How to talk to cats and become a cat translator

Since cats first entered our lives oh so many thousands of years ago, when they were adored by the ancient Egyptians and brought along as good luck on Viking voyages, we humans have pondered about how to talk to cats.

Yes, we’re here again, pet people, to ask all the big questions. Cat language is a literal minefield - they’re always trying to find new ways to test us and prove our devotion. Well, we’ve come up with a few tips and tricks on how to speak cats and learn more about the feline language.

Do cats like when you talk to them?

First off, do cats even like the sound of our voices? Although we’ll never really know for sure, we do know that if a cat doesn’t like something they’ll always find a way to tell us. They’re smart enough to understand that we use vocalizations to communicate human-to-human, which is part of the reason why cats meow at us, they’re joining in the conversation.

But, do cats like when you talk to them? If you’re doing so softly and affectionately in a quiet voice which they associate with strokes and snuggles, yes, they probably do like the sound of our voices. But there’s a time and place for everything, so maybe try to keep it down when they’re having their usual cat nap or window staring time.

How to speak cat

Understand basic cat-to-cat chat

Cat-to-cat communication is confusing even to the most experienced feline fanatics. Their funny little quirks differ from cat to kitty, to the point where multi-cat households can have polar opposite personalities living under the same roof. But a great way to begin to understand how to talk to cats is to know how they talk to each other.

A lot of cat communication is done through body language and scent. Yep, that’s right, we’re saying you need to act like a cat to talk to a cat. We don’t mean crawling on all fours and scratching at your furniture (but you’re welcome to try this out if you think it’ll help), we mean bringing yourself to eye level or beneath them, moving slowly, and talking softly. Make yourself seem as little a threat as possible and let them feel like they’re the ones in control.

Be conscious of eye contact and blinking

On the flip side, there are also different things cats do to communicate with us humans. A clear sign that the cat is comfortable or bonded with you is the slow blink. This is cat talk for ‘I feel totally safe around you, you’re one of us’. Copying the slow blink lets them know you feel the same.

A word of warning, however… If you’re meeting a kitty for the first time, particularly if they’re nervous, avoid staring at them or long periods of direct eye contact. In feline language, strong eye contact is seen as threatening, challenging behavior - they’ll use it to size each other up and intimate others. If you’ve ever been on the end of a kitty death stare, you’ll know how well this works.

A lot of cat talk is done through sniffing

As we mentioned, a lot of cattalk is done through scent. Introductions with any cat should begin with them sniffing your hand. This first security test helps them work out if you’re a friend or foe. Cats have an incredible sense of smell (almost as strong as a dog) so they’ll know if you’ve been befriending an enemy cat recently or if you’re all good.

It’s best to avoid strong-smelling perfumes, colognes, cleaning products, or anything that gives off an intense whiff. Keep smells as neutral as possible, unless you want to try smelling like a cat’s favorite dish, fish, but this probably won’t be a popular choice.

Inside voices are best in cat language

Cats also have amazing hearing with the ability to pick up a mouse squeak from 20 meters away. They can hear pitches we humans can’t and can move their ears 180 degrees individually. However, this means they are super sensitive to loud noises which can cause them severe stress. When beginning your cat conversation, be sure to use a calm and quiet voice, avoiding any sudden loud shouts, coughs, or sneezes.

Imitate their head bumps and nose rubs.

Now, be gentle! We don’t want to sound like we’re encouraging people to head bump their kitties too hard, that’s just not cool. What we mean is mimicking the soft snuzzle cats offer us with their noses or foreheads - a soft but firm brush, if you will! This is the cat language version of a handshake or friendly hug. To copy them, you can just use your hand to allow for multiple head and nose bumps, or come down to their level and gently touch your forehead to theirs. It’s the ultimate way to begin cat communication (and makes for a super cute picture, too).

Cat talk is on their terms

It’s a cat cliche, but there’s no smoke without fire, pet people. Cats are independent purr-babies who are happiest when they believe they’re calling the shots in life. This includes striking up a cat talk - you’re welcome to show your interest with some encouraging noises and a slow blink, but it’s ultimately in the cat’s paws. If they don’t approach you or even offer to sniff your hand, I’m afraid that friendship isn’t meant to be in that moment.

Cats are changeable, though, so if you know of a potential feline friend reset and try another day. Trust us, it’ll be worth it!

Gosh darn, we love cats, and so do our fabulous members! Head to our Community Forum to connect with other feline fanatics to share the love and cat-caring wisdom. Not a member yet? Well, check out our different membership plans to see which one suits your lifestyle best.