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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Chatty cats

36 replies

HeechulOppa · 08/10/2022 21:26

I have two cats who are absolute gobshites chatty cat breeds - a Burmese and a Ragdoll. We love their chattiness and the fact no thought goes unexpressed. We’re getting a kitten next week - a British Shorthair - and I gather they aren’t particularly chatty - I just wondered if the new kitten would pick up on chatty behaviour from the other two.

OP posts:
Imperfect10 · 08/10/2022 21:29

I have 2 adopted older DSHs

They are mother and daughter...the daughter never shuts up!!! yells at me all day
mama cat open's her mouth as if to speak...but no sound comes out! She has an ace pur though.
I think cats chat at people, not at other cats so I imagine new kit will talk to you. Enjoy your new addition

lljkk · 08/10/2022 21:35

2 of my moggies can mew seemingly non stop. Other one is like a ghost.

Toddlerteaplease · 09/10/2022 14:46

My previously non verbal cat, has gone from silent meows to full on shouting at me since I got Cheddar who is an absolute gobshite. Her late sister was vocal, but cheddar takes it to another level!

Toddlerteaplease · 09/10/2022 14:46

All three are Persians.

PhilistineWazzock · 09/10/2022 14:50

We had a silent cat until her first trip to the cattery which was full of howling cats. It was like a switch was flicked.

Notsobusybee · 09/10/2022 15:50

You are quite correct BSH are not known for being that chatty. But, I have two British blues and although not as chatty as a Burmese/Siamese they are definitely quite chatty. Boy cat normally at about 3am and girl cat when she realise she is in a room on her own!

I have however, also had other BSH's who never made even so much as a squeak!

Hope you enjoy your gorgeous new kitten.

Toddlerteaplease · 09/10/2022 20:37

I don't remember any of my childhood cats being vocal. But my parents current cat is also very noisy and my friends cat, has to stay downstairs at night as she's so loud.

Luluthecat · 09/10/2022 20:43

Enjoy the silence….. I have one cat that talks and walks and another who is only chatty when she feels like it. Previous cat only chatted for about a week after they returned from the cattery. I find the chatty cat less charming when she chats to me at 5am to tell me it’s raining then again 6am to say it’s breakfast time….

when she was a kitten the chatting was handy when she got stuck up trees and we had to find her

DeeofDenmark · 09/10/2022 20:44

My noisiest cat was a short hired moggy. The neighbours would laugh at me chatting to him as I put the washing out. I could ask him anything and he would mew in agreement.

Narwhaleahoy · 09/10/2022 20:47

I don’t think the word ‘chatty’ describes a Siamese/Oriental in full flow.
Ears bleeding from the sonic assault might, just might, give a slight indication that attention is required …

Dragonskin · 09/10/2022 21:11

We have two DSH. Boy cat has chatted to us from the start, girl cat didn't until about 12 months ago and what started off as a little croaky voice is now fully formed (and used!!)

PeloFondo · 09/10/2022 23:46

Mine is a moggy and never shuts up. Possibly some Bombay or Siamese in his breeding somewhere

PeloFondo · 09/10/2022 23:47

Standard photo of him yelling at me

Chatty cats
FelicityRelaxington · 10/10/2022 17:30

Our British short-haired tabby torty rescue talks and talks and shouts! She yowls with her sponge ball in the middle of the night. Also loudly. Think yodelling. We joke that she was matched well and you have to soeak up to be heard in our family! The vet told us that if you speak to them they speak back and vice versa!

AnApparitionQuipped · 10/10/2022 17:32

PeloFondo · 09/10/2022 23:47

Standard photo of him yelling at me

Ooh, he looks just like my boy cat except he's thinner, and mine chats all the time. My girl cat has definitely got louder since he joined the household which is great, I could listen to them talk all day long.

PeloFondo · 10/10/2022 18:16

@AnApparitionQuipped yeah he's teeny! He's never been a big cat but he's lost a bit as he's aged. Probably around 3kg

Pudmyboy · 10/10/2022 23:44

PeloFondo · 09/10/2022 23:47

Standard photo of him yelling at me

Oh that is hilarious! What a great face!

Toddlerteaplease · 11/10/2022 11:59

I find it absolutely fascinating how, they learn from other cats. Magic is definitely more vocal and much more bossy, because she learned from Cheddar.

Hobbesmanc · 11/10/2022 13:38

I've had lots of short haired silver tabbies and several have been very vocal. None have been quiet- and one of our current family is really loud

Ridingladybugs · 14/10/2022 07:03

I have a Burmese who never shuts up. Walks round shouting his head off.

I also have a rescue Siamese ( who was handed in partly because he wasn’t chatty or ‘Siamese’ enough - he’s very shy and gentle). Anyway he barely spoke until this summer age 4 where he’s suddenly found his voice. He’s still polite and only yells when he wants something - but my goodness he is so LOUD.

Ludo19 · 30/10/2022 19:38

I have very chatty cats. The most being my big tuxedo boy then my flame ragdoll....even when he turns in his sleep he blethers away to himself! I've had siamese and currently a Burmese too, very talkative. But then I blether away to them too.

MrsAliceRichards · 30/10/2022 19:42

Two moggies here that don't shut up. The quieter of the two pales into insignificance in comparison to his brother who literally narrates his every move. He also has a special miaow that sounds like he's saying "mooooom" when he wants me. I love him dearly but sometimes, just sometimes, a few minutes silence wouldn't be the worst thing.

Toddlerteaplease · 30/10/2022 19:43

Cheddar has been walking round yowling all afternoon and won't tell me what the matter is. Apparently I'm supposed to be psychic!

Beamur · 30/10/2022 19:44

My orientals are not as chatty as my previous unless food is required and then they're in full voice. One has a vocal habit I haven't come across many cats with - she sort of grumbles and groans a lot, usually when happy and purring at the same time!

erikbloodaxe · 30/10/2022 19:56

Oriental, Siamese and Mog here.

Oriental is mostly mute in dissatisfaction with the world except when she needs to let you know she needs you for something.
Siamese really shouts when he needs to tell you something about his food dish otherwise he is very quiet.
Mog chats away but doesn't have the vocal range of the other two.