Ever hear a cat who can't meow? VIDEO

This is my cat Sebastian (black tuxedo) and this is his brave attempt to meow for food. As long as we've had him, I never heard him utter a true mew, only this airy hiss sound! Anyone else have a cat with a defective voicebox?

The first few months I had my cat, he was very raspy and quiet when he meowed. He was even more quiet than your sweet kitty! But now, he's much more vocal and gives me these long sweet meows when he sees me. 

I'm not sure if it's defective voicebox or that it's just the way certain cats are; some may be loud and some may just prefer to be quiet! 

You do get cats who just never meow. It can help if you talk to him a lot, as cats usually only meow to humans, as they see we are not intelligent enough to read all their body language, and that we expect vocal communication! In other words, they learn to vocalise their responses and wishes as we speak to them.

He is certainly trying to meow though, but all that comes out is air! Sometimes he tries so hard that he almost honks, like in the first video 

Also strange, but probably related is that his purr is absolutely inaudible. The only way to tell he's purring is to touch his throat and feel the vibrations. I once asked a vet about his muteness and she just thought it was a curiosity. I'd be interested to hear if anyone has any possible explanations. Maybe a sickness when he was just a kitten? The shelter I got them at said they were very sick kittens when they were brought in.

My kitty is like this too.  He sort of gives short chirps. I assumed it was because he was young, but maybe cats just have different voices?