Domesticated cats are highly skilled linguists when it comes to communicating with each other and with humans. According to veterinarian and author Bruce Vogel, DVM, in “The Encyclopedia of the Cat”, cat noises can be broken down into three general categories: murmurs, vowels, and high-intensity sounds.

Murmurs are the purr or the bird-like chirp that a cat uses to greet a human and sometimes its fellow cats. Precisely how cats produce purrs is still somewhat of a mystery, but it’s important to realize that purrs can indicate both happiness and great distress. Chirps sound like “brrp” or “brrm” and are always used by a happy cat.

So-called vowels are also known as meows, and are used uniquely in domesticated cats of all ages, but not in adult wild cats, and actually represent an extension of kittenhood. Meows can mean anything from a specific request, complaint or command to bewilderment.

Cats also employ a language of high-intensity sounds that they mainly use among themselves to either scare off another cat or entice one to them. They can growl, snarl, hiss, spit, shriek, and wail to get a specific point across.

Like most cats, my own four are noise virtuosos when it comes to expressing themselves. After years of living with them, I know precisely what they’re trying to tell me. Here are just a few of the noise messages I pick up every day from them:

• Sensuous, plaintive meow: I need to knead you. P-l-e-e-a-s-e! (Tao)
• Persistent, I’m-not-letting-you-off-the-hook meow: Come on, let’s boogie outdoors. Now. I don’t care how (cold, hot, wet, windy) it is. (Tao)
• Hiss: Hey, I wanna be alone! Who are all these hairy scary beasts (referring to other cats and the dogs)? (Shy Circe)
• Emphatic meow: Take me back to my boudoir. (Shy Circe)
• Demanding meow accompanied by very furry tail in my face and body plopping down next to mine as I lie supine: I’m gonna chew your hair and cuddle up to you. I expect a full body massage from you in return. (Karma)
• Purr like a diesel engine: I’m starting up my motor in sheer anticipation because I KNOW you’re gonna massage me up the whazoo. (Karma)
• Grrrr: OK, stop looking at me, or I’m gonna scat outa here. (Karma communicating with Tao, who likes to annoy her with a steady stare)
• Purr: Wow, you’ve got the comfiest darn shoulder (as she clings to my right one). Can I hang here forever? (Matilda)
• Meow/purr: I just love everybody, even the dogs, and everybody loves me (accompanied by much body rubbing against the other animals). (Matilda)
• Short, staccato meows: Ooh, food! I can’t wait! (Matilda)
• Chirp: How ya doin’? I’m doin’ great myself, thanks for askin’. (Matilda, Tao, Circe)

Hey, who needs words when you’re surrounded by the noisy eloquence of cats?