r/CatDistributionSystem • u/Silgy • Aug 11 '26
Update Update on Stevie, the Homeless, Mangey Kitten
Stevie was found 6 weeks ago by my husband and 6 year old son heading home from swim lessons in our small town. She was walking in circles in the middle of the road because her eyes were glued shut with infections. Vet estimated she was about 3 weeks old. We did 6 vet visits in 3 weeks because she had everything wrong known to man. All the worms, eye infection, 8 hour ER vet visit due to severe fecal impaction and my personal favorite, Scabies/Sarcoptic Mange that she so graciously shared with me.
We have had her a little over 6 weeks now and she is SO happy and healthy…and wild. She has weened from the bottle and then kitten milk in a bowl. She enjoys wet kitten food with a few kibbles mixed in. We have 2 cat towers next to each other that she runs and jumps and climbs on. She’s bossing the 4 big dogs around (while protected in her cat tower cage) and is such a cuddle, purring, silly bug. We are all in loooooove!
I don’t know much about cats, so I have a question. Occasionally she will let out a meek meow, but rarely. Sometimes she opens her mouth and looks like she’s going to meow, but nothing comes out. Is that normal?
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u/UKValJoTurquoise Aug 11 '26
She's a cat. Whatever she does is normal. Just think of it as a random signal from Planet Cat.
But seriously, I am in awe that you managed to keep that tiny, fragile creature alive. You have transformed her into a beautiful little cat and she is obviously going to be a force to be reckoned with.
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u/Silgy Aug 11 '26
HAHAHAHAHA! Ok. Planet Cat behavior. We also have a bearded dragon who does weird crap from Planet Single Brain Cell.
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u/Tigerzombie Aug 11 '26
We got our cats at 8 or 9 weeks. Neither of them were very vocal, not sure if either of them meowed for the first 6 months. They are 4.5 yrs old now and only in the last year did they find their voice. They still aren’t super vocal but they let out the occasional meow to get our attention.
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u/Coca_lite Aug 11 '26
My 6 year old girl who still believes she is baby, sometimes does a silent Miaou when she is tired
It is so cute, like she wants to miaou but doesn’t have the energy
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u/Antal_Marius Aug 11 '26
The kitty will be the baby until the kitty decides otherwise, and even then, kitty is still baby!
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u/Coca_lite Aug 11 '26
She still squeaks high pitched like a baby too. One of the many names I call her is kitten.
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u/CMDR_PEARJUICE Aug 11 '26
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u/Life-Raspberry-402 Aug 13 '26
Having a beardie is excellent practice for having a cat, you’ll do great!
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u/ErisTheHeretic Aug 11 '26
My kittens also meow with no sound sometimes. One time one of them did it close to my ear, and I realised he was whispering! I have no idea why they do it, but it's super cute
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u/spinozasrobot Aug 11 '26
Just think of it as a random signal from Planet Cat.
That explains so much!
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u/Possible_Original_96 Aug 11 '26
Yes-no sound meows are a thing. Humans respond well to the stimulus.
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u/DiveCat Aug 11 '26
Incredibly glow up!
Thank you for saving her life.
Cats all have their own language, but really they meow for US. It’s how they learn to verbally communicate with us dumb humans.
Nothing is alarming about her having different meows as it means something different. You kind of just have to listen and learn to find out what her meows are or mean. And chat back with her (you don’t have to meow back but use a gentle reassuring voice :))
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u/Passenger_08 Aug 11 '26
Idk about meows but this wasn’t just CDS. You saved this poor baby’s life! I thought your story was going to break my heart. Instead it brought me a lot of joy to hear all your efforts were rewarded. She looks so good now! Thank you for saving her.
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u/Big-Smile5345 Aug 11 '26
Thank you for saving that precious little thing. She is so cute. I believe it was picture number six that immediately put a smile on my face, seeing how healthy and happy she looks. The little miaows and the things she does, but doesn’t make any noise is totally normal and probably just her trying to learn how to chirp. And I don’t mean like a bird. Put her in the windowsill and let her watch the birds and she will probably make little chirps and squeaks and excitement. Again, thank you and you truly are a wonderful person.
