What Causes Cats to Make a Clicking Noise?

Cats make clicking noises with their teeth when in the vicinity of potential prey, such as birds, squirrels or moving toys. This instinctive behavior is sometimes referred to as chattering and is seen in both domesticated cats and feral cats. While this sound is normal if made occasionally, if you observe your cat consistently clicking his teeth together, this could indicate a dental problem, which requires the attention of a veterinarian.

  1. Identification

    • When a cat views and hears prey at a distance that he cannot catch, such as through a window or on television, he pulls back his lips and his jaw begins to move, causing his teeth to click together at regular intervals. He may also add a high-pitched cry to the teeth chattering. This sound indicates the cat's excitement at seeing the prey and his frustration at not being able to catch it. The behavior is also in anticipation of making a bite to kill the prey, similar to drooling in dogs, according to Purina.

    Purpose

    • The chattering also may have a more practical purpose. Fabio Rohe, a researcher of the Wildlife Conservation Society, suspects that the clicking sound could be an imitation of the prey itself, according to Catster. By imitating the prey with clicks and squeak-like sounds, similar to a bird's or a rodent's, the cat may be trying to fool the prey into a false sense of security before he approaches it and strikes. The cat also gets a surge of adrenaline in the presence of prey, which contributes to the chattering of the teeth.

    Other Types of Clicking

    • If your cat makes a "clicking" sound when he walks, this can indicate a physical problem or deformity of his feet. A cat with a condition known as syndactyly has two of his toes on one or more of his feet fused together. When the cat walks on a solid surface, he will make a clicking noise due to the toe nails hitting the ground. Another condition called cutaneous horn formation can affect the bottom of a cat's feet, forming a crusty patch on the foot pad. This also causes a clicking sound when the cat walks on a hard floor.

    Considerations

    • Cat chatter during hunting or viewing of prey is normal, but if your cat chatters consistently, this could indicate a painful dental condition, such as odontoclastic resorptive lesions. This dental condition can cause pain and swelling along the gum line, leading to constant clashing of the teeth. Bring your cat to a veterinarian for examination of his mouth to look for signs of a dental condition causing pain. Foot conditions that cause clicking of the toenails should be looked at by a veterinarian to determine if the conditions are causing pain or if there is an underlying condition. Cutaneous horn formation of the feet can sometimes indicate feline cancer, feline leukemia or feline immunodeficiency virus, according to VetInfo.