Why Do Cats Make Hunting Sounds?

Owners of indoor cats sometimes report that their cats make strange noises when they see nearby birds or squirrels through windows. Cats are known to make gnashing sounds with their teeth or to chatter at their prey. This behavior is mostly a mystery to cat owners, but some theories help explain why cats make hunting sounds.

  1. Mimicking Catching Prey

    • One theory proposes that cats click their teeth together when they see prey nearby to mimic the action of actually catching something. Cat owners report instances of cats gnashing their teeth together when birds fly close to the window they are sitting in. The teeth-clicking sound cats make is sometimes accompanied by fast twists of the neck to mimic breaking the bones of their prey.

    Calling to Prey

    • Some cats make chattering noises that bear a resemblance to bird calls. This leads people to believe that cats could be trying to lure birds in as prey by mimicking the sounds of other birds to bring them closer. The cat will sit at a window and watch nearby birds, then make a series of short chirping noises.

    Frustration

    • Another theory as to why cats make hunting sounds is that this is how they express their frustration at not being able to catch anything. Most cat owners who say that their cat makes hunting noises have indoor cats that watch birds and squirrels from inside, suggesting that this behavior occurs only in cats that don't go outside.

    Expressing Excitement

    • Alternatively, cats that make chattering noises when they watch birds outside may be signaling excitement to themselves or their owner. Some cats wildly chirp and chatter when they see birds or squirrels close by and then run to other windows or to their owners, as if to alert them to the prey outside.