I have imitated animal voices since childhood. A respectable meow will get most cats to reply, and roof, rrrroof, will make most dogs pay attention. Even an uuuuuuummmmmmmmmuh! will get cows to check you out and reply. I do cardinals and mockingbirds too, they will respond with their territorial songs.

The first books I checked out of a public library were Dr.Doolittle books, about the veterinarian who could speak and understand animal languages. In the books they really spoke English; I don't believe that is the case but do believe we could learn to communicate better with other species than we do as humans.

I believe there is some kind of inter-species telepathy with our pets. They read us and the other pets in the home, at least on an emotional level. And my wife says Jojo goes to the door and acts as though she is expecting me when I start driving home from work 30 miles away.