[vwdieseljunkie]

Why do domestic cats "chatter" while watching birds?

The chatter is a fast movement of the jaw, with what appears to be an "ah ah ah ah" sound, while visually locked onto a bird. I have verified that our cat does this not only while inside the house looking out a window, but also does it if let out the door. She chatters while in "stalk mode", too. It's hilarious! We get waaaay too much entertainment from our kitty!

With a Google search, I have found several suggestions ranging from "frustration", "sonar", echo/vocal location, to supposedly "calling" the prey item or trying to replicate the sound of a prey item.

Has anyone come across a good answer for this?

[FlyYakker]

The article I saw said it was the cat "practicing" in anticipation of the killing bite.

Sonar/echo location as a suggestions is pretty far off the wall. And I doubt any animal is going to come when a cat calls... short of another cat. Or a dog looking to whup up on the cat.

[spitvenom]

Both of my cats do that while they are bird watching. It is to funny. They get locked on and the chatter starts.

[Emland]

Maybe it's the cat version of "Get in my belly!"

[UnigirlBelle]

My kitten does this all the time while he watches the birds, I think he's excited to see them and desperately wants to get out to catch them.

[Silverfoxkit]

My cat does then when he sees just about anything from bugs, lizards, and birds.