Why does my cat chatter her teeth when she sees a bird?
Why does my cat chatter her teeth when she sees a bird?
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Your cat does some of the darndest things, and sometimes for good reason. But on cat behavior that has veterinarians puzzled. It’s called chattering – the gnashing of teeth and chirping thing that indoor cats sometimes do when they see a bird they can’t possibly reach. Many animal behaviorists suspect that a chattering cat is anticipating a killing bite, so its jaws start moving by reflex – similar to a dog that begins drooling when it sees food. Another theory, however, is that chattering is a way that cat take out their frustration when they can’t reach their prey.
No one knows for sure, so chattering may remain one of those many mysteries of feline ownership.
– Dr. Larry McDaniel, DVM for the “Purina® Animal Instincts” Podcast Series