Cat Meow Translator

Adult cats living wild rarely meow to one another. Kittens use it to call their mother, and most drop it as they grow up, switching to scent marks, tail signals and body posture with other cats.

Pet cats keep the kitten call and aim it squarely at us, because it works. Over years of living alongside people, many cats develop a small personal set of sounds their own household learns to read — which is why your cat's dinner meow may sound nothing like next door's.

Cat sounds fall into a few families. The sound itself narrows the meaning; the situation around it usually confirms it.

Because cats use posture as their main language, the body tells you how strongly a sound is meant. A meow with a tail held upright and relaxed whiskers is sociable; the same meow with a low twitching tail is not.

A chatty cat is not a problem in itself. What matters is change. A cat who suddenly becomes much more vocal, starts calling at night, or yowls in a flat tone may be uncomfortable, confused, or unwell.

Common medical reasons include an overactive thyroid, high blood pressure, dental pain, arthritis and age-related confusion in older cats. Also check the basics: an empty bowl, a dirty litter tray, a closed door, or a new cat visiting the garden. If nothing obvious explains it within a few days, book a check-up.