Conference misery::feline_v1

I get a kick out of trying to identify male vs. female traits... and voice
is one I've noticed too.

Females:

Katrina -- talks her head off!  calls from the other room, uses many
           different noises.
Nutmeg -- Talks only when she wants attention, but lets out a full-scale
          yowwwwwwllll.
Coconut -- Sits and chirps as us all day.
Georgina -- A basic meow voice, but she uses it often.

Males:

Klaus -- The most vocal male, matches most of the females in variety, but
         has the loudest voice of all.
Phantom -- Never says a word.  When he opens his mouth, all he manages is
           a low hiss.
Algernon -- One basic meow, doesn't use it often.
Bailey -- One basic half-meow, uses it even less often.
Bosco -- One basic meow.

So, only one male talks much, but he thinks he's a dog anyway.


Klaus, Katrina, Phantom, Nutmeg, Coconut, Georgina, Algernon, Bailey,
Bosco, diane and i (bill)

    There is a book I am reading now, called "Your Incredible Cat" which
    goes into, among other things, the different sounds cats make and
    what they mean by them.  It encourages you to use a tape recorder
    to record your cats and then "translate" based on the vocal patterns.
    If you get good enough, you can carry on a conversation!  I will
    post the author and publisher if anyone is interested.
    
    Mary-Michael

    
    I've got three, and one of the males talks more than the other two.
    
    Taco - is a male, and just makes basic meows and purrs, although he has
           a special meow he uses when he is lonely and wants attention.
    
    Sparky - also a male, is a maine coon cat, and has a large variety of
           sounds in addition to the basic ones.. he can carry on a fairly
           long conversation, especially first thing in the morning or when
           i get home from work, there he is, chirping away, as if to tell
           me all he's done since he saw me last... 
    
    JellyBean - she's the female of the bunch... she has the loudest yowl
           i've ever heard out of a cat! She also meows and purrs, and has
           this funny noise she makes when you're feeding her, it's kinda
           a puuuuurrrffff it's a cross between a purr and a bark or
           something.... 
    
    

    My "guys" being different breeds have distinct meows.  Out of the
    two purebred Korats, Casey doesn't say much, but when he does
    meow, you can tell what cat it came from.  He has a friendly and
    a don't bug me meow, and purrs only when content.  B.K., the other
    Korat, is very vocal.  He has a range from happy to see you, feed
    me, don't bother me,its time for bed, don't leave me behind wait
    for me, etc.  He also starts the purring as soon as he sees you.
    The other two "regular cats", also have different meows.
    Rusty can be loud, and has howled from time to time.  He purrs
    constantly, and talks to you if you talk or pay attention to him.
    Pepper seems to have trouble meowing, and can only get out a type
    of high pitched squeaky meow.  More of a "Brrupppt" sound.  He
    purrs rarely.  He greets you at the door with this sound.
    
    Lynne
    

    I am so glad this note was started because I have been wondering
    about a strange sound my seal-point siamese makes - she sits at
    the patio door and watches the birds feeding outdoor and make the
    strangest chattering sound and that is the only time she does it.
    
    Otherwise she is such a non vocal siamese that when she does try
    to get my attention on rare occasions she shounds like she need
    to clear her throat.
    
    

    Pumpkin, my female, is MUCH more vocal than her brother Ninja.
    She too does that weird chatter about birds in the window.  Pumpkin
    also has a distinct "Ninja call" that she does when her brother
    is hiding or trapped where he shouldn't be.  When she is hungry,
    she wails each time you make eye contact with her.  And, yes, she
    also has a welcoming meow when you greet her in her room.  She purrs
    when she's getting a rubdown.  Pumpkin is a tortie.
    
    Ninja on the other hand has only one mew that sounds like it's from
    a tiny kitten (he's 20 lbs!).  This is his standard greeting when
    you enter his room.  He is only just starting to purr for us--very
    quietly.  Of course he does hiss when he's irritated with us.
    
    So, I have noticed that my female is MUCH MORE vocal than the male;
    but I think he likes her to do all the talking anyways (She begs
    for food, he eats it)...

    My five males all talk a different language.
    
