Why Do Cats Chirp At Birds?
You’ve probably seen your cat make that cute chirping noise while they look at a bird through the window, but if you haven’t, check out the video below!
Usually called chirping or chattering, many folks wonder why their cats make this noise, but no one is quite sure. Let’s discuss some of the more popular theories
⚠ While the chattering we’ll discussing here is completely normal and harmless, cats with dental health issues may chatter their teeth frequently along with excessive drooling. If your cat is experiencing these symptoms or is chattering without any apparent reason, please reach out to your vet for advice ⚠
Excitement\frustration
One of the reasons your cat chirps is the frustration and excitement they feel when watching a juicy bird or other prey outside that they can’t get to. Instinct and emotion are very hard to override without frustration, which may explain why I typically see this behavior from the wilder, more active cuties I meet. Whether or not they get frustrated enough to vocalize their feelings, cats will always enjoy catching and killing prey over staring at it through a window. Hunting and obtaining food is their most important drive, after all!
Whether your cat is frustrated or just shows signs of excitement, this is a great opportunity to get out that wand toy and give them a workout! At least one daily play session with a toy they are able to physically catch and “kill” is a great way to vent some pressure and keep them feeling content. They’ll love you even more for playing with them, and hopefully, they’ll be too tired to jump on your counters and destroy your furniture for at least a few minutes😹
Mimicking
Scientists have seen Brazilian wildcats mimic the calls of the Pied Tamarin Monkeys they prey on, which reinforces the belief that domestic cats are attempting to mimic the sounds of birds or rodents. Many would argue that cats hunt better when silent, but perhaps the noisy ones are just trying to innovate! I wouldn’t put it past them, the sneaky little things 😼
Killing Bite
Some think the rapid jaw movement displayed during chattering may be the cat acting out their instincts by performing the killing neck bite they would utilize in the wild to sever their prey’s spinal cord. Were you aware your sweetheart is also a brutal murderer whose thirst for neck blood is only satiated by the cutest of small animals? 🙀 Haha, just kidding… but no, I’m serious, they love to murder
Scent
Ever seen your cat do a stink mouth? We’ll cover it in more detail in a future post, but cats have a scent organ above the roof of their mouth called the Jacobson’s Organ, which they may be attempting to utilize to learn more about the prey by rapidly moving air in and out of the ducts behind their top incisors
Regardless of cause for chattering, remember that hunting and obtaining food is your cat’s most important drive! A daily play session with a toy they are able to physically catch and “kill” is a great way to vent some pressure and keep them feeling content. If you’re at your wit’s end with behavioral issues or would just like to develop a closer and more loving bond with your sweeties, contact me! 😻
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Have a story you’d like to share, questions about this article, or a completely different behavioral issue that I haven’t addressed? Let me know in the comments!
