My Cat Makes Noise With Its Teeth When It Sees Prey, Why?

It is true that animals have many similarities with us. However, it is equally true that they have many attitudes that have nothing to do with ours and that make it more difficult for us to fully understand them. If you have ever wondered why your cat makes a noise with its teeth when it sees prey, in this article you will find the answer.

In fact, scholars have seen this attitude as an opportunity for research. In this article, therefore, we talk about the conclusions they reached. What is the reason why cats make noise with their teeth in the presence of a prey?

The reasons why a cat makes noise with its teeth when it sees prey

When he sees possible prey

When a cat spots possible prey, its teeth chatter. He does this in the presence of a bird, but also of a mouse or an insect, in short, of any animal that can attract his attention and that he would like to eat.

One way to know if this sound is related to this fact is to observe the body language of your pet. When a cat sees something that attracts it, it moves its tail from side to side and keeps its sight fixed on its future prey.

Observe your cat, because if you also have a bird in the house, many problems could arise. 

Preparation for hunting

Cats also make noise with their teeth when preparing to hunt. According to scholars, this sound is produced following a feeling of frustration generated by the inability to reach the prey in front of them.

Sometimes they get so excited by having spotted a new prey that their own excitement paralyzes them and prevents them from hunting it. This sound like anger towards themselves, therefore, serves them to let off steam.

Hunting training?

The theories on the causes and functions of this sound are varied. Some of them claim that the cat produces this sound instinctively, as if it wanted to reflect the bite in the neck that it uses as a hunting technique.    

It is as if he is warming his jaw and preparing his teeth for that purpose.

For a cat, it is extremely important to kill its prey as soon as it grabs it, as the latter will certainly try to escape and could injure the feline. Repeating this gesture, therefore, can be a way to train and not fail in its goal.

In addition to training, therefore, it serves as a guarantee and defense in case he should hunt something.

Imitation

A new theory on this gesture is that cats try to imitate the sun of their prey to attract them more easily.

A team of researchers came to this conclusion thanks to some tests carried out on primates from the Amazon and some wild felines.

The primates produced a very distinctive sound. It was a strange way of communicating with each other. When the cats saw them approach, they made a sound almost identical to that of monkeys with their teeth. 

The scholars, therefore, have declared that: “cats are known for their physical agility, but this ability to manipulate vocals indicates that their psychological ingenuity is also incredible”.

It certainly cannot be said that cats stop surprising us and, although mysterious beings still appear to us, we know them better and better.  

Knowing the why of their attitudes or their body language helps us understand them and strengthen our bond with them. Remember that reading and learning about cats or seeing them firsthand will be duly rewarded.

The cat is a mysterious animal and perhaps it is difficult to live with; but it would certainly be easier if we tried to get to know him a little better. Never underestimate the importance of observation and reading on cats, they can help you meet their needs, understand them better and enjoy a better coexistence.