Feline Communication 25
Defensive and antagonistic sounds
There are five sounds associated with defensive or antagonistic encounters. These are
the strained intensity sounds: hiss, spit, growl, yowl and shriek. The hiss and spit are
sounds of short duration, probably designed to initially deter a perceived threat such
as potential predator or adversary. The growl and yowl, or caterwaul, are sounds of
fairly long duration. Unlike the meow these are distinct sounds, although they are
often used in combination with each other.
Generally speaking, in the animal world, the larger the animal the lower pitched
its vocalizations. The growl is a low-pitched sound and one purpose of the growl
might be to ‘trick’ an opponent or predator that the growling animal is larger than it
actually is. The feline yowl, however, tends to be higher pitched than the growl.
If a perceived threat or opponent does not withdraw, growling and yowling can
continue for some time and, possibly owing to tightness in the throat as a result of
the cat’s overall state of tension, the cat might start to drool and occasionally stop
vocalizing to swallow. If the threat remains or increases, for example by moving
closer, the cat may emit a sudden loud shriek. The purpose of this may be to startle
the perceived threat or opponent and allow the cat a brief opportunity to escape or
attack (Brown and Bradshaw, 2014). Sudden acute pain can also produce a shriek.
‘Chattering’
Cats can sometimes be heard making a ‘chattering’ or ‘chittering’ sound when stalk-
ing prey or, more often, when potential prey can be seen but is unattainable, for
example when viewed through a window. A popular idea is that the cat is attempting
to mimic the sounds made by the prey, with the intention of attracting them. The
margay (Leopardus wiedii), a South American wildcat, has been observed to seem-
ingly mimic one of its major prey species, the pied tamarin (Saguinus bicolor).
Although this does not seem to help with capture, it does appear to have the effect of
drawing the prey closer to the predator and thereby reduces the energy expenditure
of a pursuit (de Oliveira Calleia et al., 2009). There seems to be no evidence, however,
of any other cat species doing the same.
Other suggestions are that the chattering might be a displacement activity owing
to frustration, or excitement and anticipation (McFarland, 1985, cited in Bradshaw
et al., 2012); however, the behaviour is not seen in other contexts where cats experience
frustration or excitement. So until sufficient study is carried out and validated evidence
becomes available, the purpose or cause of this form of vocalization is as yet unknown.
Sexual vocalizations
Entire (unneutered) males and females produce particular vowel-sound vocalizations
during the breeding season. Mowl sounds, described by Shimizu (2001) as ‘rutting’
calls resembling the sound of a crying baby, are produced by males throughout the
breeding season and a distinctive call is almost continually produced by females dur-
ing the receptive period of the oestrus cycle. The most likely purpose of these vocali-
zations is to advertise strength and fitness to potential rivals and both fitness and
availability to potential mates.