If cats came with subtitles, what would they say? Would your tabby and tuxedo talk smack about the dog? Would they complain about yet another slow dinner service? While Duolingo probably won’t drop a feline linguistics course anytime soon, we can help you tune into your cat’s thoughts with exclusive insight from cat behavior experts.
“Cats tailor their communication to their audience,” says Cristy Brusoe, certified cat trainer with Cat Training by Cristy. “For example, they meow to get a human’s attention but might hiss or use body language to communicate with another cat. Their vocalizations and nonverbal cues are more nuanced than many realize.”
So, how do cats talk to each other and what do they say? Here, experts break down the secret language behind cats’ meows, purrs, tail swishes and more.
Do cats talk to each other?
Cats can make around 21 distinct sounds, from trills and chirps to yowls and growls, according to a 2019 paper published by animal behavior researchers in the Journal of Veterinary Science. Stephen Quandt, founder of Stephen Quandt Feline Behavior Associates, breaks down cat sounds into four categories:
- Meows and trills: High-pitched, happy sounds often made as a greeting or a request for food or affection.
- Purrs: You may recognize your cat’s purr as a sign of contentment, though it can also be a form of self-soothing and can even promote healing.
- Chirps and chatters: Experts believe cats chirp or chatter at unattainable prey to express frustration, though it could also be an attempt to lure their prey closer.
- Hisses or growls: Cats may hiss or growl before escalating to a physical confrontation to protect their territory, food or kittens.
Kittens begin meowing soon after birth, usually to cry for their mother’s return when she leaves the nest. As they begin to grow up and explore, she’ll call to them when they stray too far.
When a kitten grows up as part of a feral colony, they tend to drop their babyish “meow” in favor of nonverbal communication. In the wild, subtle cues like tail swishes and scent marking are preferred to communicate with other cats, perhaps to avoid attracting attention from predators.
Do cats talk to humans?
Domestic cats don’t seem to grow out of baby talk. Just as they meow for their mother, they use similar sounds to attract the attention of their favorite human. Interestingly, researchers have noted that formerly feral cats rarely vocalize when first adopted, but often revert to meowing after a few weeks of living with humans.
“We believe it’s because we’re at least partly in a maternal relationship with them,” says Quandt. “I get a frequent complaint like, ‘My cat loves me but not my girlfriend or boyfriend,’ and I’ll ask who feeds the cat. More times than not, the person most loved is the person doing the feeding. They’re the ‘mom’ so the solution is for the other person to take on the role of feeding the cat to reset their relationship.”
“Cats likely see humans as distinct beings, but they may treat us as if we’re large, friendly cats.”
— Cristy Brusoe, certified cat trainer, Cat Training by Cristy
Non-verbal ways cats talk to each other — and to people
While cats are fluent verbal communicators, body language is crucial to picking up context in both cat-cat and cat-human interactions.
- Bunting: Cats headbutt you and other cats to activate scent glands on their face. Exchanging scents is a cat’s way of saying, “we’re family.”
- Slow blinking: Soft eye contact with a heavy, sleepy blink is a sign of trust.
- Flattened ears: Sometimes called “airplane ears” when they stick out like wings, this can be a sign of annoyance, fear or agitation.
- Tail swishing: While a wagging tail signals happiness in dogs, it’s often the opposite for cats. “When a cat’s tail is twitching or wagging, it often signals agitation or indecision rather than joy,” says Brusoe.
Though a swishy tail may precede a swat or pounce, an upright, curved tail from a cat is high praise. “Domestic cats and lions are the only species of cats that both use a raised tail to signal a greeting — like a wave,” says Quandt. “This interspecies behavior is called ‘convergent evolution’ which refers to separately evolved but identical behaviors.”
“Perhaps not coincidentally, lions and domestic cats are the only two species of cats that can live in social groups, given the right conditions. One could argue that the other species of cats don’t need a physical greeting because they live much more solitary lives.”
Should you talk back to your cat?
When your cat meows at you, it may feel natural to meow back. “Meowing back can be a fun way to engage with your cat, but it’s more about your tone and context. Cats may not understand your ‘meow,’ but they’ll pick up on the emotional intent behind your actions,” says Brusoe, adding, “Cats likely see humans as distinct beings, but they may treat us as if we’re large, friendly cats.”
Linguistics researchers at Lund University in Sweden have gotten kitty speak down to a science — literally. From observing “pidgin languages,” or simplified dialects, between cats and humans to studying regional accents in cats’ meows, their research suggests that no, you’re not crazy if you feel like you and your cat share a secret language.
What’s more, a 2024 study published in Scientific Reports found that cats could learn new words faster than toddlers with a picture-word association game, suggesting that their lingual skills may not be limited to purrs and growls. Whether you talk to your cat with words, meows or both, they’re sure to enjoy conversing with you.
”Pay attention to tail movements, ear positions and vocalizations to understand their mood. Cats appreciate personal space and autonomy.”
— Cristy Brusoe
The bottom line
Whether you’re a cat sitter getting to know your four-legged clients or a long-time paw-rent preparing to introduce two cats, interpreting feline thoughts and feelings is an ongoing part of everyday life. Taking the time to understand your cat is key to their happiness. Because they can’t talk, at least not in words, they depend on their human caretakers to advocate for their health, safety and comfort.
”Pay attention to tail movements, ear positions and vocalizations to understand their mood,” Brusoe recommends. “Cats appreciate personal space and autonomy — don’t force interactions if they seem uninterested.”
By making your cat feel safe and respected, you can better understand their interactions with other pets, keep those verbal and nonverbal avenues of communication open and enjoy a trust-based relationship for years to come.
