Why does My Cat sound like a helicopter

Cat language goes beyond the vocalizations that typically include hisses, growls, chattering, and meows. Nonverbal language such as tail talk offers many advantages over vocalizations. For example, sounds give away a cat’s location while posturing can’t be overheard. To many owners' surprise, feline communication is done in large part through a cat's ears, providing tons of useful information regarding a cat's mood or next course of action.

Inhaltsverzeichnis Show

Cat Sound #1: The Clickety Chirp
Cat Sound #2: The Friendly Trill
Cat Sound #3: The Bark
Cat Sound #4: The Bleat
Cat Sound #5: The “Mom”
Cat Sound #6: The Midnight Whine
Cat Sound #7: The Demonic Growl
Cat Sound #8: The Cartoon Scurry
Cat Sound #9: The Sleep Siren
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The silent semaphore language of cats is done via facial expressions and body positions and movements. A cat's eyes can show the inner feelings of the pet.

For example, cats that are content and happy tend to have eyes that are wide open or somewhat closed if they are very relaxed. Cats who are currently at ease may create eye contact and hold a gaze with their owner for a few moments. Cats that are either fearful or feeling aggressive will often have dilated pupils.

Luckily, owners can read a cat’s mood in additional forms of body language, such as by the simple way his or her cat holds their ears. Below are four different ways that cats express their feelings through their ears, from emotions like curiosity and uneasiness to agitation and fear.

Forward-facing ears express interest. This also serves to point the funnel-shaped pinna (external ear flap) toward interesting sounds, to gather as much information about the situation as possible. Owners may notice that even during cat naps, their kitty points those ears toward even the most subtle noises.

As a cat feels threatened or uneasy, ears turn toward the side. They look a bit like airplane wings jutting from each side of kitty’s head. This may help buffer any upsetting sounds. Sideways-facing ears also are more protected. Consider “airplane ears” to be an early warning to back off and stop whatever has prompted the cat to feel threatened.

Flickering ears may indicate rising agitation. The sideways-facing ears flutter or vibrate very quickly, in reaction to high arousal. If this persists it could also be a sign of a health problem. If the dog, person, other cat causing the arousal does not go away, the cat may progress to threat or attack.

Fearful or angry cats flatten ears tight to the head or position them backward. This keeps the ears out of the range of claws and teeth, in preparation for either fight or flight. Cats with slicked-back ears may attack if their assailant ignores the warning.

Ears are a kitty barometer that can help owners anticipate and avoid potential problems.

If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. For health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have examined your pet, know the pet's health history, and can make the best recommendations for your pet.

My cat is making this wierd helicopter noise, can someone tell me what this is? from Pets

Children’s books teach us that cats make one sound and one sound only: a polite meow. This isn’t true. As anyone who’s ever owned a cat knows, cat sounds transform and mutate far beyond basic cat meowing. Watch and listen to videos of nine of the more bizarre cat sounds out there. Plus some revelations about what those cat sounds really mean.

Cat Sound #1: The Clickety Chirp

This is one of those cat sounds that all cat parents know. Your cat posts up at the window, spies some birds frolicking outside and decides the best way to terrorize them is by broadcasting a sound that mixes mimicking the avian enemy — the chirp part — with a repetitious clicking noise. Apparently, no battle cat in history has yet to realize that the birds always seem completely unfazed by this form of attack.

Cat Sound #2: The Friendly Trill

I like to think of cat trilling — a shorter and shriller version of the standard meow — as one of the cat sounds that enthusiastically says, “Yes!” I’ve deduced this from my own feline, Mimosa, who lets out a series of trills every time I approach the spot on the kitchen counter where I keep her treats and toys. Unfortunately for Mims, the bag is next to the spice drawer, so her treat dreams are raised and then cruelly dashed every time I cook.

Cat Sound #3: The Bark

According to internet lore, there exist a few rare cases of cats appearing to make a noise like a dog’s bark. Science claims the noise is possibly due to the similarities between feline and canine larynxes, tracheas and other such biological things. But the real reason these cat sounds occur has more to do with the ego. If your cat is barking, he’s obviously casting shade on the primitive language of a dog.

Cat Sound #4: The Bleat

Ignore all that inter-species posturing above: When kittens bleat like baby goats it’s quite wonderful.

Cat Sound #5: The “Mom”

Also, zoology and biology be damned! If you gleefully refer to yourself as your cat’s mom or dad, the next step is teaching your cherubic little one to say your name — just like this “talking” tabby, Peanut.

