Cat Chattering....

It's been really lovely weather this past weekend so I have spent most of my time outside in the garden. I kept on hearing this funny noise then realised it was coming from Guinness....

It seems that he has learnt to talk! (well, chatter). He does this when there are birds sitting on the roof or flying over. He looks up and makes this oh so sweet chatter, chatter sound, almost like a baby crying.

Any ideas why he does this? I have never heard it before. It is soooo cute!

Dushka and Persil both do this when they are watching birds intently - Ellie doesn't. It is very disconcerting the first time they do it - as if they can't control their excitement! Dushka gets really loud as her teeth chatter together. Chattering or chirruping is quite common.

Gilly you know when Rosie chatters like this when she gets her picture taken?



Well it's the same sort of chattering she makes when she sees a bird or a fly!

I did think it could be something similar to what Rosie does!

Maybe it is because they are content and enjoying themselves or something?

I read it was because of "window frustration"...or not being able to get the bird or what have you through a window, but Lovey does this when going after his cat dancer too...so I dunno???

Originally Posted by Loveysmummy

I read it was because of "window frustration"...or not being able to get the bird or what have you through a window, but Lovey does this when going after his cat dancer too...so I dunno???

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Could be that (for indoor cats)... but Guin is an indoor / outdoor cat - and I have only noticed him chattering when he is outside!

Yeah, gilly..I don't know..Obviously something to do with excitement over prey...I don't know about the window frustration thing anyway (lovey is indoors but does it TO things indoors..) He only does it to things he REALLY REALLY wants though..so just an overexcited thing???
My mum's cats used to do it through the window only at squirrels and such..
Anyone else have ideas??

Nano is indoors and she chatters whenever she hears or sees a bird. It can be pretty loud.

There is a tree about five feet away from my second floor bedroom window. I leave the blinds open so Nano can watch outside. One night my girlfriend was awakened by chattering. Nano was crouched down low, with her back legs ready to spring out, a huge bushy attack tail...chattering loudly! My girlfriend followed Nano's stare and saw two birds on the branch of the tree. It wasn't playing around -- without the window to divide, Nano would have launched herself and snatched one of those birds.

Nano had spent a long time outdoors before I rescued her, she has almost certainly killed birds and definitely killed mice, so she is serious about her predator-prey stuff. I guess she is "excited" (and therefore enjoys the hunt), but there's a difference between the big bushy attack tail and the upraised happy tail.

My cats talk to the birds, too. It's a funny phenomenon to watch!

I have birdfeeders hanging on my deck for the cat's entertainment (and cuz the birds are so pretty, for human entertainment) and also one just outside the front window. They'll sit on the bench under the window, very still... and sort of move their 'lips' and just make these odd chattering noises. I call it "birdie talk". Weirdest thing!

My cats chatter at squirrels and birds- Emma however YELLS at dogs walking down the street outside the window! Like: Hey! Dog! Get out of here! Too funny.

Every cat I've ever had has "chattered": to me it always seemed like, they were meowing because they were excited, but they try to restrain themselves so that the bird, squirrel, etc didn't hear them.

That's my un-expert take on it!

I've read that the chattering is excitement of seeing something they can't get to and it's actually mimics the killing bite that they use when they catch prety. I guess it's a pretty instinctive behaviour.

Okay, good to read all of the explanations. I didn't see how a chattering cat could adequately stalk its prey in the wild...about the same as having a jingling bell around their neck. The birds and mice could hear them coming from a mile away.

And it is interesting to hear people saying their cat's chattering is "cute". I know I'm in the minority, but Nano's chattering seems a little threatening and I leave her alone so she doesn't accidently scratch me up by mistake.

haha my 3 chatter too, i know im wrong but i always thought they were trying to mimick the noise birds make as if to lure (sp) them closer <chatter face

Originally Posted by Nano

Okay, good to read all of the explanations. I didn't see how a chattering cat could adequately stalk its prey in the wild...about the same as having a jingling bell around their neck. The birds and mice could hear them coming from a mile away.

And it is interesting to hear people saying their cat's chattering is "cute". I know I'm in the minority, but Nano's chattering seems a little threatening and I leave her alone so she doesn't accidently scratch me up by mistake.

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I always feel slightly 'uneasy' when my lot chatter at the birds and squirrels as well so your not in the minority here Nano. They are just SO intense and in a little bubble all of their own I steer clear just in case.

Three of my cats chatter when they see birds. I recently found out that Isis chatters (today actually) when there was a dove sitting outside the screen when Isis was on the porch. She was chattering at it and I heard her and thought she was one of the boys. Imaging my surprise to find her not Twig or Rocket doing it after all this time! Luna is very quiet, she doesn't chatter, she will chirp and talk but birds don't make her chatter, just people.

Originally Posted by tulip2454

I always feel slightly 'uneasy' when my lot chatter at the birds and squirrels as well so your not in the minority here Nano.

They are just SO intense and in a little bubble all of their own I steer clear just in case.

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Yeah, I agree. "Intense" and "in her own world" are the best ways to describe Nano's chattering.