Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties:

I am a very new cat owner. Actually, I was adopted by a pregnant 2-year-old California Spangle six months ago. She was not that far along, so I had the pregnancy terminated and had her spayed. Her name is Faith and she is now a house cat and is doing great. Being a “dog person” all of my life, this is my first cat and I am very happy. Here is my question: When Faith is on my enclosed porch, which has many large windows, she looks outside and watches the many birds on the ground. She has just begun making short, low volume, chirping sounds as she is watching the birds eat seed on the ground. Her tail wags, I am able to come up to her and pet her, and she continues her “chirping,” for the lack of a better term. What does this mean?

~ Matthew, Novice Cat Owner

Cats "chirp" when they're excited about something they see outdoors. Image courtesy of Catladyland.

Siouxsie: Well, Matthew, what you’re witnessing is the behavior of a very excited cat.

Thomas: And maybe a little bit frustrated, too.

Dahlia: Cats make that chirping noise — which people sometimes refer to as chattering — when they see something fascinating and potentially delicious, but they can’t reach it.

Siouxsie: When Faith sits in your window and watches the birds, she’s saying that she’d be out hunting and chasing them if she could get outside.

Thomas: Sometimes I do that when I see the squirrels running around in my yard. Mama keeps us inside only, so I can’t get out there and hunt, but it’s so exciting that I make those noises and swish my tail around.

Dahlia: This video shows a cat chattering/chirping at a crow outside her window. I bet this is very similar to what your cat does.

Siouxsie: Of course, I wouldn’t chatter at squirrels! I chatter at birds, like a normal cat!

Thomas: Oh, phooey on you! Where’s your Christmas spirit, you big Grinch?

Dahlia: Come on, you two — if you’re naughty, Santa Paws won’t come and we’ll all be sad kitties!

Siouxsie: I suppose you’re right, Dahlia. I’ll have to give Thomas a swat after the presents are under the tree.

Thomas: Anyway, Matthew, your cat’s behavior is totally normal. And please continue to let her chatter away as much as she pleases, but keep her indoors for her health and the health of the birds that visit your back yard.

Dahlia: Here’s another chirping-cat video. I just can’t help it, they’re so cute!

Siouxsie: Merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, blessed Solstice/Yule, joyous Kwanzaa, and Festivus blessings to all of you. And if we missed your winter holiday, we apologize for our ignorance. Please feel free to tell us about the winter holiday you celebrate and give us a link to more information about it. We strive to be the wisest kitties on the planet, and you can help us do that!

Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties:

I have a 6-year-old deaf white cat that meows excessively and loudly throughout the day while I’m at work. While I’m at home she rarely meows, and when she does, it’s early in the morning, not at night. I give her lots of love and attention, plenty of food and water, and I’ve bought her all kinds of toys. I have found that she isn’t interested in the typical cat toys, but she loves shadows, so I have bought toys with lights and movement. I’ve done all kinds of research and tried everything I can think of, but nothing seems to keep her from crying all day. I live in an apartment complex and my neighbours have complained about the noise, so now I have to find something that definitely works or I’ll need to re-home her. This is a path I definitely do not want to choose. Please help.

~ Michelle

White cats, particularly those with blue eyes, are much more likely to be deaf than other kitties. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Siouxsie: Well, Michelle, you are in a bit of a pickle there. What a shame that your neighbors have decided to complain to the landlord about your poor kitty!

Thomas: It sounds like your cat may be suffering from separation anxiety. It’s pretty scary for a deaf cat to be left alone, especially if at some time in her past she was abandoned for a long time by herself.

Dahlia: In addition to excessive vocalizing, cats with separation anxiety exhibit other symptoms, including “velcro kitty syndrome,” where your cat follows you everywhere you go and demands attention constantly. Some cats with separation anxiety vomit while their owners are away and can also pee or poop outside the litterbox. These are signs of stress, not signs of anger or resentment.

Siouxsie: There’s plenty of material about how to treat separation anxiety in cats. But because your cat is deaf, you can’t employ some of the more commonly used tactics to keep her from freaking out: she won’t hear a radio playing soft music, for example.

Thomas: But don’t fear. We have a few ideas that might help your sweet girl feel less frightened while you’re at work.

Dahlia: The first thing you should do, if you haven’t done this already, is to take your cat to the vet for a checkup to make sure she’s physically okay. Some behavior issues are a response to health problems.

Siouxsie: After your kitty gets a clean bill of health, we’d suggest is that you use a pheromone diffuser. Most commonly found under the brand name Feliway Comfort Zone (this link is to a U.S.-based site, but we’re pretty sure you can get it in the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, too), the diffuser emits a synthetic form of “happy cat” scent that’s pretty effective in relieving stress. Mama’s used it with us when introducing new cats or when we’ve had to move to a new house. Our former vet used to have Feliway plug-ins in the cat exam rooms at her clinic.