Cat Sound #6: The Midnight Whine

I first came across the midnight whine while in an unfortunate roommate situation. The cohabiting human had two cats of the medically obese variety. Her solution was to use one of those automatic, timed feeding stations. Unfortunately, the contraption did not work — as in, no food was ever dispensed at night. Cue two previously quiet and polite felines howling and whining about their hunger pangs all through the witching hour. These cat sounds were truly the stuff of literal night terrors.

Cat Sound #7: The Demonic Growl

This is among the angry cat sounds out there! When your cat expels a guttural growl from the deepest depths of her stomach, you know something is seriously amiss with the world around her. Usually, that something is either your very presence or something you’ve forgotten to do, like, you know, not having offered up any treats for over two hours now. Never take your chances with cat sounds like these.

Cat Sound #8: The Cartoon Scurry

You know those cartoons where a character runs frantically on the spot for a few seconds to bowling ball sound effects before bombing off in a new direction? Yep, cats can do that, too. It usually happens during a play session or, say, when you mischievously flick a drop of water at her. The sound of a cat’s frantically scurrying claws on hardwood floors never fails to raise a smile.

Cat Sound #9: The Sleep Siren

It’s exhausting work being a cat, what with having to fit in 16 hours of sleep sessions and naps each and every day. Naturally, sometimes your blissful dreams about bathing in an oasis of wet food gravy become so vivid that you’re moved to get vocal. These cat sounds come across as slightly muted whines mixed with a few of those patented cat chirps.

Tell us: What are the strangest cat sounds in your opinion? What cat sounds would you love to see covered here?

Thumbnail: Photography by pshenina_m/Thinkstock.

This piece was originally published in 2017.

About the author

Phillip Mlynar spends his days writing about cats, hip-hop and craft beer, often while being pestered by his rescue, a mackerel tabby named Mimosa. When he’s not musing on the feline form for Catster, you can find his music articles at Pitchfork, Vice, Bandcamp and Red Bull Music Academy, and his beer insights over at CraftBeer, VinePair and October. He’s won various awards at the Cat Writer’s Association Communication Contests, some of which are proudly on display at his local dive bar in New York City. Twitter: twitter.com/phillip_mlynar

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Our technicians have helped repair and maintain millions of vehicles; this tradition of excellent service has earned us our reputation as the best brake service experts in the country.

One simple possibility is that you have a loose tire. While this is easy to fix, it can also be dangerous to ignore, so it’s a good idea to have a technician take a look as soon as possible. The reason this can cause your car to drive louder than usual is due to the changed and uneven motion of your tires against the surface of the road. Especially if you recently had your tires changed or rotated, this could be the cause behind your car sounding like a helicopter.

Proper tire inflation is also important for your car’s health. If your tire pressure is lower than it should be, it can cause extra noise. Not only that, but it also causes extra wear on your tires, meaning you may need to replace them sooner. Finally, if you just replaced your tires and started noticing your car driving louder than usual, it could be the new tires. Some tires drive louder than others because of their design.

A number of brake problems can cause a helicopter-like sound while driving, including a warped caliper or rotor, issues with the parking brake, or just a bad brake. You can do a visual check on your brakes yourself but it’s best left to a technician to diagnose a necessary brake repair. It’s also possible your wheel bearings are failing, causing extra noise while driving. If this is the case, the sound will get louder as you accelerate and you should make an appointment with your technician to have it repaired.

Your car’s wheel bearings are there to allow your wheels to spin with little friction. To work properly, most wheel bearings have seals that keep out water and debris and keep in grease to keep them operating well. When those seals break, your wheel bearings will fail and you’ll notice increased sound while driving. This can also cause uneven wear on your tires, so it’s best to have it taken care of soon.

Another common cause for your car sounding like a helicopter or airplane while driving is a leak in the exhaust system. Your exhaust system is meant to carry harmful fumes out of the engine, through a contained system, and away from your car. If a crack or leak develops in your exhaust system, it can cause extra noise while driving your car. Because it can be tricky to find leaks, it’s best to trust a technician with any necessary exhaust repairs.

Not only can exhaust leaks cause your car to run loud, but they can also pose a safety risk to you while driving. Exhaust fumes can be very harmful when regularly inhaled, so if you notice any strange smells in the cabin of your car alongside the extra noise, it could mean exhaust fumes are making their way inside. It’s important to have a trusted technician diagnose and carry out any necessary exhaust repair, especially if you notice strange smells.