    T.K. has a regular meow, but only uses it when he wants attention
    or outside.  The rest of the time, he just lays around and purrs.
    
    Nikki chirps and chortles when he's happy or playful.  I love the
    sounds he makes.  Barbara Ives describes them as "pigeon coos."
    
    Kirby has a squeeky voice.  He doesn't meow, he squeeks like a mouse.
    Really cute!
    
    Kelsey has to be part-siamese!  He chatters constantly, and very
    loudly I might add.  I'm glad he can't form actual words, because
    I really believe we would be arguing 99.9 percent of the time!!
    He's the most vocal of all my guys.
    
    Murdock is another chirper or chortler.  He's only 7 months old,
    and so far, doesn't have much to tell us.  I've never heard him
    actually "meow", just pigeon coo a lot.
    
    
    --Roberta
    

    
    	Squeek talks to me all the time, now that she's and
    	`only cat' (not for long, tho!). The sound I love the
    	most is when I scoop her up mid-meow, and she cuts it
    	off into a tiny, surprised little squeak! 
    
    	She also whines when she's feeling lazy, it's not
    	really a meow, just kindof an `eeeehhhh'. 
    
    	Sherry
    
    

    Hmmm.. Well Happy(blue cream persian).. definitely talks.. and talks
    and talks.. and talks.. they are definite sounds.. it is kinda like
    yosafayosadayafoda-MURPFHO. purrrrrrr.. she drives Pookie crazy
    with it.. she even talks while she is eating(yes , mouth ful of
    food and all..) she occasionally gets "cuffed by HRH Pookie..
    Pookie really does not "talk all that much. her way of
    getting you attnetion is to use her paws.. she just taps
    you and STARES.. she does purr..  Precious  just purrs
    all the time..  purrrrrrrr. purrrrrrrrrrrrr..
    Happy is definitely the most vocal of the 3..
    Kate

    
    We have lots of different voices around our house too :^}
    
    Tas, our only male, is definitely the loudest, and has that
    characteristic Siamese MAROWWWWWW sound. He's apt to use it anytime,
    from when he's hungry, to when he's looking for someone.  He also sorta
    mutters at us when we tell him to cut something out.
    
    Smudge, our biggest cat, has just a tiny, squeaky meow that she uses
    very rarely.
    
    We call Jenny 'Marilyn' sometimes, as she has a soft, breathy, meow -
    like Marilyn Monroe if she were a cat.  She also chirps when it's
    feeding time, kind of a cross between a purr and a meow.
    
    C.C. vocalizes the most of all, but almost none of her sounds are
    ordinary meows.  She chirps and chatters and squeaks for almost any
    reason, and especially to get attention.  Her purring gets high-
    pitched when she's really happy.
    
    

    Nicquita, my female of 11 yrs, definately holds conversations with me.
    She uses many different tones, some very expressive.  (Probably telling
    me what went on while I was not at home).  She can be very annoying,
    while listening to the radio or TV.  She's an orange and white mixed
    breed cat, aka alley cat.
    
    
    My two males are Silver Tabbies, and one chirps a lot, the other very
    rarely becomes vocal (the strong silent type).

    Well now, let's see.  
    
    Dream:  Dream is definitely the most vocal of the bunch.  She is an
    Oriental and has a loud, wailing meow.  Sort of like "AEOOOOWWW,
    AEOWWWWW".
    
    Charm: Charm is also very vocal, being Siamese.  She has a more
    Siamese-like cry "MAAOWWW, MAAOWWW"
    
    Niniane:  Niniane always sounds like she doesn't want to do 
    anything.  She is Siamese, but not as vocal.  Sort of like,
    "NIAWWWWW, NIAWWWW".
    
    Boogie:  Boogie is a really tough looking silver tabby that
    sounds like a squeaky toy. "Eeek, Eeek."  But if she gets
    lonely or really wants to play she starts in on a series of
    "EEEEEYEW, EEEEEYEW, EEEEEYEW"  really really *loud*.  Do any
    other people owned by Silver Tabbies have them talk like this?
    I've notice one of my other tabbies, Mips, is starting to do
    the same thing.
    
