some do, some don't.. we have a very chatty cat, a not-so-chatty, one
that grunts and another that squeaks... take your pick.

I think your cat is chirruping (sort of a "mrr?" and a purr at the same
time) which is how alot of cats respond.

that was really difficult to read, eh... no idea, all mine have been
around each other for a bit.  Falling back on one of the standard pieces
of propoganda in this group (which is also true); two cats are easier to
take care of than one (works up to about 4-5 cats at which point you
have to start being really organized).

pat

be glad<G>~~!!! some cats mew loud and almost constantly. It can become
nerve racking. I've never had one like that but I know people who have.
My newest baby, Lucky, (I call him 'Little Boy') is now about 9 months
old and has never done a lot of meowing, just little hmphs and
sometimes very light little conversational noises. He has a very strong
purr, makes him feel like a little electric motor.
Ms Kitty, who is about 18 yrs old, never meows unless she is really in
stress and then just quietly. I think she is just too fat and lazy to
put out the effort <G> I got her ( just short of a feral) when she was
about 12 yrs old, and she has never been very vocal. Both are in good
health.
so, don't worry...be happy~
--Lee/leo

I don't think so, our little one hardly ever meows, and if so, it's very
hoarse, but the older one is a real yap-bag.
I'd rather have too little voice than too much, because all the meowing can
be annoying too.

Carola

I agree with others, some cats are loud some are almost silent.

I read somewhere that cos of cats extremely intense sense of hearing, cats
don;t really need to speak on our frequency-its too loud for them! They
probably think we are deaf or something :) The only reason apparently they
take up to meowing is because of us, humans, cos they soon realise  we
always fall for it, and its  gets us to do something: feed them, open doors
etc. But if you listen to cats when there are no humans around(or they think
there aren;t), they barely communicate in sound, unless they are about to
mate,or fight, or are in some pain. Day to day communication is either done
on frequency we cannot hear, or simply by gesticulation, and physical
display of their bodies.

I adore the posture they make when they are about to playfight, when they
curve their body in letter C looking posture,ears high up and standing tall,
keeping eye contact firmly, then start heading towards the other cat in
hopping motion, as to keep the C going :) They look like that French cartoon
skunk who fell in love with a cat, and kept chasing it in a gentle hopping
motion :)

My sweet, sweet calico does not talk. They only time she meows is when she
is in EXTREME stress (such as a trip to the vet); otherwise, never a word.
She will sometimes look at you and mouth a meow, which only produces a small
clicking noise.
Now my maine coon, talks no stop (as long as he is awake and not being fed
or petted).