Quote Originally Posted by Lucinda View Post
[Hmmm...this will be a challenge, to think of phonetic spellings for these sounds... ]

I adopted a rescued kitten a few months ago and, due to the quantity and volume of his purring, I named him Evinrude. He has the most unusual, adorable way of communicating. It sounds like he's saying "Brrrruuuuddt?" (with a Spanish-style rolling-R; the U's are as in 'cute'). I put the question mark on the end, because the pitch of the sound goes up, like when you ask a question. Sometimes he says several short ones, like "Brrdt-brrtt-bdtt?" Note: it is not the same "chatter" sound that I've heard cats make when they are watching birds.

He talks like this in all situations--
when directed at or responding to me,
when with his "brother" Foster [another cat],
when begging for snacks,
when he is asleep and something startles him awake, or
when he's just trotting down the hallway alone.

I've only heard Evinrude say a standard "meow" about twice in his life, and it was particularly pipsqueaky/babyish although he is about 10 months old now.

Does anyone else's cat talk like this? Does your cat say other unusual "words"?
I'm just so happy to find that my cat and all of his assorted sounds is perfectly normal. He makes a burrrrup sound whenever he sees me, whenever I wake him up, or if he is startled.

I really thought I was being original when I'm named my constantly -purring adopted kittens Evan and Rudy. At the very first vet check, they purred through every poke and shot, and the vet said " you should name them the motorboat twins! " Evinrude came to mind and has been a good fit for them as Evan and Rudy.

They just had their third birthday. Incidentally their mother was feral, and one was weaned when she showed up with them on our front door step. Apparently it was the last day of weaning for the other. We did put out some milk and food for her, and she sat in the Sun with them for about 6 hours, right by our front door. She would run away when we came out but she would come back to the kittens soon after. When we went to bed they were out there still. The next morning the kittens were there, but we never saw her again. We have since felt as though she chose us. And they have been the first cat's I have ever had as an adult.

I told that part of the story because I wanted you to know that neither cat meowed for the first year and a half. They were just quiet, as if they had not really been taught to meow. One is still that way, but I have taught Evan to meow when he wants to go outside. And he will on occasion when he is lonely.

I was always a dog person. But aren't cats wonderful creatures :-)!