htm. nineteen variations of "miaow" can be set apart by pitch, rhythm, volume, tone, pronunciation and the different scenarios in which a cat will use them. When you look at the pet cat, it develops a vocabulary to acquire a certain result from its owner. For example, a pet cat may use a particular tone to tell its owner it wants food. Many of the house cat's vocalizations are adapted mother/kitten meow or chirp sounds that are used to speak to non-humans.

Every cat has a different personality. An individual cat's vocalizations are affected partly by genetics and by how they are raised. My Siamese cat, Chester, whose picture is above the welcome message, is quite vocal. He has a really cute mew that he uses to get my attention. In fact Siamese cats are known for being talkative. But did you know that sometimes when a cat enters the room, this action is preceded by a long drawn out mew that has a medium pitch. The longish mew serves to alert people that he or she is present or is going about his or her business. Siamese cats are known to talk when yawning. These vocalizations call the owner's attention to its boredom. Felines that are not neutered are more obsessed with protecting their territory than cats that are neutered. You can spot visual signs when cats play with each other. Felines use body language to avoid a fight. Cats will look at an opponent fiercely and shriek so that it will not have to use its claws to fight. By avoiding a physical confrontation, the cat will not be wounded.

Cats use body language to communicate as well. Felines are different from dogs in that they do not form close knit packs. Feline colonies are much more non restrictive than the different ranks of the dog pack. The social rules for cats are different than wolf packs. In fact, the feline body language is quite understated and multifaceted. In the cat's body language repertoire there are twenty-five different visual signals used in sixteen combinations, according to Cat Communication by Sarah Hartwell. As a cat owner there are physical things that Chester does that clue me in on what he is about to do. For example if I hold him too long, he will tend to jump out of my arms and crouch down.