Cat doesn’t meow

[HelloCheekyCat]

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?!

My then seven year old rescue never miaowed and I was as puzzled as you as I thought all cats did. He is now eleven and has learned to miaow at the window/door to be let in or to miaow if he smells chicken or tuna and wants to be given some. He was stray before and I guess he just hadn't learned it was a tool for human manipulation before.

Omg OP your cat is totally gorgeous, my first cat was a black and white. Just wanted to say that! The not miaowing is common, one of mine now old and grumpy has become very vocal with age. So it can change. And yes they do it to communicate with us, cats use body language with each other but they realised humans are too dumb to use that so they have made up a way to deal with us idiots.

One of mine was silent for years, you could see her mouth moving, but no sound. She graduated to quacking, then she found her voice, when I got a very vocal cat.

My two (siblings aged five) never miaow, either to each other or to me. They don’t even prrp - it’s the first time in 40+ years of cat owning that I’ve ever come across silent cats. I know they have voices, because they complain loudly on the way to the vet!

Weirdly, however, they will speak to visitors. It’s very rare because they are both so shy that they hardly ever come into the house if anyone is here. But if they are feeling brave enough, they will miaow at my guests.

I’ve given up trying to understand!

When she chirps, try making the same noise back to her.

I read that if they think you are another cat that they don't miaow (cats don't miaow to each other mostly). But if they think you are a non cat they will humour you by miaowing 😂😬

Not sure how true it is though.

We had 2 (lost one recently 🥲). The older one miaowed at us. The other just the odd squeak. Now the younger one is the solo cat she miaows occasionally, but still not vocal

I had a friend once with sibling cats. One miaowed, the other opened its mouth but made no sound. She took it to the vet to get it checked and it started making a miaowing noise in the cart carrier. All fine. Gets it home and it starts silent miaowing again 😂😂😂 an expensive, futile vet trip 😂😂

We have two rescues. Their beginnings were traumatic.

One chirrups at feeding time but purrs quite loudly. The other didn't miaow until she was about 14 months. She still miaiws and purrs v quietly. She was v v anxious to begin with, possibly semi feral. I am convinced she had the cat equivalent of PTSD. She's much calmer now and seeks company and affection.

My little rescue chirps if her dinner looks good ie salmon or chicken 🙄 otherwise only meows when she wants something and then she can be very loud. She might purr if she’s being fussed.

shes 2 and until she was about 18 months she was silent, we had her at about 4 weeks (daughter a veterinary nurse ) with serious face / jaw injuries and I was worried it had effected her vocal cords, but at 2am she can proof that wrong !

Our newish addition purrs loudly and wails in the car but the rest of the time occasionally makes a squeaking noise. Every so often we look at each other and ask if anyone just heard the cat.

Totally! I nicknamed my cat squeaky as she just made this odd little sound - she lived to 23 so had a long life and seemed perfectly content.
I have two cats now - a very vocal male (who chirps as much as meows) and a female with a much quieter little questioning meow.

Neither of mine are particularly talkative, but one of them has an extraordinary vocal range, from chirrups to squawks to a full-out roar (the latter only if spotting an unwelcome NotMyCat passing by outside). The other chirrups and squeaks for the most part, but does let out a little mew when her food is being served if she's feeling particularly peckish - oh, and an odd little warble the other day when some birds were making whoopee in the back garden. No 1 cat purrs very loudly, no 2 can just about be felt purring but never heard. Oh, and when we hadn't had them long and they were being introduced to new rooms in the house, Cat 2 followed DS around going "hmm, hmm" as if inspecting the premises.

p.s. Cat 1 is a stout tuxedo who looks very like yours.

I should have added that one of my (otherwise nonvocal) cats huffs. I’ve never come across this before in a cat.

It’s very occasional, but if I tell him off he emits a sort of cough. There is no doubt that it’s a sign of displeasure and general irritation with my attitude. It’s the sort of noise a grumpy old man would make on reading the news!

Mine has a very quiet miaow but she does talk to me, particularly when we’re outside in the garden and she wants a tummy rub. She also miaows when her food is coming towards her.