Are British Shorthair cats Vocal? How to understand every sound that they make

Are British Shorthair cats vocal? How to understand every sound that they make

Have you ever wondered if British Shorthair cats are vocal? I know I have. There is a controversy on the internet right now on this topic. In this article, I’m going to explain whether these cats are or aren’t vocal. Also, I’m going to tell you what sounds they make and what they mean. A lot of people can’t understand their cat’s needs and don’t even bother searching it online. An ignored cat will not give you too much love, so you definitely don’t want that.

Short answer

Unfortunately, I can’t give you an easy yes or a no answer. You probably already know that every human is different. This theory also applies to cats. That is why no one can anticipate and tell if your British Shorthair cat is going to be vocal or not.

Some people say that the cats from this breed don’t meow even if they are very hungry. On the other hand, there are some other people that say that this is one of the most vocal breeds out there. Very confusing, right? So, which one should you believe? In my opinion, neither of those.

I know some people that have a thing for and like vocal cats and only want to buy a kitty if it was like that. If this is your case, I have some bad news for you. You can’t tell if your cat is going to be vocal only from internet research. Not all cats are the same.

However, you can find out pretty quickly if you can spend some time with the cat. Younger kittens are usually more vocal than adult cats, so you can expect some changes over time or possibly a quieter cat if you buy/adopt an adult.

You might also be wondering why you haven’t seen too many homeless cats trying to communicate. That is because domestic cats are much more vocal in general as this article suggests. Indoor cats can get bored and become more vocal.

However, if you do happen to own a vocal cat, I have some tips and tricks. These can help you understand your cat’s needs better, so stay tuned. I will explain those soon.

What sounds do British Shorthair cats make?

If you thought “meow” is the only sound that cats make, you might want to reconsider that. Vocal cats are much easier to understand compared to the non-vocal ones. A simple search on the internet could tell you if the British Shorthair cat is hungry, bored, lonely etc. simply by the sound it makes. Let’s not waste any more time and jump straight into the explanations.

Meow

Because we already mentioned it, let’s start with the famous “meow”. It is the most popular sound cats make and also a very expressive one. Young kitties will usually use it to communicate with their mother but also with other cats. However, as they grow, they stop using it to communicate with other cats. An adult cat always will meow only to a human, with some rare exceptions.

This particular sound could mean a lot of things, and can even be silent. That means the cat is opening her mouth but doesn’t say anything. A British Shorthair cat usually meows when it wants something, usually food or attention, and sometimes it will meow just to signal that it missed you when you are coming home from work. Those are the most common meanings of the meow sound, but it can also have some deeper explanations.

A meow that seems more like a crying sound can indicate that it is feeling lonely or even sick. So pay attention because sometimes this simple sound can save your cat from a hidden illness. Also, an incessant meowing could also indicate that your cat is begging for your attention if the meowing is very fast and often. Listen to your cat’s tone while it meows, and you might determine exactly what it feels and needs.

Purr

The next sound I will cover is the ”purr” sound. This sound is also popular, and all cats’ owners definitely have heard it before. When you hear this, it is pretty easy to determine how your cat feels. This is a rather deep and vibrating sound, which comes from the throat of the cat. It is really easy to distinguish, and you will usually hear it when your cat is very happy. This sound can be made by very young kitties as well; you can start hearing it even from cats who are only 2 days old.

On the other hand, it can also signify fear and agitation. In order to discern these 2 opposite feelings, you need to look at their body. If it is relaxed, it is a happy purr. If it seems tense, most likely it is an agitation purr.

Chirrup

This is a sound not too many people know about. It is a combination between a meow and a purr, and usually, it is ignored by the owners, as very few people can tell the difference. Your cat will make this sound when it is happy and excited. This is a common form of greeting the human among kitties.

Growl

The growl is a deep sound which British Shorthair cats use as a warning. Felines use this sound toward both humans and other animals when they feel either fear or anger. If you ever hear it, you might want to quit whatever you were doing to your cat; you don’t want to get hurt.

Chatter

The chattering sound is also a combination between another 2 sounds: a meow and a bleat. You probably heard it when your cat was staring at a window or even at a TV. This signals the frustration of the cat when it spots prey, but it isn’t able to hunt and catch it. Many researchers tend to think this is an involuntary sound as this article here suggest.

How do they communicate with other animals or humans?

Although the sound is the most expressive form of communication for cats, it communicates with you in many other ways. The second most obvious way is through its body language. Just like dogs, cats can communicate with their tail.

When the tail is straight but has a curl at the end, this means your cat is happy. If it is twitching, the cat is either excited or anxious. If it is vibrating, the feline is excited and also happy.

The eyes reveal some emotions as well. You can take a look at the kitty’s eyes in order to see if its pupils are dilated, meaning that it is excited or aggressive. Don’t stare at them for too long though, as they might consider you dangerous, making them aggressive or uncomfortable.

If the British Shorthair cat is blinking slower than normal, that means it is comfortable with you.

Conclusion

To conclude, no one can say for sure if the British Shorthair breed is truly vocal or not. Many facts presented here are from own experience and from what other owners experienced. Remember that no two cats are the same

However, if you do happen to own a vocal cat, you can determine their mood very easy by listening to the sounds that they make.

If you aren’t that lucky, there are many other ways to figure out what your cat is feeling as stated above.

They will be very happy to see that you understand them. In the end, the only thing that matters is to assure them a beautiful and relaxed life. Do you own a vocal cat? Do you know how to interpret every sound that they make?