    Mips:  Mips sounds *exactly* like a squeaky rubber ducky!
    
    Belle:  Raspier than Mips but still squeaky.  Sort of like
    a Rod Stewart rubber ducky!  She and Mips are also Silver
    Tabbies.
    
    Mary-Michael

    If my crew are any indication (all 10 of them) it don't matter
    what sex that are/were.  It depends on the cat.  You oughtta hear
    Bob.  What a little chatterbox!!

    Has anyone read the book, "How to Talk To Your Cat" -- advertised in
    Sunday's Parade magazine?  According to this ad, it can help you
    interpret kitty's meows, facial expressions, etc.  The author is Jean
    Craighead George.  

    Kayleigh never did talk very much - she'd meiow when she came into
    the room, or wanted to come in and was shut out. Sometimes she'd
    purr quietly to herself when she was happy. The only time she got
    really vocal was when she came on heat - we thought she was ill!!
    
    Oliver is the complete opposite - we think that somewhere along
    the way he must be siamese, going by his shape and his voice.
    He has a very loud meiow and a very loud purr. It takes very little
    to start him purring. He also chatters a lot - a sort of Rrrrrrr
    sound, like a cross between a meiow and a growl that seems to mean
    "At last!!!" when we let him in or what ever. 
    He definately has different sounds for what he wants and we're getting 
    quite good at interpreting them - he has us very well trained!!

    My two male burmese talk more than their mom - though they all are
    a bit on the loud side.  The baby just says single words, but I
    swear the adults say sentences.  Now some of you may think I'm nuts,
    but they have different "words" for my roomate and myself.
    
    They also walk around the house muttering to themselves.  I couldn't
    figure out why until one day I caught myself doing the same thing
    -with Tasia on my heels also mumbling.  Like mother, like daughter.
    
    

    My two kits are non-stop talkers.
    
    Penny has a very "pretty" voice.  She follows me round the house
    talking as she goes.  When she wants extra TLC she puts on her pathetic
    face and meows without making a sound!  She looks so funny when
    she does this that you can't help but cuddle her some more.
    
    Boris (or fat Harry as he often gets called) is LOUD.  I often wish
    I could turn the volume down on him!  He often calls out to me just
    to let me know he's there - mind you he's so big you can hardly
    miss him.
    
    They are both beautiful cats.  The breed is British Shorthair -
    Penny is a Seal Point and Boris a Lilac Point.  This is a very new
    breed and there are very few of them about.  Does anyone else know
    of any?
    
    By the way, Penny loves to "chatter" to the birds although sometimes
    I think she is swearing at them.  My Mum's four cats also do this.
    It sounds really weird!
    
    Jenny

    British Shorthairs have been around for a long time, they used to be
    mostly blue, and are sometimes referred to as the British Blue.  Blues
    tend to do better in shows than other colors.
    
    I didn't know they came in the pointed variety though.  So, maybe it is
    the color/pattern that is rare, and not the breed.
    
    cin...who admits to not knowing much about British Sh.
    

    Yes, it was the pointed version I was referring to that is new.
    The breeder said they had only been around for about 8 years.
    Incidentally, both cats came from the same litter.  
    
    
    Jenny

    Oliver has next to no voice except when he carries one of his toys
    in his mouth and then it sounds like a yowl.  My Nick did he same
    thing with a piece of cloth.  Oliver talks to me but it's almost
    silent communication.  Little squeaks.  He really purrs though.  
    
    It's interesting after he has dropped his toy, sometimes in my slipper
    as a present by the bed (he's a sweetie) he still continues on with
    the yowl for a little bit. So he definitely does have working vocal
    cords.  I think he talks to me with his eyes and expressions.
    
    Love that cat.
    
    
    Flo & Oliver

    Hi,
    
    My male cat, Rocky, is quite the talker.  I think he must have Siamese
    in him too!  
    
    So ohter people have bird chirpers, too?  I put a bird feeder in the
    window for more fun for him.
    
