Nova Zhang
Cats are known for their various vocalizations, including meows, purrs, hisses, and growls, which they use to communicate their emotional states. While cats primarily use body language and sounds like meows to communicate, humans often try to call cats using specific sounds. On social media, pspsps has become a popular way to indicate calling a cat, although it is not a common expression in English. People also make kissing sounds, clicking noises, or simply call out kitty, kitty, kitty. Cats themselves make a range of sounds, from trills and purrs to express contentment, to caterwauling, a long, loud whine that female cats in heat use to signal to tomcats.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Onomatopoeia | Meow, purr, hiss, growl, trill, yowl, chirrup, chatter |
| Spelling | pspsps, tsk tsk, puss puss puss |
| Other | kitty kitty kitty, come kitty kitty |
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What You'll Learn
Pspsps and other kissing sounds
Cats are wired to notice odd, high-frequency noises. The sound "pspsps" operates at a frequency much higher than most speech sounds, and cats are especially sensitive to it. It is likely that "pspsps" is an abridged version of the phrase "Here, pussy, pussy, pussy", with only the important sounds preserved. The Western swing band The Light Crust Doughboys helped popularize it with their 1938 jukebox hit “Pussy, Pussy, Pussy,” a song about a girl trying to find her lost cat.
"Pspsps" originated from an internet meme a few years ago and is not a common expression in English. Very few people will be aware of what this means. People may make a noise like this to attract a cat, but it hasn't developed into a recognized word like "psst", "ahem", or "cooey".
Cats often respond to high-pitched noises like whistling, kissing sounds, or clicking tongues. These sounds resemble the frequencies used by small prey and stand out from everyday human speech. Cats might walk away mid-cuddle or refuse to come when called—unless you say "pspsps". It is a silly sound, but cat owners swear by it.
People do call their animals with all kinds of sounds, especially kissing sounds or tapping/clicking. Some people might use dental click sounds (written as "tsk tsk") to call their cats. This is more cultural than language-based.
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Tsk tsk or dental clicks
To make the sound, you articulate with the tip of your tongue against your upper teeth or the alveolar ridge. The tongue then releases sharply, drawing air inwards, creating a "tsk" sound. This is also known as a palatal click.
In English, "tsk-tsk" or "tut-tut" is often used to express disapproval or pity and is sometimes used to call a cat or other animal. The sound is also used in other languages, such as German, Hungarian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and French, often to express similar sentiments of commiseration, disapproval, or irritation.
Some people use the "tsk" sound to call cats they don't own, while others may use kiss noises or a psst sound. For cats that you own, calling them by name or whistling is more common.
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Kitty kitty kitty
"Kitty kitty kitty" is one of the many ways to call a cat. Cats are known for their meows, purrs, hisses, and growls, and they use these sounds to communicate their emotional state. The tone and context of a meow can vary depending on the cat and what they want. For example, a high-pitched meow may indicate excitement, while a short and demanding meow could be a sign of frustration.
While "kitty kitty kitty" is a common way to call a cat, some people also use ""pspsps," which may have originated from "puss, puss, puss," a cutesy word for a cat. This sound is often used on social media to indicate calling a pet, especially a cat, and has spawned many memes and jokes. However, it is not a common expression in English, and only a few people may be aware of its meaning.
Another way to call a cat is by making a dental click sound, sometimes written as "tsk tsk." This method is more cultural than language-based and may be more recognizable to cats than "pspsps."
In addition to "kitty kitty kitty," some people also use "come kitty kitty" to call their feline friends. Cats also respond to sounds that mimic their own, such as meows and kitten sounds, as heard on meow soundboards available on the App Store. These sounds can attract adult cats and even elicit specific reactions, such as curiosity or fear, depending on the type of meow played.
Overall, "kitty kitty kitty" is just one of the many ways to call a cat, and different cats may respond better to certain sounds or methods based on their individual preferences and associations.
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Trills, purrs, and yowls
Trilling is a joyous, sweet sound, akin to a tinkling sound, often used between cats. It is one of the sweetest sounds a cat can make, indicating happiness. Trills are produced with a soft voice and sound like a purr but with a higher pitch. They are similar to chirrups, which are relatively quiet even if the cat feels excited. Adult cats chirrup to get attention and to let other cats or people know their location.
Purring is often associated with a cat in a state of contentment, but cats also purr when they are in pain or distress. This duality makes understanding the context of purring important. A happy and content purr as your cat lounges on your lap is different from a low, continuous purr from a visibly unwell or injured cat. Purring can also occur when your cat is agitated over something. The key to discerning this "worry purr" is body posture; if your cat's ears are back and its body seems tense, the purr denotes concern. The low-frequency sound waves produced during purring are believed to promote bone and tissue growth and lessen pain and swelling.
Yowling is a longer, more drawn-out moan that indicates worry, discomfort, territorial concern, or mating issues. Yowling is often used for cat-to-cat communication. Unneutered cats may yowl as part of mating behaviour. A caterwaul is a unique, long, hollow kind of yowl produced by an unspayed female cat in heat. Yowling can also occur when a cat is bored, ill, or unhappy with changes in its environment. Yowling and howling are signs that a cat is in distress, whether physical or emotional. Elderly cats may yowl if they suffer from cognitive dysfunction syndrome or dementia.
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Meows, hisses, and growls
Cats are well-known for their meows, purrs, hisses, and growls. They use these sounds to communicate their emotional state of mind. The type of meow can vary—a high-pitched meow, a short and sweet mew, several meows in a row, or long and demanding. Meowing is an all-purpose cat sound. Cats meow to express excitement or frustration.
Hissing is a normal way for cats to express fear. Cats hiss at each other and at people when they feel threatened or to protect their territory. A hiss can also be an expression of discomfort, stress, or pain. It is a defensive sound, and unlike other vocalizations, it is involuntary. If a cat hisses at you, it means they need space. A cat's hiss can range from a silent, open-mouth hiss to an aggressive hiss with full-on spitting.
Growling is more serious than hissing. Cats growl with their mouths closed or slightly ajar. It is low-pitched and rumbling and is used to signal danger or to scare off an aggressor.
Cats also make other sounds like chirps, trills, chirrups, chattering, purring, and yowling.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several sounds that you can use to call a cat, including "pspsps", which is thought to come from "puss, puss, puss." This sound is often used on social media to indicate that someone is calling their cat.
Yes, cats use a variety of sounds to communicate different things. For example, a meow can express excitement or frustration, while a purr usually indicates contentment and happiness.
In addition to meows and purrs, cats also trill and yowl. A less common sound is the caterwaul, which is a long, loud whine that female cats in heat use to signal to male cats that they are ready to mate.
Yes, cats have been observed reacting to recorded cat sounds played from apps or soundboards. For example, one person reported that their cats reacted to newborn kitten sounds by looking everywhere for the kittens. Another person's cat reacted to an angry cat sound by getting scared and hiding under their legs.