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u/Silgy Aug 11 '26
That’s reassuring!
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u/Lepardopterra Aug 11 '26
She wasn’t with her first family very long, so she is just now finding her voice. If you like chatty cats, just answer back to her.
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u/CrazyMildred Aug 11 '26
I agree with others that you should meow back at her. Then there's the slow blinks. When she makes eye contact with you, give her a slow wink or slow blinks. She'll end up slow blinking back. Slow blinks are like a cat version of hugs. You can probably find youtube videos about it. We do this with our cats 🙂 You're awesome for saving such a sweet baby ❤️
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u/zebras-are-emo Aug 11 '26
Wow you did a great job keeping her alive! What a lucky girl 🥰
The meow thing is normal, my mom's cat does that; I think the number of times she's made an audible sound while making a meowing motion is less than 10... and she's 14 now so it's been a while!
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u/ndiasSF Aug 11 '26
My guy does the “silent meow” too. I read somewhere that cats hear different frequencies than humans so it’s possible he doesn’t realize I can’t hear it. But I react positively each time he does it because it’s adorable so I’ve reinforced the “silent meow” as a sound that gets him love.
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u/happycamperii Aug 11 '26
My cat could only manage to squeak. Mealtimes were great though, she'd sit by her bowl looking up at you and doing the "I love you" slow blink. I miss that little bundle of purr.
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u/Mollytovcocktail1111 Aug 11 '26
Oooooooh my GOD, I know enough about cats to know how incredibly sick that poor little girl was when you all found her just by looking at her😭😭😭💔💔💔
I can't believe how healthy she looks now, I could cry!!
Thank you for saving her and caring for her 🥹❤️ I know that it's not easy or cheap, but it's the right thing to do. Y'all are wonderful humans ❤️🫂❤️
Please encourage the folks in your small town community to spay and neuter their cats. Unfortunately Stevie's story is not rare and she is just one of the few lucky ones. The vast majority of young kittens in her position just suffer needlessly and then pass away and there is no need for that if humans just do a little better.
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u/Silgy Aug 11 '26
My husband went back the next day and looked around to see if he could find the mama cat or other kittens. They were nowhere to be found. I guess he thought we’d just raise them all!
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u/Mollytovcocktail1111 Aug 11 '26
Bless your husband for going back to see if there were more babies and a mom. Y'all are real good people ❤️❤️❤️
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u/ankhmadank Aug 11 '26
You saved her eyes! As for the silent meow, my rescue cat does that sometimes. It's like she wants to communicate but forgets how to make sound.
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u/justagiraffe111 Aug 11 '26
You saved this baby’s life. You dig deep and gave it your all. Thank you 🥹. Sounds like she has all the love in the world and is returning in plus entertainment, too. So wonderful
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u/barbeebirbshiku Aug 11 '26
My cat is extremely silent 🔕 he only chirps sometimes when it's a closed door or when he was left alone for a night for the first and only time in his life. Nowadays when we pick him up, he'll let out a prill prill sound. I personally think he had a bad cold as a kitten (used to sneeze, lots of goopy eye days - l lysine supplement with wet food twice a day took care of it), so he had trouble meowing as a kitten (let out a really hoarse meaow once in a cat carrier) and now at a year old he just doesn't do it.
Oh, importantly: thank you so much for saving this baby's life. They're the best. Enjoy the kitten months as much as you can! They grow up fast ⏩
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u/Khajiit_Geologist Cat Parent Aug 11 '26
That last pic scared me I was like what happened to kitty! I was so upset for a moment thinking something had happened. Glad to hear Stevie is going strong!
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u/PudgyGroundhog Aug 11 '26
Amazing update - thanks for being an awesome person and saving her (because it does sound like it was quite the adventure).
