Conference misery::feline_v1

    Every cat I've ever met - many - talks differently.  Among my four
    every one of them has a distinctive set of vocalizations.  Each
    mean different things.  Its really amazing.  I think my favorite
    is Bumpy's "trill" that she makes when she wants me to pick her
    up (like a baby) and cuddle her.  Isis actually sighs and huffs
    when she's frustrated (like when she wants to go play in the cellar
    and I won't open the door).
       Dundee peeps or squeeks prompting my husband to nickname him
    squeek-toy.  I love to listen to them.  
       I've never heard of anything preventing a cat from meowing. 
    I think its all just individual differences.  If you're worried
    about it, ask the vet next time Pooh is in for his shots.  I don't
    think you should be concerned, just curious.
      Nancy
    

    Kathy,
    
    I don't think there is anything wrong with him.  My two (Lynx and
    Foghat) do not meow.  I have never heard them meow.  They do make
    really strange noises though!  It is almost like they are leaving
    rubber on my floors.
    
    Also, when Lynx can't find me or my husband he walks around making
    the stangest noise, it sounds like ooooohhhhh!  I think this is
    his way of asking where we are?  I always call him when I hear this
    noise and he comes running.
    
    I find it to be amusing.  It makes my life interesting and the vet
    said that there is nothing to worry about.
    
    Kathy
    

    Elmo, 8 month old orange tiger, whines.  He and Pooh must be related.
    I've noticed Elmo usually whines when I am not devoting 150% of
    my attention to him, or when his food dish is geting empty.

    I wouldn't worry either.  I'd just accept it as another way our
    kitties "speak" to us.  And it's true, they are *all* different.
    
    My Billie rarely "meows";  her normal "speaking" voice ;-) is a
    combination of chirps, trills, inquiring "hmmmnn's?"--all of which
    go under the general term "meepling".  When she is angry or frightened
    or PO'd, she goes "WWWWWWOWW!" loudly.  When she's impatient for
    me to open the can in the morning, she says "Uh-oww!";  like "step
    on it, Mom!".  
    
    The funniest sound she ever makes is after another cat, or a dog
    (!!) has wandered up on our back porch and she sees them thru the slider.
    Then she really howls!  Once the "danger" is gone, she still must
    feel as if she has to put on a front of protecting the house.  Then
    she "wuffles" indignantly while striding back in forth in front
    of the slider.  She does this by growling and expelling air in little
    huffs at the same time.  It really is hysterical.  
    
    So don't worry, just enjoy another individualistic trait of your special
    kitty.
                                                      
    Enjoy,
    
    Jane

    
    
    Re : .0
    
    Like everyone else said, each cat has a distinctive meow.  I would
    say that almost every cat owner can tell which cat is meowing if
    they are blindfolded.  
    
    Bandit and Cinamon are just regular meowers.  They really don't
    make any strange noises.  Bandit is quite a bit noisier than
    Cinamon (ie louder) and if he is looking for you he will yowl.
    He also always meows when you pick him up and it sounds like he
    is complaining but he loves to be held.
    
    T.K. is my character.  He has several different noises that he makes.
    I have two favorites.  The chirp : he makes this one when he is
    just putting around doing busy little things.  The growl : this
    one is hysterical.... sometimes he will get in a silly mood and
    fly around the place growling as he goes.  He did his growl and
    tear around the condo bit in front of some guests the other day and
    they were a bit startled.  I just laughed.  I don't know what he
    thinks he is chasing or growling at.  Maybe he is just practicing
    protecting the territory.
    
    Karen

    Jasper also has many "voices".  It is so funny to listen to him.
    When he's in the window and thinks he's lording it over the bird
    kingdom, he barks.  The first time we heard him bark we nearly died
    of laughter.  His barking is reserved for bird friends though.  Then when
    we are making him do something he doesn't want to, (like clip his
    nails or pick him up when he has another agenda) he groans or
    whines at various octaves with his mouth closed.  When he means
    business and *really* wants to be noticed his real meow could cause
    an earthquake.  (We experienced this scream when he was at the vets).
    Then when he's playing and really happy he does a sound that is
    similar to a chirp or something like "brrrurrp".  Then at other
    times he just talks to us with his normal meow, we talk back, he
    talks back.......sure do wish I could know what he's saying!  He's
    cute and bossy, and we love him!  
    
    So, your cat sounds normal, maybe just a bit lazy in the meowing
    department.
    
       

    Tabbatha has a strange sound she makes.  She grunts!!!  Whenever
    she jumps up onto my bed, or onto the dresser, or off of the counter,
    or wherever, she grunts!  It is the funniest thing I've ever heard.
    I can always tell if she jumps onto my bed in the middle of the
    night because I'll hear a little, "prrruh".  
    
    Micki has a little squeaky voice.  she doesn't talk very often.  Silver's
    and Snooks are somewhat similar, but Snooks's voice is deeper. 
    
    Seasea has no cry, except when I am giving her a bath.  Usually,
    she'll open her mouth to talk, but nothing comes out.  It's so cute!
    
    Holly
    

    reply to 2043.7
    
    re: Seasea who opens her mouth but nothing comes out.
    
    Nothing that you can hear!  I have read that cats can vocalize
    in frequencies too high for the human ear to detect.  She probably
    is making a sound, you just can't hear it.  ANd you're right, it
    is cute...I've seen Dundee do it.
    
      Nancy DC
    

         Loki grunts too when he's washing; he sounds exactly like a
    pig!  I always thought it was because he had a tooth removed a couple
    of years ago from tooth decay (too many sweets!).  But I guess all
    cats can learn to grunt when they wash, as he's taught both Fluffy
    and Bigfoot to do it too!
    
                                        - Andrea

    So that's why I couldn't hear Tiggers meows when he was baby.  I
    always thought he looked so pitiful.  I really thought it had to
    do with the flu-like virus he had.
    
    Kathy

    My Boogie does that too.  She squeaks anyway, which sounds very
    funny in a house full of Siamese!!!  But sometimes she opens her
    mouth and nothing comes out!  My husband said I just couldn't hear
    her and I thought he was joking.  Guess he was right!!
    
    Mary-Michael