Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Talkative Tuesday

Someone say 'meatloaf'?



MomBean found a neat link called at http://www.wikihow.com/Communicate-With-Your-Cat and she's been reading it off and on. Still nothing on feline opera, though. Huh.

It's a long page, but here's a clip from it:

o Short meow - standard greeting.

o Multiple meows - excited greeting.

o Mid-pitch meow - plea for something.

o Drawn-out mrrroooow - a demand for something.

o Low pitch MRRRooooowww - a complaint

o High-pitch RRRROWW! - anger or pain.

o Chatter (rapid teeth-chattering jaw movements) - excitement, frustration (e.g. when prey is out of reach or escapes)

o Chirrup (a cross between a meow and a purr with rising inflection) - friendly greeting sound

o Purr - invites close contact or attention

So, what do you think? Sound about right?

28 comments:

Dragonheart, Merlin, Devi, and Chloe said...

Some of that sounds right, but our meows are much more varied than that, and our multiple meows are usually demands for something, not an excited greeting.

Diamond Emerald-Eyes said...

Naw. I meow a lot just because I like the sound of my voice. Especially right after my Bean comes home, and I have to tell her all about my day.

Tara said...

I'm not sure I want them to know what I'm talking about!

Tara

Anonymous said...

We use most of the ones you listed but some will remain a secret! You just cannot let your bean know everything about you.

Jan Price said...

Speaking for the felines of JFF, we pretty much agree with the other comments. We're all just a little different. Humans try but they just never do quite get us. And actually we aren't big talkers. But we are good typists.

Percy, speaking for
jans funny farm felines

Woof. Sorry guys, this isn't about you.

JB's Big and Small Worlds said...

That sounds about right. I do just about all of those sounds, and my mom understands me perfectly!
Nice eyes you have, bu the way!
--JB

Tybalt said...

I mostly chirrup at my mommy, although I have been known to meow a question VERY loudly at night.

Monty, I gave you an award on my blog today! Come by to pick it up. =^_^=

Parker said...

Sounds spot on, but my sister does the loud long ones when she's in another room and wants company!

Queen Snickers, Empress and Princess Renna said...

That is not far off me, I think my sister speaks kitty Arabic though (she is Egyptian). She has all kinds of strange meows and chortals. ~Queen Snickers

Chance said...

Heck No! Yoo canna tink dey arr rite kittehs. De first parygraf sez "They know that we are in charge, so it makes sense for the cat to learn to communicate vocally". No wate a mynite. WHO'S IN CHARGE????

Daisy said...

I make that chirrup sound all the time!

The Meezers or Billy said...

yep. long drawn out MAAAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO = hollering

Unknown said...

Oh this is wonderful. Finally, the beans have a dictionary so they can find out what we want!

Captain Jack and Sir Dante said...

Some of it sounds right. One was not mentioned though and that is the "I am going to kill my toy" meow. Its a long, low Rrrooowwwwwllll. Captain Jack does it when he has a straw he is about to kill.

Gemini and Ichiro said...

I always meow so it's hard to say that I am excited all the time.. I just like the sound of my own voice--I suspect that is why I went into politics...

PB 'n J said...

Sounds pretty close, we like to excercise all of those - frequently. But not Bert, he'll only give mommy a little Chirp now and then (but only mommy).

Anonymous said...

You think they'd have learned meow speak by now!

Chrissie said...

That's a basic interpretation, but I think some of us just like to chat..we're much more varied in our communication--besides, what makes them think they can reduce our superior skills to a few cut and dried phrases? They forgot to add the whisker and tail twitches, ear movements, chin positions, and body movements..it's a very complicated language we speak!

michico*Adan*Lego-小芥*阿丹*樂高 said...

Wowww....your meow is very unique as well!!!!
I also record my mieow sounds today, you may take a listen~~

Mickey's Musings said...

Ya think the beans can figure it out ? TT has a list too about reading body language.The beans will never get that,hahahaha!!
Purrs Mickey

Kimo and Sabi said...

It really is not so complicated!

Poppy Q said...

Meow!!

Kaz's Cats said...

Great look Monty - meatloaf...hmmm, mmmm - don't know about the so-called human translation of our language, but if they offer meatloaf, we'd come running most times they called.

Purrs

Gypsy & Tasha

Anonymous said...

I just like to meow all the time.

MaoMao said...

hehehe, sounds purretty close, but then I'm a furry talkative kitty. Here's mine:

MAO MAO MAO: standard greeting

MAO MAO MAO MAO MAO MAO MAO: excited greeting

MAOMAO MAOMAO: plea for something

MAOMAOMAOMAOMAOMAOMAO: demand for something

MAOP? MAOP? MAOP? whatchya doin, whatchya doin, whatchya doin?????

MAAAAAO! MAAAAAAO! a complaint

And the one fur angur or pain? I don't efur get angry so I don't really know! (I'm a reeeeeeeal laid back little dude!)

Kittyhugs and purrs from MaoMao!

Anonymous said...

I loved reading your post! How cute. Here's something funny about me: I hardly ever meow at all. Mom thinks it might be because I'm partially deaf. But when I meow, I HOLLER!!!! And the one and only time I meow is when stinky goodness is imminent. I say:

MWRAAAAAHHHH!!!! MWRAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!

Mom says I'm singing my Stinky Goodness Arias -- I crack her up because usually I'm the quietest of the Ballicai, but for Stinky Goodness, I'm the LOUDEST!

Purrs and snuggles from Marilyn!

Just Ducky said...

What she has sounds good, but what about "Mrrrrr"? Its what I say when I am happy.

The Cat Realm said...

They seem to get the basics right - but what about all the dialects?
I wanted to thank you for coming to Miss Peach's tea party on board the cruise ship. It was great having you and we hope you enjoyed it!
Karl
P.S. I am preparing an entry for you "who do you love" contest!