The meow (or lack of) is totally normal. Cats learn to meow to communicate with humans - sounds like she is just learning. Or maybe she will always have something more like a chirp/squeak or silent meows. One of our cats often had silent meow or something more like a creak or squeak.
Enjoy - she is adorable!
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u/VinkyStagina Aug 11 '26
Sigh. What a wonderful post. Thank you! And thank you for putting good vibes out into this world. Love the name for her. What made you go with Stevie?
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u/Silgy Aug 11 '26
All of our animals are named after musicians. Stevie is a tiny, but mighty warrior….just like Stevie Nicks!
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u/MoonDragon59 Aug 11 '26
She is beautiful! Thank you for all you did to save her and for setting such a wonderful example for your son. People like you give me hope for the future! 💜💚💜
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u/rollenr0ck Aug 11 '26
I rescued three kittens (I was being nice to mom, she brought them to me) and the runt was a quiet little guy. No purring, no meowing, just quiet. The other two became vocal and would scream at each other. I was worried about the little one. He got weaned, neutered, and finally peeps were made. I ended up with him for over ten years. That guy would sing! I almost got him to accompany me for the birthday song and he meowed to the end. He’d scream for food, attention, because he was happy, whatever. Since then I make no comments on a cat’s vocal accomplishments. No sense cursing nature.
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u/YeshuasBananaHammock Aug 11 '26
"I am PACKING MY BAGS!"
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u/Silgy Aug 11 '26
Yes this one and her sister are also from the streets. Loretta is mad she’s not the baby anymore.
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u/LasersGirl Aug 11 '26
My Sasha did that. She’d open her mouth and hold it open like she was meowing, and that little squeak at the end would come out. Rand hardly ever says anything. For the first six or seven months, I thought for sure he was mute. Now he meows occasionally, but only when he really has something important to say.
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u/ShrugOfHeroism Aug 11 '26
Silent meows might be too high frequency for humans to hear. Does your dog react to those meows?
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u/Silgy Aug 11 '26
No, but they haven’t been around her much since she’s so little and they’re all really big. Baby steps. I don’t remember seeing her open her mouth to them. Just stick her hair up on her back. LOL
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u/Perfect_Assist_3937 Aug 11 '26
Hi! My grown kitty does that too. We joke that it's because she knows she doesn't need to meow to make us do her bidding (if she actually makes a sound, that means she's real mad).
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u/Logical_consequences Aug 11 '26
Omg I was so happy to see the good pics! She is so cute and healthy looking now. I think she was so close to slipping away, you really saved her 😻❤️
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u/Lightmyspliff69 Aug 11 '26
The last pic of the doggy, "Why does the cat get the Barbie dream house?"
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u/lemaxx Aug 11 '26
Thanks for taking such good care of her! It’s crazy to think that without your intervention, she may have lost her beautiful eyes (and likely her chance at a life!). She’s in great hands 🩷
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u/Chambrayblue Aug 11 '26
‘The Silent Miaow’ The silent miaow is their secret technique to secure a place in your heart! 🥹🐈🐈⬛💝
Internet Archive: The Silent Miaow
The Silent Miaow: A Manual for Kittens, Strays, and Homeless Cats is a 1964 satirical humor book by author Paul Gallico and photographer Suzanne Szasz. Written from the clever perspective of a cat, it acts as an instructional guide for felines on how to select, captivate, and completely dominate human households
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u/Remote_Champion_4794 Aug 11 '26
I have read that the silent meow isn’t really silent at all but is at such a high frequency that humans can’t hear it. I slow blink back.
By the way it seems to be raining on my face. Your photos brought me great joy. You are wonderful people and you are teaching your children kindness and compassion by example. God bless all of your brood.
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Aug 11 '26
[deleted]
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u/Silgy Aug 11 '26
The cage is just when she’s around the dogs. She lives in our bedroom and bathroom for now until she’s big enough to not be stepped on by a dog and can get away from them if she wants to.
