Communication
The unique sound a small cat makes is written
onomatopoeically as "meow" in American English;
"meow" or "miaow" in British English; "miaou" or
"miaw" in French; "miao" in Mandarin Chinese;
"miau" in German, Spanish, Finnish, Lithuanian and
Portuguese; "nyaa" or "nyan" in Japanese; "meong"
or "ngeong" in Bahasa Indonesia and Malay; and
various ways in other languages. The sound of an
increasingly annoyed cat is transcribed in James
Joyce's Ulysses as "mkgnao", "mrkgnao" and
"mrkrgnao" [7]. The cat's pronunciation of this
call varies significantly depending on meaning.
Usually cats call out to indicate pain, request
human attention (to be fed or played with, for
example), or as a greeting. Some cats are very
vocal, and others rarely call out. Cats are
capable of about 100 different vocalizations,
compared to about 10 for dogs.
A kitten's call first starts out as a high-pitched
squeak-like sound when very young, and then
deepens over time. Some cats, however, do not
exercise their voices a lot, so their call may
remain similar to that of a kitten through
adulthood.
Cats can also produce a purring noise that
typically indicates that the cat is happy, but
also can mean that it feels distressed. Cats purr
among other cats—for example, when a mother meets
her kittens. Until recently, there were many
competing theories to explain how cats purr,
including vibration of the cat's false vocal
chords when inhaling and exhaling, the sound of
blood hitting the aorta, vibration of the hyoid
apparatus, or resonation directly in the lungs.
Currently, though, it is believed that purring is
a result of rhythmic impulses to the cat's larynx.
It is possible for a cat to call out and purr
simultaneously, although this is typical only in
very vocal cats. In addition to purring, happy
cats may blink slowly or partially close their
eyes to break any possible stares and communicate
their ease in the situation.
Most cats growl or hiss when angered or in danger.
Some may engage in nipping behavior or batting
with their paws, either with claws extended or
retracted. With cats who are improperly socialized
and do not know their own strength, this can
result in inadvertent damage to human skin. Cat
scratches can easily become infected, and in
extreme cases can result in cat scratch fever.
Cats are also known to make chirping noises when
observing prey, or as a means of expressing
interest in an object to nearby humans. When
directed at out-of-reach prey, it is unknown
whether this is a threatening sound, an expression
of frustration, or an attempt to replicate a
birdcall (or replicate the call of a bird's prey,
for example a cicada). Since this feline
expression often involves a mouth movement similar
to the one they would use to kill their prey
(their "killing bite"), they may be trying to
practice this mouth movement in anticipation.
When passing solid waste, cats, like many types of
predators, release from anal glands a small amount
of liquid that scents their feces, to mark their
territory. These scent-producing anal sacs are
found in all predators; those of the skunk are
used for self-defense, for example. During moments
of excitement or other strong emotions, a cat's
anal sac may discharge, releasing a foul-smelling
brown liquid. Anal irritation, possibly shown by
the cat rubbing its bottom on the floor and
frequent licking of the area, can be a sign that
the cat's anal sacs are not being emptied when
waste passes [8]. Although this condition can be
treated through the addition of a small amount of
bran to each meal, it may require veterinary
attention. Shorthair cats are more prone to this
problem.
Cats will twitch the tips of their tails when
hunting or angry, while larger twitching indicates
displeasure. A tail held high is a sign of
happiness, while half-raised shows less pleasure,
and unhappiness is indicated with a tail held low.
A scared cat may puff up its tail and the hair
along its back to increase its apparent size.
Touching noses is a friendly greeting for cats,
while a lowered head is a sign of submission.
When cats are happy, they are known to paw their
owners, or that on which they sit, with a kneading
motion. Cats often use this action alongside
purring to show contentment and affection for
their owners. The action is often referred to as
making muffins or treading paws. It is instinctive
to cats, and they use it when they are young to
stimulate the mother cat's nipple to release milk
during nursing. Cats that are hand-raised by
humans may lack this reflex. |
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