# Why do my cats chitter at pigeons? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 13, 2016, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-cats-chitter-at-pigeons/748903 "2016-03-13T21:01:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2016, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-cats-chitter-at-pigeons/748903/1 "2016-03-13T21:01:03Z")
Recently, the Piper Cats have started making a new noise: they stare out the window and make a “chitter” noise. I finally clued in: they do it when they see pigeons on the roof of the house next door. i’ve never heard this noise from a cat before, and they just started doing it in the past couple of months. The pigeons have been there forever. Maybe my cats are just a bit slow in noticing them. But why this funny “chitter” noise? you’d think if they were hunting they’d be quiet? ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2016, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-cats-chitter-at-pigeons/748903/2 "2016-03-13T21:04:17Z")
I’ve always assumed it’s a “I want to kill them but I know I can’t” sound. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2016, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-cats-chitter-at-pigeons/748903/3 "2016-03-13T21:21:40Z")
Pretty sure most all cats make that noise. Every cat I’ve had has done it. Like most things catty, nobody seems to really know why they do it: anticipation, frustration, or even mimicking their prey. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2016, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-cats-chitter-at-pigeons/748903/4 "2016-03-13T21:27:28Z")
> [@P-man](#): > > I’ve always assumed it’s a “I want to kill them but I know I can’t” sound. Or a perv/eaves dropper muttering to themselves while watching the neighbor undress. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2016, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-cats-chitter-at-pigeons/748903/5 "2016-03-13T21:35:20Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Pretty sure most all cats make that noise. Every cat I’ve had has done it. Like most things catty, nobody seems to really know why they do it: anticipation, frustration, or even mimicking their prey. This is my understanding although a good argument can be made to support **P-man’s** statement. I figure as long as they chitter at the pigeons and not me, everything’s fine … ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2016, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-cats-chitter-at-pigeons/748903/6 "2016-03-13T22:15:36Z")
It’s called a [Flehmen Response](http://www.canidae.com/blog/2015/05/what-is-a-flehmen-response-in-cats.html). From the link: > [@](#): > > A cat will open his mouth when he smells something good to allow the scent to reach high into the roof of his mouth where a second scenting device is located. You see, there is a small sac located between the hard palate of a cat’s mouth and the septum of his nose called a Vomeronasal Organ or a Jacobson Organ. This specialized sac has a large blood supply, and it’s lined with olfactory receptor cells so it amplifies your cat’s sense of smell. It’s also connected to areas of the cat’s brain that is associated with sexual, social and feeding activities. Although the quote notes that cats do this in response to a scent, I’ve seen my cats do it at the window when they see birds in the back yard. (My cats chitter when they do it, too.) My guess is that since they can only see the bird, but not smell it as they normally would, they are trying to use their second scenting device to amplify the bird’s smell. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-cats-chitter-at-pigeons/748903/7 "2016-03-14T00:04:15Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > It’s called a [Flehmen Response](http://www.canidae.com/blog/2015/05/what-is-a-flehmen-response-in-cats.html). [Here is a video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66iN3vzM98U) of a cat chattering. [Here is one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1Z6Nz8FuPc) of the flehmen response. They’re two different things. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-cats-chitter-at-pigeons/748903/8 "2016-03-14T00:57:05Z")
I’ve always associated it with “want to hunt that”. Usually associated with butt wiggles. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-cats-chitter-at-pigeons/748903/9 "2016-03-14T04:32:12Z")
> [@P-man](#): > > I’ve always assumed it’s a “I want to kill them but I know I can’t” sound. > [@ddsun](#): > > I’ve always associated it with “want to hunt that”. Usually associated with butt wiggles. Either of these works. My cats usually did it while staring at flies that were too high up on the wall to reach. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-cats-chitter-at-pigeons/748903/10 "2016-03-14T04:42:23Z")
I recall reading somewhere (sorry, no cite) that an experienced actual hunter will not make a sound lest he/she alert the prey. The young and inexperienced ones make this sound in excitement and anticipation of biting down on the critter. The cat we had when I was growing up would make the chittering sound at bugs, too, except that sometimes she would actually catch one and eat it. She found the moths to be somewhat unpleasant. ---
