Cats are known for their diverse vocalizations, from the familiar meow to the aggressive hiss, but one sound that intrigues many pet owners is the quiet chattering noise cats sometimes make when they spot potential prey. This phenomenon raises questions about the reasons behind this behavior.
According to cat behaviorist Mikel Delgado, the purpose of chattering remains elusive. “It’s very hard to say what exactly is going on, but it doesn’t appear to be communicating to us or to other animals,” Delgado explained in an interview with Live Science. Due to the independent nature of cats, studying their behavior in a laboratory setting presents challenges, leaving researchers with limited data on this specific vocalization. However, several theories have emerged from observations made by cat owners and experts.
One leading hypothesis suggests that chattering may stem from frustration. “They can see the prey, but there’s a barrier between them,” Delgado noted. Similar to how humans might grumble when annoyed, cats could be expressing a range of emotions, including excitement. However, the lack of scientific evidence supporting this theory means more research is needed. Designing experiments to test the hypothesis is complicated, as researchers would first need to identify the circumstances that prompt chattering and determine the emotional responses of the cats involved.
Another theory posits that chattering could enhance a cat’s sense of smell. Jonathan Losos, an evolutionary biologist at Washington University in St. Louis, explained that by opening and closing their mouths, cats might be drawing air toward the vomeronasal organ, also known as Jacobson’s organ. This sensory organ, located in the roof of the mouth, functions like a second nose, allowing cats to detect different chemicals. Chattering, in this context, could potentially provide cats with additional sensory information about their environment, although testing this hypothesis presents significant challenges.
A more scientifically grounded explanation is the idea of mimicking prey. Losos cited observations of a margay, a small wild cat from Central and South America, which emitted sounds resembling those made by small monkeys while hunting. This behavior suggests that predators may mimic the calls of their prey to attract them. Cats’ chattering bears a resemblance to the chirping sounds of small birds—common prey for domestic cats—indicating that this vocalization might serve a similar purpose.
Despite this intriguing connection, the lack of broader studies on wild cat species limits our understanding of mimicking behavior within the Felidae family. Losos emphasized that most small cat species remain poorly studied, including the domestic cat’s ancestor, the North African wildcat. “The key to understanding domestic cats is to have a much better understanding of wildcats,” he stated, underscoring the importance of exploring inherited behaviors versus those that may have developed post-domestication.
For now, the exact reason behind cats’ chattering continues to be a mystery. Delgado suggests that cat owners may hold the key to uncovering more information. “Surveying cat owners about what animals or toys their cats chatter at could provide valuable insights,” he said. By examining this behavior in various contexts, we may eventually gain a deeper understanding of why our feline companions make this curious sound.
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