Does your cat whir?

[happylabs]

Sometimes when my cats get to running around the house they make a sound that I call whirring. They are running and talking at the same time...whirrrrr. I love it! They don't all do it and they don't always do it when they are running but this morning for some reason there was a lot of whirring going on. I did note there were quite a few bunnies and birds in my yard. I have a lot of windows and a whole acre of land so I suspect the cats were trying to keep up on it all.

[aTailOf2Kitties]

Havoc does that quite a bit. That's how I know it's him and not Toby. Havoc is the chattier of the 2 anyway.

[Sundance]

I know exactly the sound you mean Our Billy whirrs when he gets excited about something or when he hears me at the kitchen counter rattling the cats' dishes as I dish out cat food. He whirrrrrs and I whirrrrr back at him. It's really cute

[Cataholic]

Laughing as I read your post and type this. Allie whirs, and I think she is the only one out of 8 that do it. She always gets so wound up, runs through the house, 'climbs' the door frame, whirring as she goes.

Then, I have the chirper. Gus chirps or meoups all the time. As I go to pet him, as I hold him....this little sound that only he makes. Adorable.

[Randi]

Whir... I love that word! It must be joy to listen to. I wouldn't say Fister whir's, he rather chirps and that is so sweet! Funny how many different sounds they have.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Pearl is almost always making some kind of noise. She is a Siamese mix so this is normal. When she jumps down from something or up towards something she'll make a little chirp noise. When she's running down the hall or just running in general she'll really make some very loud noises but it doesn't really sound like whirring or even meowing. It's more like singing to me. She'll go "Bobupbup". Her tail will also become fluffed up because she's so excited and happy.

My RB Sunny would also talk a lot and he would make the whirring noise that you're talking about. I sure do miss him. The rest of my gang don't seem to make noise when running but Ziggy will chatter when she sees something interesting outside.

[happylabs]

Okay, good! So, everyone can relate then. It really is just the happiest sound ever. Mama cat was talking to a bug this morning when I got up. I came into the room and I heard her and I thought she was talking to me but then I looked over and she was staring at the wall.

[cassiesmom]

Cassie doesn't whir. She has a funny little sound she makes without even opening her mouth, like "Mmm!" or "Mmm?" It means everything from "Just wanted to let you know I'm here so you'll watch where you step" to "Could you open that window for me?" She's got another sound, "murp" that's more of a demand: Murp! I want a treat! Murp! Share the milk from your cereal bowl with me! Murp! If that's tuna salad you're making, I'd like some tuna NOW.

[Cinder & Smoke]

Ole Boots, da Kat, was an avid Burd Watcher - and "Caller".

He'd set up shop on a window sill and "call out" to the assembled flock as
they pecked their way through the yard. The sound level and frequency
of the "chirrrrps" and "chatters" gave an indication of just how excited he
was at a given moment.

He wasn't at all fond of the Canadian Geese who stopped by the pond ...
One phine day the sliding glass door was open allowing Boots and Ciinder to
lounge up against the screen and gaze out the back door. A few Geese landed and
a brave one marched up the hill towards the house. He rounded a bush and
I swear he would have mached up the steps and into the house if it weren't for the screen door

Boots & Cinder both *panicked* ... Cinder dashed out into the hall and barked her
fool head off ... Booots *puffed* his tail and retreated into the safety of
the Fallin Wadder Klozit (bath/shower) and wasn't seen for hours.

[bowlkat]

I've had many cats who whirred or trilled- but we recently finally caught a very smart feral momma-cat named Sophie, after catching three litters-ful of her kittens without being able to get her- and ALL of her family members do that, to an amazing degree- it's like a special language she and her children have all to themselves, when it's mealtime it sounds like a roomful of PIGEONS or something here! But it's a very happy sound, and they do make it a lot when they're getting ready for a good treat or at mealtime or when they're charging around the house at Mach 2 in the middle of the night- it's a very pleased, contented kind of sound and I'm glad they make it-

[Pinot's Mom]

I've always called them 'chirrups', but whir is good, too!

Pinot chirrups at the birds & bugs especially, and makes a large variety of noises depending on her mood and task at hand. She is VERY vocal and I would not have it any other way. I talk to her all the time and I'm sure she understands!

[happylabs]

I've had many cats who whirred or trilled- but we recently finally caught a very smart feral momma-cat named Sophie, after catching three litters-ful of her kittens without being able to get her- and ALL of her family members do that, to an amazing degree- it's like a special language she and her children have all to themselves, when it's mealtime it sounds like a roomful of PIGEONS or something here! But it's a very happy sound, and they do make it a lot when they're getting ready for a good treat or at mealtime or when they're charging around the house at Mach 2 in the middle of the night- it's a very pleased, contented kind of sound and I'm glad they make it-

It really is a happy sound. I had a litter of kittens at my house a few years back and my brother adopted one, Max. My brother is actually the one that came up with the term whirr for Max.

I am glad I started this topic. I love hearing what everyone else's cats do and sound like.

[Freedom]

I read this thread yesterday and thought it over. I DO have a cat or 2 that whirs -- I just can't remember which ones!

Mine do it when they are obviously on a mission - not at a full gallop, but a very quick walk. I've never seen them start or stop a whir; they are always just passing through the room I am in on the way from one place to another. Yes it is a happy sound!

It reminds me of the friction cars my brother had as a boy. You hold the car on the ground, roll it backwards to "wind" it up, then release, and off it goes.

Oh, and when mine do the whir, they are not interested in a quiet walk either. More like stomping he hee.

[DriftyAlison0]

Alison is a big time whirler. I love it when she does it.

[happylabs]

I read this thread yesterday and thought it over. I DO have a cat or 2 that whirs -- I just can't remember which ones!

Mine do it when they are obviously on a mission - not at a full gallop, but a very quick walk. I've never seen them start or stop a whir; they are always just passing through the room I am in on the way from one place to another. Yes it is a happy sound!

It reminds me of the friction cars my brother had as a boy. You hold the car on the ground, roll it backwards to "wind" it up, then release, and off it goes.

Oh, and when mine do the whir, they are not interested in a quiet walk either. More like stomping he hee.

Yes! That is exactly what happens. Definitely on a "mission" when they whirrr by.