Why do cats chirp?

Can you guess why cats chirp?

Your kitty is extraordinary and accomplished in many ways. But she does one strange thing that confounds you: she chirps! So you ask, Why is mycat making weird noises? Why is mycat chirping at birds? What kind of special communication is this? What is she trying to tell me?

Well, we’re going to get to the bottom of the chirping mystery. Surprisingly, chirping is a fairly common type of feline communication, along with a bunch of other sounds. In fact, cats are second only to birds in the range of vocalizations they express.

So, if your pawsome pal is chirping, we’ll help you find out what he’s trying to tell you.

First, what is a chirp?

As you can guess, a chirp is a short, high-pitched, even trilling call that sounds similar to a bird. The cat makes the sound by pushing air across his vocal cords while keeping his mouth closed.

A sequence of chirps is officially called a “chirrup,”butpeople often describe it as “chattering” or “chittering.”

Next, let’s find out why cats makechirping noises

In our research, we identified 6 keys reasons your cat chirps:

Looking for attention or saying hi

1. She’s saying “hello.”

Most chirps can be translated as greetings. Your cat may chirp at you when she’s glad to see you and excited to be in your company. Kitty might also chirp at other cats or animals in your house to say hello. These chirps are signs of feeling comfortable and happy.

2. He’s looking for some attention

Cats are highly intelligent creatures and are aware of how people react to their behavior. So if you respond positively to a chirp for attention, Mittens will most likely step up thechirping noises. You might get a kick out of them. But if you find them irritating, try ignoring the chirps to discourage the behavior.

Sometimes cats chirp to get your attention for other reasons – to point out squirrels, dogs or birds she’s seeing out the window, or to alert you to what other animals in your household are doing.

3. She’s hunting – or wishes she were hunting

On the “hunt”

Think about how smart this is: Cats sometimes chirp when they’re hunting. In the wild, cats often stalk prey together, so they want to alert others to the prey without alerting the prey. Chirping like a bird disguises their presence. While your cat may not be “hunting” with other cats, she may see you as a fellow cat and chirp for your benefit.

As she looks out the window at potential targets or plays with a toy that mimics hunting, chirping is a natural reaction. You could even interpret it as your pussycat’s attempt to lure small prey closer so she can pounce on it.

On the other hand, chirps could express frustration. Your furry friend might be fuming that he can’t be outside chasing that darned squirrel that’s taunting him.

4. He’s excited about something

Does your kitty start chirping when you make preparations to feed her?  Or when you head to the treat jar? This is possibly the most exciting part of his day – andaccordingly, he chirps with anticipation and pleasure.

Curious cat

How about if it’s time to cuddle together on the sofa? Your cat might chirp with enthusiasm. Most cat parents actually love to hear these chirps, knowing that they are expressions of happiness and contentment.

5. She’s curious

As you know, cats like to know what’s going on.As a result, they’re curious about anything that’s different. An interested feline might emit achirping noiseto say, “What’s happening? Let me in on what you’re doing.”

6. She’s communicating with other cats

Back when your kitty was born, his mother probably chirped or trilled at him to follow her. This learned behavior could be natural if you have more than one cat in your household. Usually, your cat may be calling your other cats to follow her to the food bowl!  And if your cats hunt or play together, they’re more likely to chirp at each other. Whatever they’re “saying,” it’s definitely an effective form of communication.

So,why is my cat chirping?

Listen to me!

If chirps are a form of communication, how do you tell what your kitty is trying to say?

Most of the time, you can tell just by analyzing the situation that brings forth chirping and chattering. Did you just get home from work? Is it dinner time? Is your cat glued to window watching birds outside? Is he inviting you to play?

Another way is to observe your cat’s body language:

Finally…

Chirping is normal behavior and you shouldn’t worry or wonder about why your cat is making weird noises. It usually means your cat is happy, content, excited, playful or curious. It’s just another way your feline friend makes her needs known and brightens your life!

Banixx Cat Blog

Got other questions about your cat’s health or behavior? Take a look at our otherblogsfocused on keeping your purr-fect feline friend happy and healthy. These are updated regularly, so check in often!

For instance, here are just a few of our topics:

Banixx Pet Spray

• How to stop food aggression

• How to maintain yourcat’s teeth

• Why do cats sleep so much?

• Why is my cat peeing everywhere?

We’ve got those answers – and so much more! And of course, turn to Banixx whenever your animals (cats, dogs, horses, goats, chickens, etc.) suffer from bacterial or fungal infections!

Sources

https://pangovet.com/pet-behavior/cats/why-do-cats-chirp/

https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/understanding-feline-language

https://cats.com/cat-chirping

https://www.petmd.com/cat/general-health/cat-noises

https://thevillagevets.com/blog/common-reasons-cat-chirping/