Vocals

Vocals – Making sounds of given animals, such as your theriotypes, such as meowing, purring, barking, howling, hissing, are a key part of animal communication as well as body movements such as tail, mustache and ears moving in a certain way. Practicing and using vocals is another activity that some Therians participate in. Sometimes for fun or to resemble your theriotype.

## How to do cat vocals

*Warning: If you practice within hearing range of others, be cautious that you do not irritate them with consistent or repeated meows, etc.*

### Meowing

When a cat meows, there are multiple meows that it can make. In fact, there are over 60 different meows, and over 100 different sounds that cats make; despite the fact that to a person unused to cats, all meows might sound like 'meow'. Some sound like 'mew', 'meow', like the words show, but there are many tones and actions that change the meanings of these meows.

To start, open your mouth and say the word 'meow'. It might not sound much like a cat, as this is simply the human word for the range of sounds.

If you've heard a cat meow before, try mimicking it. Listening to cats meow will help a lot, you can even adapt your method, changing your tone and actions as you meow, which will help express a wider range of emotions, just through meowing tone.

### Purring

The word 'purr' loosely explains the sound made when a cat is happy (sometimes cats purr when upset, so make sure to check other indicators too).

To purr, move the tip of your tongue to the top of your mouth, and breath out with your mouth almost/fully closed. You should hear a 'purr' sound. Keep practicing until you can do it easily, then try varying the length.

If you do a short purr, that goes up at the end, like 'purr-ip', it will sound a little like one of the 'trills' that a Maine Coon (a cat breed) makes. Kittens and younger cats make this sound, usually to signify happiness.

If you do a longer, rhythmic purr, this is more like the sound that a cat would make when they are being petted, or are feeling safe, cozy, or are greeting someone they trust. Just don't forget to stop and breathe when you feel the need, although cats can breathe, drink, and eat while purring, you probably cannot.

### Hissing

When a person who has not listened to cats, and practiced, tries to hiss, it generally sounds like the snake 'ssssss', or 'hisssssss'. Despite this being the spelling of the word 'hiss', a cat's hiss actually sounds fairly different! Of course, cat's hisses vary, but the general sound isn't 'hiss', but 'harc' or 'hirc'.

To hiss, swallow to remove excess moisture from your mouth, if you don't, hissing may be harder, and you may accidentally spit. Open your mouth and tense your jaw. Experiment where to put your tongue to produce the best 'harc' or 'hirc' sound when you breath out. Make sure your mouth isn't an 'o' shape; cats bare their teeth when they hiss, so try watching some videos of cats fighting, etc, to see how best to try.

### Yawning

While technically not a vocal sound, it is included here for lack of a better place to put it. When cats yawn, they do littrially make the 'y-awwn' sound.

To yawn (like a cat), you need to yawn, much like you would normally, but instead of keeping your tongue at the bottom of your mouth, stretch it out a little. Make sure you don't look like you are poking your tongue out at someone; if you watch your cat/videos of cats yawning, you may have a better idea.

### Growling

Start by saying the word/sound ‘grrr’. Now try it again, but try to make it more throaty and roll your ‘r’s. Try not to move your lips, or else it will sound more dog-like. Swallowing before hand helps.

### Caterwauling / Yowling

Caterwauling is a bit difficult, but Humming is a good way to start. From there, add more of a throaty sound to it. By adding a meow to it(make sure you keep the humming sound), you get a muffled ‘mow’ kind of sound.(it will take some practice to get a realistic noise.)

### Howling

Howling thing that all Wolves do and *almost* all dogs. When trying to Howl, make sure to take in a deep breath before starting. Slowly let the air out, but while you're doing that, try to make an ***A-roo*** sound. Now try again, but add a W to the sound. So when you try again you get a sound like ***Arwoo***. Once you do this enough times, you can make short Howls and long Howls. And surely soon enough you'll be able to do what I call a 'Studder Howl'. A Howl that sounds like this. ***Arw-Arwooo***. Continue doing this and you'll do great.

## Extra Tips

Feel free to add any tips you may have here, under a new sub-heading-2.

**Videos**

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9XSD1WNbjk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k18OwqWZ5cI

(if you do end up trying this, dont annoy people please)

#### Inhale

If you feel like your meow isn't very... realistic... you can also try this. When you meow, instead of exhaling, and it might help!

### Muzzle

Although most cats don't have long muzzles, like a wolf for example, our vocals may still not sound quite right. A muzzle helps direct sound and altogether makes it sound more realistic.

To add this effect we can cup our paws/hands around our mouth/muzzle/snout when we meow, purr, yowl, etc.