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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

Cat doesn’t meow

38 replies

HelloCheekyCat · 15/07/2024 19:30

We picked her up from the rescue centre last weekend & she was meowing all the way home in the car but hasn’t since.
she makes a chirping sound when she’s about to get food or when she first sees someone in the morning but that’s it.

is it normal?!

OP posts:
Fontainebleau007 · 15/07/2024 19:33

Some cats are less vocal than others and rarely (if ever) meow. This is perfectly normal as long as they seem to be otherwise healthy

So yes as long as she seems healthy, even chirping noises I would say it's fine. Maybe she's just settling in, she's not used to the place/environment yet.

Overtheatlantic · 15/07/2024 19:34

Yes she’s fine. Just let her settle in and find her voice. And talk to her. Sooth her with a gentle tone and play with her gently. Congrats on your new addition. Cat tax??

Sunshineafterthehail · 15/07/2024 19:35

Dd's 2 rescue dkittens never meowed.. Trauma the vet said...

lilao · 15/07/2024 19:51

One of ours was like this when she was a kitten - she was silent for months!

Now she is the loudest, whiniest cat we have and squeals at the top of her voice for attention!

ricecrispiecakes · 15/07/2024 19:54

I'll swap - one of mine never bloody shuts up Grin

Pudmyboy · 15/07/2024 20:05

HelloCheekyCat · 15/07/2024 19:30

We picked her up from the rescue centre last weekend & she was meowing all the way home in the car but hasn’t since.
she makes a chirping sound when she’s about to get food or when she first sees someone in the morning but that’s it.

is it normal?!

Wonder whether the meowing in the car was agitation? The chirping when being fed is encouraging. As others have said, give her time and talk to her.
(And pay the cat tax please!😸)

Ineedaholidayyyy · 15/07/2024 20:08

Totally normally. I've got 2 cats, one is very vocal , meows very loud, purrs loud , eats and drinks loud. The other is very quiet in everything she does. Both happy and healthy.

GreenMarigold · 15/07/2024 20:17

One of mine prrps rather than full on miaows. And that’s only very occasionally.

Arielsmummy · 15/07/2024 20:26

The only time my 5 year old beautiful girl makes any noise is chirping at birds, growling at other cats and apparently she cries at the door when I leave...otherwise silent

Original poster
HelloCheekyCat · 15/07/2024 20:31

@Pudmyboy the meowing in the car was definitely agitation/fear.
We talk to her all the time, she even has people talking to her on my Teams calls
is the cat tax a photo? If so here you go , this is us watching the football last night 😻

Cat doesn’t meow
OP posts:
MyCalmRoseHelper · 15/07/2024 20:32

I’ve got sisters. One rarely miaows, the other never stops.

TheFormidableMrsC · 15/07/2024 20:34

My cat has never really done it. He squeaks or chirrups when food is coming but no full meows. It happens very rarely and surprises me when it does!

countvoncount · 15/07/2024 20:34

My rescue boy only miaows when he's brought me in a gift!!!
It's like he's shouting me!

Original poster
HelloCheekyCat · 15/07/2024 20:36

I’m pleased to know that our girl isn’t unusual, hopefully she’ll meow at some point!

OP posts:
Pudmyboy · 15/07/2024 20:37

@HelloCheekyCat yes, photo is cat tax, and that cat looks very relaxed already!
Hope you have many happy years with your tuxedo overlady!
(Edited to correct sex of cat!)

tillytoodles1 · 15/07/2024 20:40

Ive had my rescue cat for over 12 yrs and she's never miaowed, just chirrups now and then.

eyeblob · 15/07/2024 20:41

We have 2 brothers one barely makes a meow, mostly silent or squeeks then other never shuts up. Very different personalities that's all

AllTheWatersTurnedToClouds · 15/07/2024 20:42

We had a quiet one - Mum mentioned it when she stayed, hadn't really noticed up till then.

We've got one now that doesn't purr. That seems even odder!

Pudmyboy · 15/07/2024 20:42

HelloCheekyCat · 15/07/2024 20:36

I’m pleased to know that our girl isn’t unusual, hopefully she’ll meow at some point!

Be careful what you wish for, you may get a squawk in your ear at 3am?
My late much-loved Pud would silently jump up on the back of the sofa and simultaneously meow into my ear, made me do a cartoon type jump so many times that I started to think he had taken life insurance out on me that depended on me having a heart attack!

Welldarn · 15/07/2024 20:44

Op rolling around and showing her belly like that normally means a kitty who feels safe and comfortable.

BloodyHellKenAgain · 15/07/2024 20:44

When we adopted our jumpy cat at 6 months she never meowed but as she's grown and settled she's become more vocal. She's 8 now and her meow is so loud I can hear her in the living room when I'm in bed upstairs 😂

StrangewaysHereWeCome · 15/07/2024 20:45

Our first cat was the strong, silent type. On the very, very rare occasions she meowed we'd all come running to see what on earth was going on.

When we got our two new cats I thought they must be distressed as they Did Not Shut Up. Turns out they're just extraordinarily chatty.

Original poster
HelloCheekyCat · 15/07/2024 21:59

@Pudmyboy ours is a silent ninja too, she really needs a bell so we can keep track of her 🤣

OP posts:
WildFlowerBees · 15/07/2024 22:03

One of ours purrs like a tractor, meows loudly the other quietly chuffs and isn't very vocal. Both happy and healthy.

MarmitePizza · 16/07/2024 20:10

My two cats (10 months) mainly meow to each other, not to us.

When we first hit them from the rescue we had to keep them in just one room for quite a long time. They never meowed at all. Then when we let them roam around the house suddenly one was upstairs meowing to the other one as they must have missed them!

They still mainly meow to each other now.