Cats make a variety of sounds to communicate with the world around them. For example, meowing, which is most often directed at people, is a way to get attention or ask for food. Hissing and growling are usually signs of stress, or cats use this way to threaten other animals. But what about the strange “chirping” sound that cats make when they are watching potential prey, like a bird standing outside the window? There is no exact answer to this question, but there are some very interesting suggestions.
Many cats make strange sounds when hunting, and there are several possible explanations. Image Credit: JoyReactor
Contents
- 1 Cats and Science
- 2 Why do cats chirp
- 2.1 Cats express emotions
- 2.2 Cats enhance their sense of smell
- 2.3 Cats attract attention
Cats and science
Cats are very mysterious creatures that arouse genuine interest in scientists. Science already knows a lot about these furry animals. For example, scientists can explain in detail why cats see in the dark and love valerian so much.
Cats only behave naturally in their natural environment, so studying them in a lab is difficult and inhumane. Image source: Cat People
But studying cats is very difficult for scientists. They are very freedom-loving creatures, and it is almost impossible to observe them in a laboratory setting. But despite this, researchers are trying to study them in other ways.
Why do cats chirp
In an article from Live Science, cat expert Mikel Delgado noted that cats' “chirping” doesn't look like an attempt to communicate with people or other animals. Cat owners and scientists have put forward several more realistic hypotheses explaining why cats make these strange sounds.
Cats express emotions
One hypothesis is that our pets make chirping sounds because of their emotions. For example, this sound can express frustration when a cat can clearly see the prey, but cannot reach it because of some obstacles. Just as people express dissatisfaction when faced with difficulties by grumbling or sighing, cats can make similar sounds. But it is important to emphasize that this is not necessarily associated with negative emotions – such behavior can be caused by simple excitement or excitement.
Perhaps cats don't chirp, but growl, because they can't get to their prey. Image source: Pinterest
Although this hypothesis seems logical, there is no scientific evidence to support it. Conducting a scientific experiment to test it is not easy. First, you need to determine in what situations cats start making chirping sounds and what exactly causes this sound. And to confirm that it is related to emotions, you need to somehow measure indicators such as the level of stress hormones.
Read also: Why do cats like to sit in boxes?
Cats enhance their sense of smell
Another interesting version is that cats make strange sounds to sharpen their sense of smell. As evolutionary biologist Jonathan Losos explains, by opening and closing their mouths, cats can direct airflow directly to the Jacobson's organ, which sits on the roof of the mouth. This organ acts as a second sense of smell, allowing them to detect odors that their noses cannot.
Cats may be preparing for an effective attack by making strange noises. Image source: Reddit
So, “chirping” may help a cat get more information about its prey or environment. However, as with other theories, proving this would be difficult, as it would take a lot of work to design an experiment to test such an idea.
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Cats Attract Attention
Another interesting suggestion is that Cats “chatter” to imitate the sounds of their prey. Scientists observed how the long-tailed cat (Leopardus wiedii) made sounds reminiscent of primate calls when it tried to hunt them. Locals claimed that predators sometimes imitate the sounds of their prey to lure them. Domestic cats may also use “chattering” to imitate the chirping of birds, which are often their prey.
A long-tailed cat living in the forests of the American continent. Image source: Cultural Studies
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Ultimately, it turns out that scientists still cannot understand why cats make strange sounds. But there are several interesting hypotheses, and each of them seems to be true. This can be considered further evidence that cats are the best creation of evolution.