Thomas: Although we say it has a scent, only cats can smell it. Humans don’t notice any aroma at all.

Dahlia: We’d also recommend a consultation with an animal behaviorist. These people are specially trained and have lots of experience treating emotional and behavioral problems. Your vet may be able to help you find one in your area — and if there aren’t any nearby, many behaviorists offer consultations by phone or e-mail. If possible, find a behaviorist that specializes in cats. The International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants has a search tool at its website that can help you locate a consultant in your area.

Siouxsie: Sometimes a veterinarian who also practices homeopathy can provide you with a remedy that will help your cat feel less anxious and stressed.

Thomas: Mama gave me a homeopathic remedy when I first came home to live with her, and it really helped me. I went from hiding all the time to exploring all around my room in just a couple of hours.

Dahlia: If your cat cries because she’s lonely, consider getting her a kitty friend. Keep in mind that if you do so, you need to introduce the cats properly — or else you could cause your current resident to become even more stressed.

Siouxsie: But if it’s not the right time to bring another cat into your life — for example, if your lease only allows one cat, or if your budget doesn’t have room for an extra set of vet expenses and food — don’t do it just because it might help your cat stop meowing so much. If both you and your cat are overstressed, it could make a bad situation worse.

Thomas: And if all else fails, your vet can prescribe a short course of medication. The meds could help to break the cycle of ever-increasing stress and anxiety and help your kitty re-program herself to be more comfortable while you’re away.

Dahlia: Regardless of what tactics you try, it will take a while for your cat to learn to turn the volume down. If you can convince your neighbors and your landlord that you really are working to solve the problem, perhaps they’ll be able to be patient with you. Good luck, Michelle.

Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties:

I have a 9-month-old male cat. He’s been an inside cat since I got him — other than a few overnight outings when he’s gotten out an open window or a door left open half a minute too long. My only problem with him is his yowling. His meows vary from a normal meow to a deeper-toned one that almost echoes in the hall. I leave a window open for him so he can enjoy the outside world even though it reaches -40 outside during the winter. I’ve bought him every toy imaginable, keep his bowls filled and his litterbox clean. I also give him as much attention as possible; I even pet him before I pet the dog when I get home from work. My roommate is getting ticked about the crying, and now my girlfriend is saying she wants his manhood reduced by 2/3. As far as I’m concerned, they’re not mine to take, so he can keep them til he sprays one time. Any ideas as what to do for him other then letting him be an indoor-outdoor cat?

~ Junior

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Siouxsie: The kinds of meows and howls you describe are made by sexually mature tomcats when they detect the alluring aroma of a female cat in heat.

Thomas: I know you’re not going to want to hear this, but the only way you’re going to be able to stop that noise is to have your cat neutered.

Dahlia: Mama knows some guys that have hangups about having their male animals neutered. We don’t know what that’s all about. Mama says she’s never met a lady who refused to have her cat spayed because she’d be robbing her “poor kitty” of her womanhood.

Siouxsie: First, you need to understand that cats don’t have the same perceptions about sexuality and manliness that humans do.

Thomas: I can speak about this from personal experience. I’m neutered, and I got fixed when I was less than a year old. It hasn’t made a single bit of difference to me. The only thing that bothered me about it was that I had to go to the vet and it hurt to sit down for a day or two afterwards.

Dahlia: And believe me when I say that my gorgeous Thomas is just as manly as any boy cat I’ve ever met! He just has better manners.

Siouxsie: Well, Dahlia, even through all that obnoxious fawning, you do make a good point: Neutered cats make much better housemates. They don’t cry all night, they don’t spray, and they don’t try to fight with every other cat in their house.

Thomas: Another important thing to know, Junior, is that by not having your cat fixed, you’re putting him at risk for some serious problems. Not only might he get hit by a car when he gets out, as you fear, but when he starts fighting with other tomcats over females in heat, he could get seriously injured by those cats! These injuries can lead to abscesses and can even result in your cat getting feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) or feline leukemia (FeLV).

Dahlia: Let us tell you a story about a cat we once knew. Kitty Jim’s man “couldn’t stand getting his balls cut off” and never had him neutered. Because of that, Jim was the classic fighting, screaming and — well, you know — tomcat. When Mama finally convinced Jim’s man to get him neutered (after he bit Thomas, Sinéad and Siouxsie), she also had him tested for FIV and FeLV. Unfortunately, he came up positive for FIV. Because he was so aggressive, he was literally a public health hazard for other cats.

Siouxsie: And we all had to get tested for FIV and FeLV all over again! I was so mad!