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u/Terrible-Music-1079 Aug 11 '26
She is absolutely gorgeous and I'm so glad there are kind people like you and your family willing to help a poor innocent kitten 😸 have a blessed week.
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u/Firm_Video_2932 Aug 11 '26
I would have not put the odds of survival being great based on the first few pictures. That's why seeing her now makes me say that this is nothing short of a miraculous recovery! Of course it doesn't hurt that she had someone like you in her corner for the fight. Well done momma, well done indeed ....👍
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Aug 11 '26
Goodness, poor Stevie really went through the wringer huh? I felt my heart drop and speed up at the same time at those first few pics, I was a bit scared this was gonna be a “We did our best but …” update. I was so relieved when Stevie’s amazing transformation showed up! You all should be so proud of yourselves.
Takes a lot of gumption, heart, and bravery to take on this kind of care, and especially when a kitten is as sick as Stevie was. I hope you folks get many, many, many years of love, joy, and happiness with Stevie :). And your kid will have a close companion as well hopefully. I didn’t grow up with our family cat being introduced as a kitten, but he took to me as his person when I was around your kid’s age once I was out of toddler-hood (He was a tolerant babysitter when I was a baby tho lol). I still like looking back on memories of him, even if they make me a bit teary 🥰
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u/HarleyQisMyAlter Owner of Vampurrs Aug 11 '26
I thought for months after adopting that one of my cats was mute. Then he gave me the cutest meep.
Now he doesn’t ever shut up. 🤣
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u/Diligent_Comment689 Aug 11 '26
I had a cat who didn’t meow. He’d look you dead in the eye and meow silently lol. Just how they are sometimes.
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u/Bethw2112 Aug 11 '26
I had a cat that had no voice, the vet said it happens and she was healthy otherwise. She wasn't allowed to nurse much as a kitten and I wondered if the mama didn't like her or thought she was defective because she had no voice. Her sister was a rolly polly though. Our kitty outlived her mom and sister so there's that.
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u/FeralSweater Aug 11 '26
Her eyes could not be brighter!
And whooo boy, you’ve got my empathy on the cat scabies. I caught that somehow years ago and it was NOT fun.
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u/Silgy Aug 11 '26
I cried when the vet told me that the rash on my chest, neck, chin and arms was indeed scabies. I said “Omg dirty people have scabies!” and he replied “Yes. And people that save animals.” 🥹
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u/je5300 Aug 11 '26
Great story from great people with a happy ending and yes normal behavior for the cat to look like it will meow with nothing coming out.
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u/lcl0706 Aug 11 '26
Cats will make all sorts of sounds and funny expressions and have incredibly fast reflexes. I have a calico girl I also rescued at 3 weeks old, but she was in far better shape. Underweight, but nothing like this. Anyways, now she gets stuck in transition sometimes. She’ll be focusing on something like playing with her big brother but mid-tussle there’s a noise outside and so she freezes, but she’ll like forget to close her mouth so it’s hanging open and she looks hilarious for a few seconds.
Cats are the best 🥹 your life is about to be transformed 💜
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u/Wallace-N-Gromit Cat Parent Aug 11 '26
Good Hooman Award winner here, saving this kitty from a fate she did not deserve. Warms my heart. And yes, non-meow meows, meows interrupted by yawns, perts, chortles, acks, chirps, trills are all part of cat life, meows are mainly for us uneducated mouth breathers.
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u/Lets-B-Lets-B-Jolly Aug 11 '26
We had a cat years ago who also did the silent meow. Her folder from the rescue noted a severe respiratory infection when she was found as a small kitten, and the vet suspected it was the reason she didn't meow.
As the years passed, she was able to make some squeaky meows and she definitely did them to "talk" to us.
