You might expect your cat to chatter when they’re excited about eating or chasing a toy. However, chattering usually requires their hunting or prey drive to kick in.
The margay’s chattering lures their prey, usually a tamarin monkey, to them. The tamarin thinks the cat is one of them, only for the margay to pounce and catch their dinner.
Dilated pupils, a flicking tail, and flattened ears are all signs your cat is anxious or angry. Getting your cat to chase a toy is fun, but don’t tease them for too long by keeping the toy out of their reach. Toys like feather wands, laser pointers, and catnip mice are great ways for your cat to feel like they’re hunting. Puzzle feeders can also help your cat work out their energy and stimulate their mind.
While less common, your cat might chatter at you when you’re playing with a toy that could look like prey, such as a mouse. If you’re keeping it away from them, they might chatter in excitement about hunting it down.
Your cat might chirp at you though! They might want you to follow them to their food bowl or help them find their favorite toy. Cats might also chirp at each other when there’s something one of them wants.
Chattering is actually voiceless unlike chirping, meaning your cat doesn’t use their vocal cords to make this noise.
