Strange Cat Behaviors: Why Do Cats Trill?

Have you ever been on the receiving end of your cat trilling at you? A trill is best described as a soft meow and a purr. So, why exactly do cats trill?

Cats trill because they are happy or they want affection. When kittens are very young, their mother will trill at them to get their attention and encourage them to follow her. Unlike a meow or a purr, trills are typically always positive and expressed as contentment. 

Since a trill is a happy, joyful sound, it is music to a cat lover’s ears. If you need to understand the reasons why felines trill, check out this article.

What is a Cat Trill?

A trill is an adorable, endearing sound made by cats for various reasons. Unlike a meow that could be done for negative or positive reasons, a cat usually makes a trill for positive reasons only. A trill sounds like a combination of a meow and a purr. It is often done to express contentment with a person, a situation, or a feeling.

The trilling sound is made through a closed mouth, like a purr. It is a soft, melodic, relatively short chirpy noise that sounds slightly high-pitched. Instead of releasing air, the air is taken in through the vocal cords. If your cherished feline trills at you, it likely means you are doing something right. You could be making them feel good physically with touch, or they may trill just because they love you.

Why Do Felines Trill?

There are explanations why your feline may be a “serial triller!” Trilling is one of the many vocalizations a cat makes, and it is usually an emotional expression of contentment. The following include some of the explanations why your cat trills:

It is a Gentle Plea for Your Heart

Not that your sweet kitty would need to beg for your affection, but if your cat trills at you, they may want attention or touch. If your cat’s trilling is accompanied by specific body language, like head butting or rubbing against your leg, it is a sure sign they want your affection.

Cats know what they are doing when they want affection, and they know how to turn on the charm. You can look at trilling as your cat’s way of “flirting” with you to get your attention and affection!

Mother Cats Trilling at Kittens

According to the Humane Society, cat trilling is how mother cats sometimes get the attention of their youngsters. Kittens often mimic the sound of their mother to get attention. When kittens are very young, their mother cat may trill at them to get them to follow her. If you have two or more cats, you might hear them trill at each other to communicate that they want one of them to follow the other.

It is a Cheerful Greeting

If you just came home from work and your kitty has not seen you in hours, they may trill happily at the very sight of you. They express that they love you and are happy you are home. This activity is especially true if they display any body language mentioned above. Cats may also greet each other with a friendly trill.

It is a General Form of Communication

Some cats are naturally more chatty than others; they make their feelings known at any given time and are not shy about it. If your cat sits beside you on the couch in dreamland, they may shoot you a quick but loving trill. This means they are happy and peaceful; you should take it as a sign that you are a good cat parent. Try giving them a “trill” back to them and see what happens!

They Are Looking for Food

Now and again, cats use their precious trilling noise to coax you to give them something that will be yummy in their tummy. They may also trill with sheer delight whenever you get the treats out to give to them.

You can safely assume your cat is hungry if they are rubbing up against your legs while you are preparing food. They may also use trilling as a way to get you to cave. If it is not mealtime, try to be strong so your cat does not associate the kitchen with getting food whenever they want!

How Are Meowing and Purring Different from Trilling?

A trill may sound like a combination of a meow and a purr, but trills have their special meaning. Meows and purrs can be positive or negative depending on the circumstances, but trills are usually always positive. You know how to differentiate the two by paying attention to body expression and tone. The following is a brief look at meows and purrs compared to trills:

Meowing

In the wild, only young felines meow to communicate with their mothers. However, as a cat gets older, the meowing stops because there are no humans in the wild to have conversations with them. The meow has various meanings in domestic cats, but it is always used exclusively to communicate with their humans.

For felines, the meow, like with trilling, can be a salutation or a wish for attention. It might be that your feline wants a snack or meal. Cats know how to modify their meows according to their needs. Sometimes a meow can signify distress in a cat, such as if they are feeling ill or lonely. While trilling can indicate hunger, it is unheard of for trilling to be linked with anguish or loneliness.

Purring

Purring is usually associated with a cat’s feeling of pleasure and contentment. Purring is the sound you often hear when they are relaxed and enjoying being petted or stroked. If there were a universal sound for peace, it would be the cat’s purr. When a cat purrs, they are often in a state of serenity and satisfaction, which can also be linked with the trill.

However, the purr, unlike the trill, can also be your cat’s way of comforting themselves if they feel anxious or in pain. It is the equivalent of a human child sucking their thumb. Purring can be a way to self-soothe in cats. It has been observed that cats have laid beside each other and purred when one of them is injured, a behavior referred to by cat experts as “purr therapy.”

Conclusion

Cats trill when they are happy or want attention, which is an exciting vocalization. A trill is usually done when a cat feels good or wants affection, and it is a positive declaration. If you have a cat that trills, you are fortunate and very much loved by your feline companion.

For pets in the North Jersey region, Pet Check Urgent Care has locations in Sewell, NJ and Deptford, NJ. Visit us online to learn more!