She passed away at only age 9 due to a possible heart issue. She was the sweetest though :)
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u/dipshipsaidso Aug 11 '26
Yes! Good job. I needed to see that glo up. I was gifted scabies as a kindergarten teacher. I’d rather get it from a kitty.❤️
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u/pashed_motatoes Aug 11 '26
Thank you so much for not giving up on this sweet little bean. You and your husband are angels and I hope karma rewards you richly in this life and the next for your incredible compassion and dedication to saving an innocent little life that was so close to being extinguished forever. Enjoy your new furry baby! 💕
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u/MommaSaurusRegina Aug 11 '26
Cats’ voices and chatter preferences can be every bit as diverse as humans. Sounds like you might have a future squeaker on your hands! She’ll be in good company over at r/catswhosqueak
If you think you’d like a chatty cat, whenever she makes noise you can try making noise back. It may encourage her to be more vocal in return. 😸
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u/Catmom6363 Aug 12 '26
Thank you for saving her!! You are amazing humans to have saved this baby! Sick 3 week old kittens can be exceedingly difficult to keep alive, and she’s thriving now!! You will forever be a cat person from now on! You’re doing great with Stevie!!
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u/Kesha_Paul Aug 11 '26
You’re really good people for taking in and treating this baby, these stories give me faith in humanity. What a precious kitty!
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u/Cleverwabbit5 Aug 11 '26
Omg what a glow up!! 🥰She is beaming and beautiful!! You did that!!! Your loving care and patience are miracles. She is so darling! I want to see her boss the dogs lol 😂
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u/i-am-nameless1 Aug 11 '26
Funny enough most feral cats that haven’t been around people a lot, they don’t meow.
It’s a learned behavior they get from noticing we react to it. So I wouldn’t let it bother you that the little one doesn’t meow right now.
Wow what an amazing glow up. That baby probably wouldn’t have lasted much longer without you and your family.
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u/IFloof_ Aug 11 '26
I always ask my girl if she's lost her meow box when she does her silent meows. She's the only kitty I have that does that lol but she's perfectly healthy.
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u/KTKittentoes Aug 11 '26
Oh friend, the silent meow is a powerful tool! Humans tremble before it! Paul Gallico wrote a book about it.
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u/PhtevenToast Cat Parent Aug 11 '26
Congrats on your gift from the CDS! You've done a cracking job looking after the wee one. We took in a 2 week old kitten back in 2014, he was the only survivor from his abandoned litter. 12 years later, Rolo is thriving. You've got many years of shenanigans to look forward to. Congrats! Picture tax included.
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u/Fine-Bunch-2895 Aug 11 '26
So I had googled the same question because I have a bottle fed baby that was opening her mouth looking like she was going to meow but then no sound would come out. It turns out that kittens let out a sound at a frequency we can’t hear to communicate with their mom!
Your baby is absolutely precious btw 🥰 thank you for taking the time to save her life and show her what it means to be loved & cared for
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u/Medievalmoomin Aug 11 '26
She’s looking wonderful - so bright-eyed and healthy. The quiet almost meow is very common. Cats are all wonderful little weirdos. 😁
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u/Head_Paleontologist5 Cat Mom Aug 11 '26
I adopted a semi-feral cat many years ago who never meowed because she was never around people. The one time she meowed, I jumped in and did what she wanted. After that, meow, meow, meow!
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u/IrelandAutism13 Aug 11 '26
Three of my four cats have done the silent meow (the fourth literally never once ever meowed at all.) It's essentially a low-effort meow, it has the same meaning but is just quieter, or they could be meowing in a frequency we can't hear (cats often communicate among themselves in frequencies we can't hear.) It's just a funny meow, no need to worry
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u/mc_atx Aug 11 '26
What a beautiful baby!! Glad you are enjoying her and thank you for saving her!!!
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u/trailhounds Aug 11 '26
How wonderful for Stevie. How fortunate to have literally stumbled across such loving and wonderful people. Thank you for making the world a bit better for everyone. Hopefully she finds her voice. It took my big (14lbs) Ornj rescue a while to find his. He's still not terribly talkative, but he is willing when he feels the need. He has clear words for when he wants something. There is a definite meow for "outside" (on a leash, we live close enough to dangerous wildlife he doesn't get free roam, just when we are out on the leash). There's very clearly one for me as I am, for the most part, his person.
