Communicating With A Cat

Ping speaks!

I have thought a lot about how cats communicate. I don't profess to be any type of expert on this subject, far from it in fact. But, I have given it a great deal of thought. I try to understand what my cats are saying to me. I find it interesting the different ways they communicate to me and to one another. I have 3 very vocal cats. Ping is a meower. He talks and chatters all the time. Before Gracie came to live with us, he spoke so sorrowfully most of the time. I thought he was really lonely. He is such a gregarious cat and I think he needed to have another cat that had a similar temperment. Gracie fit the bill just perfectly. She is also a talker. But, her little mews are so soft sometimes nothing comes out of her mouth when she speaks. Other times she 'squeaks'. So, hence her nickname of "Squeaky". But, one thing I have noticed is that she has calmed Ping's chatter down. Now that he has her to play and romp with he doesn't go around all the time and 'cry'. Abby is quite vocal. But, when she is communicating with the other cats, she is telling them in no uncertain terms to stay away! She has an unusual mew, her sound is a cross between a nanny goat and a cat. Her communication to me is totally different. I have walked up to her and she will meow at me one time and let me know that 'hey I'm right here'! It is really evident she is announcing herself. I have also heard her mournful when she is looking for me and can't find me. It is a totally different low sad cry, and of course her happiness is expressed when she dances and prances in figure eights and purrs so loudly it sounds like a motor engine running. Jinx only talks to me when he is hungry and then he chirps. He will lead me to the kitchen and actually to the food. He knows exactly where the cans are and of course he knows his dinner plates. Boo will only 'talk' when we are alone or early in the morning when she is ready to get up. She is the only cat that sleeps with us. Our bedroom is her room, and she feels comfortable in there. In the morning she will let me know when she is ready to get up by standing on my chest and kneading me and then she will get up into my ear and meow. It's time to start the day. I would really like to understand cat language better than I do and I keep researching the topic. On my to read list are:

1. Cat Vs. Cat : Keeping Peace When You Have More Than One Cat
2. Think Like A Cat
3. Psycho Kitty
4. Angel Cats
5. Hiss & Tell
6. What Cat TEAch Us
7. Cats Have No Masters
8. Why Cat Do That
9. The Feline Mystique
10. Communicating With Your Cat
11. Twisted Whiskers
12. The Cat Who Cried For Help