Merlin The Cat Speaks His Mind
It’s Mondays with Merlin! How ya’ll doing? As many of you know, I’m an old Siamese cat who likes to talk. I’ll be turning 19 this year and I always have something to say. Did you know cats can talk while inhaling and exhaling? Listen to this video and tell me what you think I’m saying. According to my mom Layla, cats have about 100 different kinds of vocalizations and every cat has a unique voice. Purring is our most famous sound but even purrs can vary from deep and rumbly like Domino, faint and dry like Gris Gris or wet and gurgly like Odin. Mine have grown softer as I’ve aged but my lung power is still thunderous. Besides purrs, cats have smorgasbord or mews, meows, murrs, trills, chirps, whines, yowls, caterwauls, growls and hisses. They can be barely audible or like a foghorn, open or close-mouthed, deep or shrill, high or low pitched. I have a large repertoire of meezerspeak but about a year ago I mastered the head tilt like coyote’s howl like in this video.
Have you noticed your cat making new or different sounds? Do you speak cat?
For those of you with a scientific bent, here’s an abstract:Representations of Cat Meows and Human Vowels in the Primary Auditory Cortex of Awake Cats from the Journal of Neurophysiology of the American Society of Physiology
Oh and one last thing, I’ll purr if you nominate us for a Pettie Award or three.
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21 Comments
jansfunnyfarm
We hear, Attention, attention, attention.” And attention you should get!
Kitties Blue
Some of us are very good at what our mom calls meyowling. Add Lily Olivia can bark, seriously! She uses her bark when she is really ticked off like when she wants to go out and one of the humans is moving too slowly. And then there’s our angel, MacKenzie. His meow sounded like a baaing sheep. Purrs and hugs, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Josette
CATachresis
Merlin you have much wisdom and we need to learn from you, so speak on, old buddy!! xx
Skeeter and Izzy
I’m not sure what our dear Merlin is saying but Izzy knows! We love you Merlin! Luvs Skeeter and Izzy and the Feral Gang >^..^<
Katnip Lounge
Merlin, our meezer May Ling is a talker too! We think at your age everything you say is sage advice, especially “feed me”!
Brian
That was a very nice speech Mr. Merlin and I second that motion!
Abby
Merlin
Gracie was listening and she understood every word you said, but of course our silly Mom didn’t.
You are quite the talker and you sure got our Gracie’s attention.
Layla Morgan Wilde (Cat Wisdom 101)
So glad Gracie got to hear Merlin talk :-0
Jacqueline
Awww, handsome Merlin, you have so much to say, darling boy=we are all talkers here too!!…Congratulations on the Pettie nomination…Happy week ahead, sweeties…xoxo…Calle, Halle, Sukki, Mommy Cat, Daddy Cat
Layla Morgan Wilde (Cat Wisdom 101)
The Pettie noms are going on until June 28 so we don’t know yet but paws crossed.
Sue Brandes
I love your meow Merlin. Maybe you are saying please look at me. I used to have a siamese but; he has long gone to the Rainbow Bridge. He was a non stop talker. My kitty Cashew is half bengal and half abyssinian and he is our talker. I am wondering if one of those breeds talks a lot. My oldest Squeaky used to just barely Squeak. Hense the name but; now he is 21 he meows loud to let you know he wants something. Usually early in the morning. LOL. And Garfield gets really loud in the morning cause he gets extra special playtime by himself and he cannot wait. And Tubby loves to scold you if you tell him not to do something. LOL. I just love the different ways kitties talk to you. I know some but; I am sure not all.
Layla Morgan Wilde (Cat Wisdom 101)
Some cat breeds are more talkative like the orientals, Siamese etc. Squeaky is 21? Wow!
Tamago
You are very vocal, Merlin 🙂 My Niko is very vocal, too. He speaks a lot in different tones. Goro doesn’t talk a lot but he uses body language a lot!
easy rider
Thanks for sharing the video – it’s great! I was on my mom’s side immediately as I heard the kitty. Mom said she will use this video by now instead to call me 87 times :o)
Layla Morgan Wilde (Cat Wisdom 101)
Who knew this video would help dogs LOL!
Texas, a cat in New York
My humans definitely can’t speak cat!
Purrs
da tabbies o trout towne
dood…we noe eggs act lee what ya wuz mewin bout…
“eye wood like sum seared salmon anda side oh garden greenz for a slite snak
bee for ewe fix my dinner of flounder N frieiz food service purrson nell thanx mew veree much”
🙂
The Island Cats
You sure do have lots to say, Merlin! Our mom says we make all sorts of different sounds…and she only wishes she knew what some of them meant!
Caren Gittleman
I think you are saying “Mom”…..and the last time you say it I love the little “trill” you added at the end. Of course I speak cat, I have “cat mojo” 🙂
Sam and Pam
Oh mighty Merlin…..at your ripe old age you absolutely have earned the right to express your every thought and get your point across however you must. I have quite a number of earth-shattering sounds I can make to get my Mom’s attention and enjoy carrying on long conversations with her occasionally as well. My favorite and “most vocal” time of the day is early morning when she’s making coffee but I want her to hurry up so she can put on my harness and leash and take me outside for a walk in the dark! I can be QUITE loud then! Purr Power – that’s us right Merlin??
Kitty Hugs, Sammy
Sparkle
You are quite the demanding cat, Merlin!