Either way, Stevie seems healthy and happy. Good for all of you!
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u/Nefandous_Jewel Aug 11 '26
From what I have read cats in the wild meow to their kittens, they dont do it to eachother. Since you found little bit at three weeks she may not have heard much meowing.
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u/Prize_Cranberry8553 Aug 11 '26
I have a guy who rarely meows. He only does it when I have committed an egregious error like not getting his harness fast enough to go outside. He doesn’t meow for food or for attention. He figures that’s all a given. Meows are for unique occasions.
And when he does meow, it’s kind of a guttural monotone like a crabby old man. “Mehhh” “Okay, okay…”
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u/SweetStandardRed Aug 11 '26
That is a silent meow.
Cats use a variety of different vocalizations to interact with us (and other animals). Cats usually don't vocalize a lot with each other, the exception being kittens to their mother. Because they realize that we communicate with our voices, they adapt to this - - which is why some cats can make sounds that sound like words they hear frequently.
For silent meows, cats usually do them to signal affection or to ask for things by trying to be cute (like food).
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u/Actuallynobutwhynot Aug 12 '26
LOOK AT THOSE BIG BEAUTIFUL EYES!!! LOOKING AT THE WORLD WITH SUCH HAPPINES AND WONDER! also the silent meows are SO normal. every kitten I've had (5) has done that, i do not know why or if there's even a reason why
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u/dragonpunky539 Aug 12 '26
her EYES oh my goodness she's like a little beanie boo. thank you so much for helping her, I'm so glad she's doing well!!
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u/Midnight-Moonpie Aug 11 '26
Totally normal…some kitties give a squeak, some silent, and some yodel 🤷♀️
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u/ChristVolo1 Aug 11 '26
Aww, she's doing so much better! Kudos to you for doing such a great job with her! ❤️🩹☺️
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u/nuttyrussian Aug 11 '26
My four year old cat will sometimes open his mouth for a meow and nothing comes out. It's just a Cat Thing lol.
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u/ArdenM Aug 11 '26
She's blossomed into a gorgeous little nugget! Those eyes! ❤️
I had a cat that would do the quietest little "mew" once in awhile and open her mouth as if to but nothing would come out, so I think it's not only normal but super special and extra adorable as she was my best cat ever!
Enjoy your little Stevie (Wonder cat) :)
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u/eshowers Aug 11 '26
I have a rescue who doesn’t even make an audible purring sound and but will meow randomly in the middle of the night.
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u/Illustrious-Cat-9897 Aug 11 '26
I remember your first post, and omg I’m soooo happy for this update. She looks so good! You are quite literally an angel to this baby.
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u/Glittering_Bet_9263 Aug 11 '26
Op. You and you family are the best for taking her in. Love from Australia!
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u/TitanGojira Aug 11 '26
Finally I see someone else use a rat cage to house a kitten, I did this with my boy and it worked so well
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u/LiveinCA Aug 11 '26
I love seeing her beautiful eyes and looking so healthy!! Keep updating us please.
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u/justclove Aug 11 '26
I absolutely never get tired of swiping on a rescue kitten's photos and seeing them clear-eyed and healthy. Thank you for caring, and for sharing her with us. 💕
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u/Top-Firefighter5173 Aug 11 '26
Your dog looks resigned to the fact haha glad she is safe and healthy here's to many years together
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u/OwnUse4445 Aug 11 '26
Oh she is absolutely gorgeous! Well done on the stellar care that brought about such a glow up.
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u/blahdeblah2736 Aug 11 '26
OMG she looks like my girl Stacey just a bit smaller . I LOVE HER!!
Yep. Sometimes they just talk. Look more at how she's moving . Eating . Drinking. Potty. Playing. As long as those are normal she's probably okay. Sometimes cats talk . A lot. Some other cats don't .
