by Bruce Fogle
Considering their size, cats have a magnificent range of noises, certainly wider ranging than those of their confreres, dogs. The hiss is almost snake-like : when a tabby cat is curled up and hisses, she might even mistaken by a predator for snake. The spit accomplishes two function : the noise itself can be frightening; at the same time, the animal that has been spat on smells hot cat breath, on its own enough to frighten many predators away.
Purring is a tension-reducing sound. Cats purr when they relaxed or when they want to relax. Rumbling growls are audible sounds of anger, chirps are sound delight.
Meows, on the other hand, have specific meanings according to their duration, pitch and inflection. Cats understand different meows instantly, but people need training before they can interpret whether the meow signifies impatience, worry, consternation, gentle request of demand. People have an added problem, however. Cats have hearing range, and meow range, that is beyond the hearing range of humans.
When a cat utters a 'silent meow' people don't respond because they just don't; hear it. If they see the cat meow, they are enchanted and think the silent meow has been performed especially for them, they don't; understand that the meow is silent only because their hearing is so limited. It is a perfectly good meow to any other cats.
Considering their size, cats have a magnificent range of noises, certainly wider ranging than those of their confreres, dogs. The hiss is almost snake-like : when a tabby cat is curled up and hisses, she might even mistaken by a predator for snake. The spit accomplishes two function : the noise itself can be frightening; at the same time, the animal that has been spat on smells hot cat breath, on its own enough to frighten many predators away.
Purring is a tension-reducing sound. Cats purr when they relaxed or when they want to relax. Rumbling growls are audible sounds of anger, chirps are sound delight.
Meows, on the other hand, have specific meanings according to their duration, pitch and inflection. Cats understand different meows instantly, but people need training before they can interpret whether the meow signifies impatience, worry, consternation, gentle request of demand. People have an added problem, however. Cats have hearing range, and meow range, that is beyond the hearing range of humans.
When a cat utters a 'silent meow' people don't respond because they just don't; hear it. If they see the cat meow, they are enchanted and think the silent meow has been performed especially for them, they don't; understand that the meow is silent only because their hearing is so limited. It is a perfectly good meow to any other cats.