    He talks as he plays, uses the box.  Basic "Meows" there.  In the
    morning, he waits until he's heard the sleep alarm a couple of times,
    then asks through the door "Mmeerrrooowww? meerrowww?" (Getting up
    now?)
    Then, when he hears feet on the floor, he trills "Pprruuppp" because he
    knows breakfast is acomin'.
    
    He purrs loudly, breathing in and out.  I can't imitate the in, can
    anyone?
    
    He does have a low pitched moan, for clipping nails too
    "Mmmrrrroouuuwww"
    
    He answers when spoken to, if he's not busy...:^)
    
    All in all a very talkative fellow.
    
    Susan & Rocky

    re: .19
    
    Neat....I've never seen one.
    
    cin
    

    Jesse meows loudly, quietly, squeaks, calls... interesting range. I've
    not really noticed a difference in the different calls between male and
    female. Snowy used to chatter when she was watching a bird.
    
    Pete.

    There has been some mention of articles which interpret sounds - has
    anyone read any of these and if so, what were the results?  It would be
    nice to have a brief summary of what some of the more common sounds
    mean to us students of 'Catese'.
    
    Sophie is constantly cooing like a pigeon, meowing and chattering,
    often very loud.  Sometimes she sounds like she's winging - but she
    doesn't appear to be unhappy.  It's the sort of sound that makes you
    want to say 'What's the matter dear?', but you can't understand her
    answer.  I would like to know if she's just doing it for attention or
    if there really is something wrong.
    
    It's easy to tell with Henri if she's not happy as she has a really
    distressed, ear piercing meow that she sometimes uses (like when I put
    her in the cat basket in the car).  Most of the time she's got a real 
    chirpy meow.
    
    Ruthie, Sophie and Henri.

    Tristan (a male) is our most versatile conversationalist and he's
    deaf!  Go figure...
    
    Karen, Tristan, Tenzing and Max.

    re: .26
      
      That must be a silent meow...........

    
    Regarding the "strange chattering sound" mentioned in .5 and a few
    other replies:
    
    I read the Desmond Morris book about cat behavior recently.
    He claims this sound is made by the cat's practicing what he calls
    "the killing bite" when they are stimulated by the sight of a bird.
    
    This is some special type of jaw movement used to dispatch a bird
    or rodent quickly, before it can claw or bite the attacking cat.
    I think it is supposed to break the small animal's neck.
    
    The author claims that this is an instinct which can be observed
    even in cats that have never been in contact with a bird or mouse.
    
    I've never actually heard this sound made by a cat.  But mine are
    all free to go out and *play* with the birds, so maybe they don't
    have to take their instincts out this way.
    
    

    My cats do it when they're stalking each other or when they're 
    excited about something.  Far as I know they've never seen a bird.
    They do it for bees and insects that are on the outside of the 
    window's too.  Bailey chatters when she's being judged at a cat
    show.
    
    Jan

    Re: .29
    
    Great time to be practicing the "killing bite", at a cat show??!!
    
    :^D :^D
    
    Jo

    Well, Jo Ann, you've seen her and you've seen what it gets her,
    either no ribbons at all or down in the bottom of the 10 places
    if there are only 10 cats.  'Course there are judges that don't
    mind the chattering and give her the top awards but they're so
    few and far between these days.  'Course I'm not showing nearly
    as much these days due to the financial difficulties I'm having.

    Watch out though No. Calif. household pet showers.  I'm moving 
    in 4 days and will have more spending money now that the rent is 
    lower.  The mighty Bailey chatterer may be turning up in more shows
    since her last show netted 1 Best Cat, a couple of 3rd Bests and
    a few 8th Bests.  Not only that but chirping Carrie will be right
    up there with her.
    
    Jan               

    Why do they care if she chatters?
    I think chattering is cute....
    

    Mostly its a good way to narrow down the field if you've got alot
    of cats and need to pick only ten.  Household pets are supposed
    to be easily handled (although they usually aren't).  Some judges
    don't really care and will final her any way.  Others are real
    sticklers on the easily handled, good disposition stuff.  Along
    with the chattering she usually throws in a few growls, or maybe
    a hiss or two and will look anywhere but at the judge in hopes that
    he or she might just go away.
    
    Jan