If I'm home my girl talks. A LOT. but usually quieter when other people are around and they are shocked if she starts talking. I'm used to it 😂
Your girl has her own personality. (Shocking I know) So just learn her normal .
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u/PetraLoseIt Aug 11 '26
Sometimes she opens her mouth and looks like she’s going to meow, but nothing comes out. Is that normal?
She's just checking whether you're still paying attention to her ;-) As you are supposed to!
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u/WuQianNian Aug 11 '26
I’ve known a few cats raised with dogs and they always end up being awesome. Pick up dog traits when they’re older, it’s cute
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u/Candid-Tip-6483 Aug 11 '26
Every cat has a different style of communication. I've had cats who yelled at me, I've had cats who meow softly at me, and I have had cats that don't meow at all and instead just quietly trill. So it's normal in the sense that it's just another unique way that your cat has decided to communicate
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u/unicornvega Aug 11 '26
Our cat used to do that but that’s because he couldn’t meow properly as he was taken from his Mum too young. He’s often just rasp at us.
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u/MrsWidgery Aug 11 '26 edited Aug 11 '26
You need to find The Silent Miaow, published back in 1964. The silent meow is one of a street kitten's most effective means of dominating their chosen humans as quickly and completely as possible.
And, see? It worked, didn't it!
Edit: typo
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u/applecidermimosa Aug 11 '26
This is so wonderful! One of my cats didn’t learn to meow until she was probably 6 months old
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u/Moliza3891 Aug 11 '26
Kudos to you all for your parts in Stevie’s rescue and recuperation! Some cats just aren’t particularly vocal unless they feel the need to be. My folks’ cat is like that. I’m wishing you all many happy and healthy years together!
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u/GotBannedAgain_2 Aug 11 '26
Can I ask how much was the total vet bill? What insurance do u have?
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u/juicedemon83 Aug 11 '26
My partner and I call those “silent mouth meows”. They are the counterpart to “whole mouth meows”.
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u/ernie3tones Aug 11 '26
Some cats have higher voices, and it can seem like they aren’t making a sound when they meow. Or it’ll just be a tiny squeak. I had a cat years ago that was like that, but she was loud on car rides. Our current cat also has a high, squeaky voice…unless he’s in spaz mode. Normal! Great job caring for her, she looks so healthy!!!
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u/Ophelia-Rass Cat Magnet 🐈⬛ Aug 11 '26
Silent Meows can be a sign of a special "love" message and sometimes a sign of pain or distress. Observe the context of the situation and other behavior to know the difference.
Slow blinks, purring, and rubbing or petting you it is likely a love note.
Avoidance accompanied by wide-eyed unlinking stares or even closing eyes and the inner eyelid staying with partially opened eyes may be a sign of pain or discomfort.
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u/OSCgal Aug 11 '26
She looks so happy!
Yeah, silent meows are normal. My older cat Jules used to silent meow at me.
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u/vaultie66 Aug 11 '26
My boy eventually grew into his silent meows and they got louder but it took years and he would still often misfire. A stray we adopted as an adult doesn’t do big meows unless she’s scared, her usual meows are chirpy meeps, she sounds more like a pigeon lol. Our third cat is a loud mouth and never shuts up. All of it is normal.
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u/Great-Practice-843 Aug 11 '26
Thanks for giving this beautiful baby a new life. I'm sure she appreciates all you do.
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u/Sad-Guess4424 Aug 11 '26
Those eyes! That face! She’s looking beautiful. Absolutely amazing job you’ve done. I’ve had decades of cats and I can’t think of two who were really alike. They are uniquely odd in their own ways. Abnormally normal is her diagnosis. 🤭😍
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u/missmisfit Aug 11 '26
The silent ones are actually too high pitched for humans!! I understand that cats are more likely to meow so high we can't hear it if we talk high "baby talk" to them. They are trying to imitate going higher than thier normal register when conversing with you because you do it to them!