**Author:** ![lilihob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a9adbd/32.png) [@lilihob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lilihob)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-cats-chitter-at-pigeons/748903/11 "2016-03-14T09:09:22Z")
My ex feral cat, who is “Hunter extraordinaire” has never made this sound in the 5 years he has lived with us. Our 11 year old pampered house puss, spends hours sitting in the window, chittering at the birds outside. No cite, but I think that it’s a kitten behaviour that the real hunters grow out of, (counter-productive), and house cats still do. ---
**Author:** ![Saro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Saro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saro)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-cats-chitter-at-pigeons/748903/12 "2016-03-14T16:51:26Z")
> [@MLS](#): > > I recall reading somewhere (sorry, no cite) that an experienced actual hunter will not make a sound lest he/she alert the prey. The young and inexperienced ones make this sound in excitement and anticipation of biting down on the critter. > > The cat we had when I was growing up would make the chittering sound at bugs, too, except that sometimes she would actually catch one and eat it. She found the moths to be somewhat unpleasant. Funny about the moths. One of my parent’s cats enjoys sitting outside the window on summer nights snacking on the moths attracted to the lights inside. Then again, he loves to eat… ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-cats-chitter-at-pigeons/748903/13 "2016-03-14T17:14:19Z")
> [@lilihob](#): > > No cite, but I think that it’s a kitten behaviour that the real hunters grow out of, (counter-productive), and house cats still do. That definitely makes sense. I can’t imagine making noise while stalking prey is actually helpful. My cats never grew out of it both because the window insulates sound and it doesn’t scare the laser pointer away. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-cats-chitter-at-pigeons/748903/14 "2016-03-14T17:14:19Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > [Here is a video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66iN3vzM98U) of a cat chattering. [Here is one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1Z6Nz8FuPc) of the flehmen response. They’re two different things. Yes, this. I’ve heard the “chittering” or “chattering” also called “gekking”. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-cats-chitter-at-pigeons/748903/15 "2016-03-14T17:28:43Z")
“Here, little birdie, birdie, birdie!” ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-cats-chitter-at-pigeons/748903/16 "2016-03-14T19:01:22Z")
I wonder if this behavior is being selectively bred into our house cats. It’s cute as anything and I can definitely see someone deciding to breed to this behavior. Cat kibble is about $10 a month so we don’t really need our cats to be able to feed themselves. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-cats-chitter-at-pigeons/748903/17 "2016-03-14T19:39:15Z")
> [@MLS](#): > > I recall reading somewhere (sorry, no cite) that an experienced actual hunter will not make a sound lest he/she alert the prey. The young and inexperienced ones make this sound in excitement and anticipation of biting down on the critter. > > The cat we had when I was growing up would make the chittering sound at bugs, too, except that sometimes she would actually catch one and eat it. She found the moths to be somewhat unpleasant. We have had cats who chittered at houseflies, inside. Usually they then went after the flies, whether they could catch them or not. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-cats-chitter-at-pigeons/748903/18 "2016-03-14T20:30:40Z")
Our cat will even make this noise when she sees, for example, the light reflected from my watch bouncing around on the walls or ceiling. It certainly seems to be a hunting instinct noise, indicating that she sees something that she wants to pursue. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-cats-chitter-at-pigeons/748903/19 "2016-03-14T21:35:36Z")
> [@lilihob](#): > > My ex feral cat, who is “Hunter extraordinaire” has never made this sound in the 5 years he has lived with us. Our 11 year old pampered house puss, spends hours sitting in the window, chittering at the birds outside. > No cite, but I think that it’s a kitten behaviour that the real hunters grow out of, (counter-productive), and house cats still do. Our present cat was a ‘barn’ cat and an outdoor cat until we got her. She does the chittering thing all the time. Perhaps it’s a frustration response, since she is no longer allowed to roam outside. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-cats-chitter-at-pigeons/748903/20 "2016-03-14T22:39:24Z")
No, no…you people have it all wrong. If you listen closely, they’re saying stuff like, _“Damn, why didn’t I buy that case of white wine when I had the chance? Where is that old copy of The Joy of Cooking-- a Béarnaise sauce would be great with this. I know there are some mushrooms in the fridge and some parsley in the neighbor’s yard.”_ Many years ago, my husband and I moved out to the country, and the third day we were out there, our heretofore Inside City Cat Buggs showed up at the back door with a dead quail in her mouth. She was pretty danged proud of herself, and I distinctly heard her say (muffled by the mouthful of feathers), _“I’ve got dinner! Time to break open that bottle y’all picked up last week!”_ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-cats-chitter-at-pigeons/748903.md?page=2)