What's with the Chatter?
Some cats will make an unusual clicking and whining sound when they see a bird or squirrel outside a window. Experts have different ideas as to why cats do this, but the general theory points to a cat’s hunting instincts. The cat is either signaling frustration because it can’t get to its potential prey, or it is announcing how much it would like to kill that thing outside the window. In Callie’s case, always assume the latter.
When you look, you see.
In her book, The Secret Language of Cats, phonetics professor and cat communications expert Susanne Schötz describes chattering as “very rapid, short, clipped sounds that are uttered in stuttering or clicking sequences”, like “teeth chattering with a k consonant.”
I’ve seen and heard Copper doing this quite frequently when she is staring at the bird feeder and Professor Schötz’s description is spot on. I haven’t been able to record Copper chattering yet, but when I do, I’ll add it here to share.
I’ve also noticed that Copper does the chattering more at particular types of birds than others, especially the Carolina Chickadee. I’m not sure why, but I’m certain she has her reasons.
So, if you have a cat, the best time to see this chattering behavior is when your cat has its eye on a bird or maybe a squirrel, but not all cats do the “chatter.” If you don’t have a cat, maybe you can talk Mom or Dad into taking you to the closest animal shelter and bringing home a new feline friend. It’s for science! 😁
Want to learn more about cat chitchat?
There are lots of great articles, books, and videos available for you to learn everything there is to know about cats. Below are just a few that you might enjoy!
Kids, remember to ask a parent, teacher, or librarian for help whenever you are looking for books or using the Internet. I always try to make sure to share kid-friendly books and resources, but websites are changing all the time, so always check with an adult first.
- “Scientists Discover New Meaning for Cat Chattering” article from Catster Magazine: https://www.catster.com/the-scoop/scientists-discover-new-meaning-for-cat-chattering
- How to Speak Cat: A Guide to Decoding Cat Language (National Geographic) by Aline Alexander Newman and Gary Weitzman
- Listen to an interview with Professor Susanne Schötz on Kansas Public Radio where she talks about some of the different meows cats use: https://ondemand.kansaspublicradio.org/mp3/2018-12-31-the-secret-language-326009132.mp3