The Cat Who Rarely Meows: Mitty’s Quiet Charm

I never knew a cat could be completely silent—until I met Mitty, the cat my daughter adopted.

It was love at first sight. But soon after bringing her home, I noticed something odd: Mitty didn’t make a sound. Not a single meow. Curious and slightly concerned, I asked my daughter Katherine if Mitty might be mute.

Katherine explained that, according to Mitty’s veterinarian, it’s actually not unusual for former street cats to stay silent. Meowing, she told me, is a way kittens communicate with their mothers. When they’re separated too early or grow up on the streets, they might lose the habit—or never fully develop it.

Poor Mitty. I felt a twinge of sadness knowing she couldn’t "speak." But Katherine didn’t seem to mind. Whether she meowed or not didn’t matter to her. It wouldn’t change how much she loved her.

Mitty does make a sound from time to time. When she’s pleased or displeased, she lets out a soft grunt—“ugh.” She’ll greet Katherine with it at the door, or let it slip when Alan, my husband, insists on petting her like a dog. With her mouth slightly open, she’ll let out an unmistakable “ugh.”

And then came the bath.

Katherine and I had to give Mitty a bath one day, and oh, was she upset. That’s when I heard it—her meow. Not just once, but over and over, each cry filled with helpless protest. It broke my heart, even as it assured me she could meow—she just chose not to.

To this day, Mitty rarely meows. And every time she says “ugh,” my heart lights up.

Whether she meows or not, we love her just the same. And when she curls up beside us and starts to purr, it’s the sweetest sound in the world.

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