Do cats have different types of meows??

Question

cats meow so they must want something.

how do you know what?

Answer 1

I recently came across a book entitled "Spoken Cat", which is linguistic analysis of the cat language. At first I thought this was some kind of joke, but when I checked it out I was quite surprised - many sounds my cat makes were listed in there. For example he likes to jump on the bed (with me in it) and then starts to "iron" the sheet with his paws making a distinct sound. I looked up that sound. In the book it was translated as "flat" ....

Answer 2

well every cat has its own meows and noises, you have to spend time with your kitty and you will soon realize. My cat is called Baz and he has a whole range of meows,

I long disturbing gurgle one = I'm going to be sick on your carpet so watch out,

a long loud meow means i want to go out, or open this door , or stop ignoring me,

a loud meow that includes big eyes and him pawing me = i am hungry, or i want attention,

a squeak usually means put me down now or something has made him jump.

he also does a croaking parp sound which he does if we ignore him or are late feeding him, we think its his way of telling US we have been naughty and he usually wants a hug as well.

he also does playful high meows when hes being happy or silly

hope that doesn't make me sound like a cat dork

Answer 3

well, there are a lot of different ones, though some of them are harder to tell apart from others and some we can't tell apart unless we're an expert. If your cat meows something that sounds more like it's yelling once, it might be fighting or mad, this is more obvious because it might hiss too.

Then there is a soft one, and they might be looking at you, it probably means they want attention.

Another one I can tell apart from others is if they meow pretty loudly over and over again, but aren't in pain, they probably want something. Some cats will wait for you to follow them if you don't immediately.

Another little cat thing(not a meow) that means hello is if they rub their head against your legs.

Answer 4

well we dont, but usualy when a cat meows it is asking for food or permission to go up the stairs, outside etc. Yes all cats have a different meows like all people have different voices

Answer 5

Well every cat is different.  but usualy if your cat is near the food it is obviously hungry and wants 2 b fed.  if its a long meow and your cat is walking around the house that means it wants to play and wants attention.  if you pick up your cat and it meows that means it duznt wana b picked up or there is pain sumwhere that you are touching.  if its a screeching meow that means your cat is in severe pain sumwhere like its paws stuck and you should help it right away.  

Answer 6

well one is like, meow.

and the other one is like,  MEEEEEEEEEEEEEAOOOOO BIAAAAAAAAAAAACHHHIMMMAAA KILLL YOUUUUU!!!!

Answer 7

ha ha, the thing is, sometimes they don't. I have a cat who is just extremely verbal and we sing to each other whenever we feel like it. :-D

But in most usual cases, it is because it's their only way of communicating with us if they know we have something they need.  

Answer 8

Of course they do dear. Some like baby kittens. And adults. Also it depends in the situation they are in also. For example if it is scarred it will sound like that. there are a lot of different types of meows.

Answer 9

Well, I know when my cat is meowing because he wants food....and it is different when he wants attention.  Like kids I guess.

Answer 10

Yes, they use different meows for different wants/needs. I have had kitty cats for many years & have 2 now. To differentiate between their various sounds, pay attn. When my girl cat wants water, the stands by the sink & hollers loud. When she just wants hugs & cuddles, she comes to wherever I am & rubs my legs & mews softly. My boy cat lives outside & when he wants to be fed, he waits untill I come out & then he runs over, rubs my legs & asks very nicely for his food, then he sits by his bowl while I pour food into it. Like I said, just pay attn. Kitty will have you trained in no time.

Answer 11

Actually, their different types of meows are more of different tones, such as low, middle, high, prumping (between a purr and a meow sound), short, or long.  The best method to improve communication with your cat would be to spend some time getting to know them:  observe their body language and listening to their different meow tones.  Often times, cats' different meows are accompanied by different body languages, such as narrowed eyes, direct eye contact, tails up or down, and ears up, back/down.  Then try to meow back at them by using those same tones they use and see what reactions you will get.  Here are some links to the very basic tones:

http://cats.lovetoknow.com/Cat_Meow_Soun...

http://www.wikihow.com/Understand-the-Ca...

My siamese girl is veery verbal, much more so than the stray tabby I adopted 2 months ago.  She will talk about ALL of her emotions & desires:  she has different tones for greeting, happy, anger, hungry, needing attention/affection, and she even copied my raising, "question" tone (like a human "huh?" tone) for every question she has.  And I respond to her meows with each of the same toned meow she uses for each emotion, desire, or situation.  It's really cute once you observe your cat's meows enough and get a hang of this type of "conversation."

Answer 12

Yes cats have different types of meows. There are different types for different breeds of cats and for the different moods that the cat has. When they are scared it will sound very panicky. When they want food most will go by the food storage area and give you a few short meows then go by the food dish and give another couple of short meows. When they want you to pet them they will stand around you and give a few long meows then purr. If they are mad it will be a deep meow. When a cat meows it is like when a human talks. Humans use different tones for different moods. Cats do that too and they shorten or lengthen their meows depending on how much they want what they are trying to get. Also different cats have different meows for the different people in their life. Sometimes though when cats meow they are just talking with you not wanting something.

Answer 13

when my cat has a thing to say

it knows how to get its way

instead of giving a hearty meow

it just says "give me food now".

Answer 14

i have 8 cats and each meow is different,and yes i do know what they want by their meow,whether it be food,drink,or to be picked up and fussed.