Thomas: Mama worked with her vet to try and place Jim in a home with other FIV+ cats, but nobody wanted an aggressive cat. No shelter would take him because he was known to have FIV. The man’s lifestyle didn’t allow for keeping Jim confined until he mellowed out. Long story short: his man made the heartbreaking decision to have him put to sleep.

Dahlia: We’d hate for your cat to meet a similar fate.

Siouxsie: One more thing — it’s a better idea to get your cat neutered before he starts spraying. Once he starts, he may get in the habit, and trust us when we say you don’t want that!

Thomas: While it’s true that neutered-kitty spray is much less pungent than tomcat spray, it’s still a habit humans don’t like.

Dahlia: Even after you have your little man fixed, it’s going to take a couple of weeks for the testosterone to completely leave his system — so his spray will still reek for a while after the surgery.

Siouxsie: Right now your cat is very stressed. Because his sex drive is awake and he can’t leave his house (unless he escapes), his body is sending him all sorts of crazy signals that he can’t do anything about. That level of tension is not good for his health.

Thomas: Because he’s so stressed, we’d recommend that you invest in a Feliway diffuser and place it in the room where your cat hangs out the most. This “happy cat pheromone” product will help to reduce sexual stress and will also help him be calm after he comes home from surgery.

Dahlia: It seems to us that you’re doing your best to give your cat everything he could possibly want, and you’re a very good cat caretaker. We hope you can overcome your personal issue about having your kitty neutered: he will be a much better housemate once his hormones calm down.

Siouxsie: That’s right, Dahlia. We hope this helps, Junior. Good luck to you and your kitty.

Thomas: And remember, real men have their pets neutered!

Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties:

I found Diva and Tater on Craigslist. They were 9 weeks old at the time, and they were healthy and happy. I brought them into a household with one 4-month-old rescue female kitten from a vet’s office. It was instant adoration! They thought of Gracie as “Mom.” They “nursed” on Gracie, who was a fixed female by then, and she seemed to love it. Both of the kittens purred and purred, loud and clear, whenever they were near Gracie. But when they weren’t near Gracie, I never heard them purr. Ever. Even when they’re being loved on or being fed, they never made a peep. I tried putting my ear to their throats when they were “smiling” — nothing! They are now 10 months old and they’ve long since stopped trying to nurse, so I never get to hear that soothing, calming purr I get from Gracie. I’ve had cats all my life, and I’ve never had one that didn’t purr. Have you ever run into this weird quirk before? Will they always be this way?

~ Charlene

Cats don't always purr when they're delighted. Sometimes they just "smile" and snuggle.

Siouxsie: Good question, Charlene.  As a long-time cat caretaker, I’m sure you know about the whys and wherefores of purring, but we’ll explain it briefly for our readers who may not .

Thomas: Purring is an instinct. Kittens are born knowing how to purr, and they do so while nursing. The mother cat purrs right back at them.

Dahlia: Purring is not only a measure of contentment, but it functions as a relaxation tool. Cats can purr when they’re in pain, and sometimes even when they’re dying, because the sound of the purr seems to release endorphins — natural painkillers.

Siouxsie: In any case, because kittens instinctively purr when they’re nursing, it’s not surprising that Diva and Tater would have purred loudly as they were nursing on their big sister, Gracie. Not only was the behavior hard-wired, but it probably soothed them while they were making the transition to their new environment.

Thomas: There are all kinds of purrs, and a wide variation in the loudness of those purrs. Some cats literally have “motors,” which you can hear from feet away, while some purr so quietly as to be inaudible to humans.

Dahlia: Sometimes the only way you can tell a cat is purring is to hold your finger over his throat to see if there’s a vibration.

Siouxsie: Also, just because a cat doesn’t purr, that doesn’t mean he’s unhappy or doesn’t love you. It just means that he doesn’t relate to you in the same way he relates to a mother cat. I’m sitting in Mama’s lap right now and I’m happy as can be — but I’m not purring.

Thomas: If Diva and Tater show you affection in other ways, then they certainly love you and enjoy your company. A “smile” is just as much a gesture of contentment as a purr.

Dahlia: There are times I don’t purr, even when I’m happy and relaxed in Mama’s arms. It’s not because I don’t love her; it’s just that sometimes I want to meditate in blissful silence!

Siouxsie: We don’t know the answer to your question about whether or not they will ever purr audibly.

Thomas: But don’t be surprised if one day when you’re really sick or you’ve hurt yourself badly, they snuggle up next to you and start purring.

Dahlia: A cat’s purr has been measured at a sound frequency of 25 to 150 hertz — a frequency range which has been shown to stimulate bone growth and healing.

Thomas: So, one day you might find yourself the beneficiary of some “purr therapy.”

Dahlia: Even if Diva and Tater never do utter an audible purr, rest assured that if the rest of their behavior says they’re happy, they love you and enjoy your company!