The Maine Coon Chirp: Why They Don’t Meow Like Normal Cats#

The first time I heard a Maine Coon vocalize, I was confused. I was looking at a massive, 18-pound tomcat named Barnaby. I expected a roar. I expected a deep, guttural yowl.

Instead, he looked me dead in the eye, opened his mouth, and said: “Brrrp?”

It sounded like a pigeon trying to ask a question.

Maine Coons are famous for many things—their size, their ear tufts, their tails—but their voice is perhaps their most charming contradiction. They do not speak “Cat.” They speak “Bird.”

If you are new to the breed, or just wondering why your cat sounds like a broken ringtone, here is the dictionary of Maine Coon noises.

1. The Trill (The “Brrrp”)#

This is the standard Maine Coon greeting. It is a rolling, ascending sound that is half-purr, half-meow. It is technically a sound mother cats use to tell kittens to follow them.

What it means:

“Hello!”
“Follow me to the food bowl.”
“Look at this toy I killed for you.”

Maine Coons treat their humans like kittens. When they trill at you and walk away, they expect you to follow. If you don’t, they will often come back, head-butt your shin, and trill louder.

2. The Chirp (The “Ek-Ek-Ek”)#

This is the sound of frustration and excitement. You will usually hear this when they are sitting in a window, watching a squirrel they cannot murder.

The Science: Experts believe this “chattering” is actually the cat attempting to mimic the jaw movements of the “kill bite” (severing the spinal cord). It is instinct taking over. It sounds cute, but it is actually a simulation of violence.

3. The Silent Meow#

Maine Coons have a surprisingly quiet voice for their lung capacity. Often, they will open their mouth to meow, but only a tiny squeak (or nothing at all) comes out.

Why? Some behaviorists believe this is because they are so confident. A loud yowl is often a distress signal or a territorial threat. Maine Coons, being the “gentle giants,” rarely feel the need to scream. They know you’re listening.

4. The Yowl (The Warning)#

If you do hear a loud, long yowl from a Maine Coon, run. Because they are so quiet normally, a yowl means something is wrong.

Pain: Injury or illness.
Loneliness: Separation anxiety (see our Anxiety Guide).
Dementia: The senior night howl (see our Dementia Guide).

Conclusion#

Living with a Maine Coon is like living with a very large, furry Tribble. Their house is not filled with meows, but with a constant soundtrack of brrrps, chirps, and squeaks. It is their way of keeping a running commentary on their day, and it is absolutely delightful.

References#

Yeon, S.C. (2011). “Vocal communication of domestic cats.” Journal of Veterinary Behavior.
Nicastro, N. (2004). “Perceptual and acoustic evidence for species-level differences in meow vocalizations.”
TheCatSite Behavior Forum. Breed-Specific Vocalization Threads.