Cats come out with all kinds of sounds – they meow, purr, growl, hiss, and sometimes even coo. If you’re not a cat owner or perhaps have only just welcomed a cat into your home, this might all be new to you.
Don’t worry, though, if your cat sounds like a pigeon, it doesn’t automatically mean that there is something wrong with them. In fact, a pigeon sound coming from a cat might be completely normal.
Today we’re going to be investigating why your cat sounds like a pigeon, and whether you need to take them to see a veterinarian.
What Does A Pigeon Sound Like?
If you’re researching cats and have stumbled onto this article, then you might be wondering what on earth we’re talking about. What does a pigeon even sound like?
You might have never paid attention to the sound that a pigeon makes – why would you? They’re birds that we see on the sidewalk vacuuming up dirt and crumbs. Their gray feathers are not especially pretty to look at, so why would we pay any attention to them?
A pigeon makes a prolonged cooing sound that sounds like a chirp. Otherwise known as trilling, pigeons make this noise to talk to other birds and make their presence known.
Why Is My Cat Making Cooing Noises?
A cooing cat sounds much different to a meowing cat. The trill is a distinct sound that differs from others that cats make. So, why do they make this sound? It is commonly known as a sound for getting attention. The cat is not annoyed or unhappy, but they simply want their humans to look at them and watch what they’re doing.
When our cat was a tiny kitten, she would coo at us and make us follow her upstairs so that she could show us her bed. Even though we had seen it multiple times, she still wanted to show it off. She would also coo and take us to her food bowl when she was hungry and needed a top-up.
A cooing cat is simply a talkative one. They might be saying hello, look at me, or how are you. If your cat sounds like a pigeon, it definitely does not mean that there is something wrong with them and that they need to be taken to a veterinarian.
It also doesn’t mean that they swallowed the live pigeon that they were chasing around the garden earlier either – so don’t worry about that!
A coo is just one of the ways that cats communicate with others around them. Scientists have identified at least 12 different vocalizations by cats, each with a different meaning. Cooing is simply one way that they are communicating with us through their language.
Why Are Cats Trying To Get Your Attention?
Some cats coo just because they are saying hello to you, and they won’t need anything else from you other than recognition that you heard them.
Other times, however, cats might want to get your attention by cooing. This could be because they are bored and want you to play with them, or because they are trying to tell you something important.
To figure out why your cat is cooing at you, first try and take note of their body language. Are they cooing while they look uncomfortable or angry? Annoyed cats often have tense bodies with stiff tails. If your cat is annoyed and cooing, they might be trying to tell you what is wrong.
Cats are very dominant and often believe that they are the owner of the house. We have actually experienced our cat cooing while trying to get us to move off of the couch so that she could sit there.
Bear in mind that if your cat is very annoyed or in pain, they probably won’t coo at you – they’ll use one of their other communication noises.
Another reason why cats might coo at you is to tell you that they are bored and want to be played with. They want your attention so that you can help them quell their boredom.
Helping A Bored Cat
If your cat is bored and wants to be played with, then you should give them some toys to play with. Toys will keep them occupied for longer periods of time, which means that they might not start making cooing noises until later on when they get bored of the toys.
A cat tree can also be very helpful to keep cats happy and entertained. There are multiple platforms for them to jump around and often scratching posts that they can dance around.
We think that it is very important to play with your cat rather than leaving them to play on their own. They will most likely play on their own when you are busy, but playing with them in your free time strengthens your bond.
Playing with your cat can also satisfy their social needs and encourage them to play for longer. This helps to prevent boredom from setting in, which might stop them cooing at you for attention.
Why Would You Want To Stop A Cat Cooing?
If your cat is cooing, it isn’t always a bad thing. They might just be saying hello and notifying you of their presence. However, when they coo to tell you they’re bored, you want to rectify this as much as possible.
When cats learn how to coo at you for attention, they might start using this technique at all hours of the day. This is all well and good until you’re awoken by a cooing cat in your face who wants to play.
To stop your cat from waking you up in the night for attention, make sure that you leave out lots of toys, games, and food during the nighttime. Hopefully these things will keep your cat busy while you sleep soundly.
Summary
So, we hope that this article has helped you understand why your cat sounds like a pigeon, and how it often isn’t anything to worry about. Your cat is most likely just saying hello or trying to get your attention.
Give them the attention that they want and play with them. If they’re still cooing at you after you’ve played together, then you can tell that they probably have something else to say.
I’m Courtney Trent and I hope that I can answer some burning questions that you have about cats, as well as some questions that you’d never have thought to ask before.
I am aiming to shed new light on these amazing pets and hopefully change some people’s opinions on them. Also, let’s talk about wild cats - they’re just as awesome as domestic cats!
So, stay a while and learn more about domestic and wild cats from Windhaven Ocicats.
