We are constantly discovering new information. For example, it was only last month that scientists discovered jaguars can purr.
House cats are easier to study but scientists still argue about the number of sounds cats make. Some talk of dozens of sounds, some of hundreds.
But here are three broad categories of sounds that are easy to recognise:
Meowing
Kittens meow at their mums but adult cats don’t often meow at each other. Meows are typically used by cats to talk to their humans.
Meows can mean anything from, “Hello” to “My toy is stuck under the sofa again, so can you fish it out for me?”
Purrs
Soft deep purrs are a sign of content. But a fast breathy purr can signal fear or illness. If your pet is purring open-mouthed in the vet, she or he is probably scared.
Chirps and chattering
These bird-like sounds signal huge excitement. It might be that there’s a treat but most often used for stalking – or frustrated muttering at enemy birds sitting on the wrong side of the window.
