Instinctive yet entertaining, why some feline's love to chatter away.
If you've ever owned a cat and had a window, you'll understand this scenario. It’s that immediate focus and the gentle, quick vocalization your kitty makes upon spotting something through the glass – an object of interest tantalizingly close yet beyond her grasp.
Commonly referred to as chattering or tweeting, this vocalization occurs when she stares intently ahead, sounding much like a mystical incantation that tiny Fluffy might use to summon spirits only visible to her.
Although chattering is common, not every cat engages in this behavior frequently. Should your kitty be particularly fond of expressing herself vocally (I'm guessing Siamese owners nodding along here), chances are she'll become quite the chatterbox.
Currently, several hypotheses exist regarding this behavior. Some propose that it might be her method of imitating the sounds made by her prey to lure them closer. For instance, studies highlight a tiny, speckled wildcat native to Central America that produces noises akin to those of the small monkeys it preys upon. Is it possible that our household cats are expressing their innate wild side when they make bird-like chirping sounds?
Some suggest it could result from an unmanageable jitteriness she cannot hide. According to a report in Live Science, scientist and cat behaviorist Mikel Delgado dismisses the idea that cats aim to communicate with birds, squirrels, spirits, or anything similar. She points out that there are no specific studies examining such behaviors. Instead, her belief is that the vocalizing cat is merely irritated by its inability to catch the elusive bird or frolicking squirrel that has caught its eye.
For Delgado, this behavior seems similar to mumbling or murmuring under one’s breath. "... these distinct sounds might just represent an uncommon emotional state in cats."
Next up is Jonathan Losos, an evolutionary biologist from Washington University, who believes it might be the cat repeatedly opening and shutting its jaws To enhance its olfactory abilities when prey is close-by.
All scientists and experts concur that no scientific research has ever been conducted on this kind of behavior. As stated by Delgado, "The autonomy of cats poses significant challenges for laboratory studies. Additionally, formulating an experiment capable of adequately testing the hypothesis presents considerable difficulties. It would first be necessary to determine the conditions under which they vocalize and why they engage in such chattering." at However, clearly showing the emotional reaction of the cat would be more complex, and might require incorporating certain physiological indicators of stress, such as stress hormone levels.
Therefore, not at the top of the priority list for those studying animal behavior. In the interim, for those of us with talkative communicators, feel free to relax and appreciate the performance.