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u/GraniteStayte Aug 11 '26
Sometimes she opens her mouth and looks like she’s going to meow, but nothing comes out. Is that normal?
Yes. My tuxedo kitty does that.
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u/VassagoX Aug 11 '26
Thank you so much for saving her! She looks amazing and healthy! You did so good!
I would gladly take scabies to save an innocent kitten from suffering so much. What a wonderful human you are.
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u/UnderstandingBusy829 Aug 11 '26
She might meow eventually, or she might stay silent. We've had cats that started silent and eventually developed some meows simply because we talk to them a lot, so they started talking back. Either way she's gorgeous, thank you for saving her.
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u/F-in-Darke Aug 11 '26
Well done on making the little one healthy! One of our cats often fails to meow, just awkwardly opens his mouth. Sometimes there's a little ek, but that's it. Other times he screams 🤷♂️ seems perfectly normal
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u/traceyrb1028 Aug 11 '26
I had a tuxie who did the same thing. It's called the silent meow. It's a real condition. Nothing was wrong with him. He just didn't like to make noise. If he wanted something he would come up to me and open his mouth like he was meowing. He was a cutie.
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u/LoveKittycats119 Aug 11 '26
Our previously feral kitty does the “silent meow” thing sometimes. I’ve read that this is in fact a meow, on a higher frequency than human ears can hear.
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u/Ok-Moose1374 Aug 11 '26
Thank you for rescuing this little one! I needed a good story. Reddit has been filling my feed with pet memorials. Sometimes the squeaky little meow is "Hey, where is everyone?" Or it can be curiosity.
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u/kaspar-fiel Aug 11 '26
Cats often speak in ranges we can't hear! It could be that, or she's having trouble getting the sound to vibrate in her vocal chords but still wants you to know she's talking to you.
Also amazing job saving her life and making her happy! She's got big, beautiful eyes. Congrats!!
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u/Butterfly_Cat777 Aug 11 '26
In the latest pics, she looks like she's planning mischievous things. 😄
It’s so heartwarming to see her full of energy and curiosity after everything she’s been through. 😺💖
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u/mutinouspuffin Aug 11 '26
Wow, what an incredible transformation. Good job, OP! I died at the part where she was kind enough to share her scabies. That's exactly how I got ringworm a few years ago 🥲😂
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u/KaelosFenrir Aug 11 '26
Thank you for doing right by her. She looks so happy and amazing.
As for the meowing, my last female cat barely ever mowed and honestly, neither does my current one. My last used to only make a chirp when I was in the shower and she was keeping watch. My current girl kitty really only chirps when I haven't patted/scritched her long enough or sometimes at food time. Unlike her older brothers haha. One meows like a derp so very loudly when he is alone in a room and it drives me nuts and the only meows morning and night at food times as if he isn't fat (I have tried everything to help him lose weight, he is just.. too smart.)
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u/McSwearWolf Aug 11 '26
Way to go OP - you’re mom/dad, guardian, nurse, teacher, best friend - all the things. All for this sweet tiny needy soul who would have surely died without your help and protection. I love it and I hope something wonderful happens to you all today. 🥲
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u/No_Recording3238 Aug 11 '26
Because she is still young she could be trying to find her meow. Or just being a silly little.
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u/Much-Meringue-7467 Aug 11 '26
So glad she's doing well. Some cats essentially never meow. Some do all the time. Whatever she does is pretty normal.
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u/CormoranNeoTropical Aug 11 '26
Talk to her and she will eventually start to talk (meow) to you. Some kittens are already talkative but not all. Cats meow to humans much more than to each other. So if you want to have a chatty cat, talk to her.
When I got my present cat she was a 2 month old kitten and didn’t really meow. Now she is 1 1/2 and being more talkative and articulate (as in she makes more varied meows, chirps, squeaks, and purrs) all the time.
But if you don’t want a chatty cat, this could be perfect.
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