Why do cats respond to the smacking lips/tongue sound?

[Gizmo j]

Every cat i ever had and even stray cats seem to automatically just know your trying to communicate with them if you smack your lips/tongue why do they do this when they don't even make any sounds remotely like this?

 

[FalangaMKD]

Indeed, that's a nice thought. I have always wondered the same.
I guess it's the high frequency of sound that may be produced by prey or threat, so the cat's little brain is wired to shift attention to.

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[clamum]

Huh, I have not done this to my cat. I must try it now.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Mine doesn't. What he does respond to is if my wife sneezes. He'll respond back with an annoyed "ay-ayayay" sound like he's 'don't do that'. Doesn't do it when I sneeze.

 

[ctbaars]

Every cat i ever had and even stray cats seem to automatically just know your trying to communicate with them if you smack your lips/tongue why do they do this when they don't even make any sounds remotely like this?

Can we get a video. Well, because, I'm not getting what you mean.

 

[Aikouka]

I'd usually snap my fingers to get a cat's attention. Depends on the cat, but it usually worked.

 

[FeuerFrei]

They probably make faint smacking sounds when they munch flesh. So ... to them it sounds like you're feasting on flesh, which is relevant to their interests.

( That's my off-the-cuff analysis. I wasn't aware of such behavior. )

 

[Rifter]

My male cat treats this sound as a my people need me sound, if i make it anywhere in the house he will come running full speed and want to jump into my arms and be in my face. Which is cute and all until you do it in your sleep and he runs into the bedroom jumps on the bed runs ontop of you and start smashing his head into your head to make sure you are ok.

 

[Ichinisan]

Cat assumes you're a squirrel or a bird.

 

[Ichinisan]

My male cat treats this sound as a my people need me sound, if i make it anywhere in the house he will come running full speed and want to jump into my arms and be in my face. Which is cute and all until you do it in your sleep and he runs into the bedroom jumps on the bed runs ontop of you and start smashing his head into your head to make sure you are ok.

Cat thinks it's going to be fed. Mine does the same.

 

[Ichinisan]

Can we get a video. Well, because, I'm not getting what you mean.

https://imgur.com/X1vAj7N

Still sitting on me...expecting food.

 

[IronWing]

Mine doesn't. What he does respond to is if my wife sneezes. He'll respond back with an annoyed "ay-ayayay" sound like he's 'don't do that'. Doesn't do it when I sneeze.

Yep, we had one cat who had a fit when we sneezed.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Yep, we had one cat who had a fit when we sneezed.

My cat will run and hide too. Poor thing probably thinks I'm angry and yelling.

 

[who?]

The first time they hear it they probably look to see what is going on, then they learn it's you wanting their attention.

 

[Iron Woode]

Every cat i ever had and even stray cats seem to automatically just know your trying to communicate with them if you smack your lips/tongue why do they do this when they don't even make any sounds remotely like this?

you mean making a kissing/pucker sound?

 

[pcgeek11]

Maybe he thinks you want a kiss.

 

[ctbaars]

As you said Ichinisan; You could be a mouse or a bird. Just so you know, the cat is planning to kill you. But in the mean time the cat will allow you to play.

 

[ctbaars]

Maybe he thinks you want a kiss.

I can't stand cat kisses.
They are wet and cold. My cat wakes me in the morning with his wet cold nose. Comes in and bops my on my nose. licks to re-wet the his nose and come in again. And again. Until I turn and bury my face in my wife. The cat then proceeds to walk all over me. Literally.

No, Ichinisan. I am not going to make a video ...

 

[clamum]

I tried smacking my lips/tongue but the cat didn't seem to care. The first time I did it, he was sitting on his cat perch thing and he turned around right away and looked at me. Then I did it a couple more times that night and he didn't seem to care; didn't even respond.

But I think I'm kinda dumb. I'm not sure if I was "smacking my lips" right. Is there a YouTube tutorial for this? fml

 

[nakedfrog]

I tried smacking my lips/tongue but the cat didn't seem to care. The first time I did it, he was sitting on his cat perch thing and he turned around right away and looked at me. Then I did it a couple more times that night and he didn't seem to care; didn't even respond.

But I think I'm kinda dumb. I'm not sure if I was "smacking my lips" right. Is there a YouTube tutorial for this? fml

It may vary on the cat's mood too. My cats are generally pretty responsive to their names, or what I'd describe more as a clicking sound (made with the tongue, inside the mouth), but sometimes they'll just look at me like "What do you want? I'm comfy here."

 

[Mayne]

I kiss my teeth with my budgie...and i can now duplicate r2d2 sounds.