ADVERTISEMENT

We’re about to make a ton of cat owners incredibly happy! Meanwhile, the rest of you Pandas may find the sudden urge to welcome a fabulous fluffy feline into your forever home. One sign of a powerful photo is that you can practically hear and feel it through the screen. And that’s where the r/Catswhoyell subreddit comes in.

The online community does exactly what it says on the tin—it celebrates cats who yell with all their souls, meow gently, and make a lot of cute and silly noises. We’ve collected some of the most expressive pics, as shared by members of the group, to bring a bit of warmth into your day, Pandas. Scroll down and MEOW meOW MEow.

The founder of r/Catswhoyell, redditor u/boxster_, was happy to tell Bored Panda all about the sub’s history, how the community evolved, and share their thoughts on cat commeownication and their purrsonalities. You’ll find our full interview with them below, as you read on.

#1

The Void Yells Back

The Void Yells Back

G0nzal0tron Report

Moderator u/boxster_ walked us through the story behind r/Catswhoyell (or CWY). They told Bored Panda that the idea to create the community started after a conversation on a post where they realized there “was no place for talkative kitties like my own to be posted.”

“There were many chatty cats on other subs, but no ‘home’ for them. It started out small, and somewhere in the first year, I started adding new moderators. One of the goals we decided on at the beginning was that we always wanted CWY to be a welcoming community that felt like it was a small place,” the founder shared with us.

“This meant being active about removing rude messages towards other users. I don't think any of us expected it to reach 650k members!” they were incredibly happy about the success that the sub has seen over the years.

#2

She Assumed A Power Stance To Yell With Her Whole Body

She Assumed A Power Stance To Yell With Her Whole Body

halfwaycrate Report

#3

I’m Extremely Blessed To Have My Own Tiny Lifeguard. Except, Instead Of Using A Whistle Or Attempting To Save Me. He Screams At Me In Terror... The Entire Time

I’m Extremely Blessed To Have My Own Tiny Lifeguard. Except, Instead Of Using A Whistle Or Attempting To Save Me. He Screams At Me In Terror... The Entire Time

mollyaclarke Report

ADVERTISEMENT

However, that’s not to say that there weren’t some tough challenges to face along the way. “We've had a few periods of time where moderating got tough due to issues with users. One funny incident was when a user repeatedly mod-mailed rude messages about ‘everyone hating’ our flairs, all of which are jokes or puns. Our mod team checks in occasionally about adding new mods when traffic increases, and that's been very helpful. The only time we've done it on short notice was March 2020,” u/boxster_ said.

“As time went on, we decided we also wanted to focus on adoptable cats posted by rescues. We pin rescue cat posts as they come in, and add location flairs. At this time we know of about 3 cats who have been adopted by a subreddit member if I recall correctly,” the founder of r/Catswhoyell shared the great news.

“Many of our mods are involved in foster and rescue, or have been in the past, so this is my favorite thing about our sub. I'm also proud because I've seen the stereotype of the quiet and aloof cat shift in the past few years, at least on Reddit. It's been an unintentional campaign for cats with big purrsonalities.”

ADVERTISEMENT
#5

For Those Who Wondered Why I Didn't Post The Daily Yell Anymore: My 20y Old Yeller Got A Sick Heart And Lung. I Had Many Vet Visits And She's Probably Not Going To Live That Long Anymore

For Those Who Wondered Why I Didn't Post The Daily Yell Anymore: My 20y Old Yeller Got A Sick Heart And Lung. I Had Many Vet Visits And She's Probably Not Going To Live That Long Anymore

TrueOS Report

Add photo comments
POST
Brittania Kelli
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a well looked after cat to have such a long life. You've obviously been a great caretaker and are both lucky to have had so many years together.

View more commentsArrow down menu

The founder shared a bit about their own cat whom they adopted. “I never expected the scraggly rescue cat I took home to be so talkative, despite growing up around cats, and even studying cat behavior,” they told Bored Panda.

“One thing about my sweet boy, and also something that makes my mother think I'm nuts, is that I believe he has a little name for me. He has a little two-part meow that he screeches when I come home. He has a way of telling me it's dinner, or that I've stayed up too late (and once recently, gone to bed too early). Sometimes, it can be a little annoying, but at the end of the day, I always have someone to talk to.”

ADVERTISEMENT

The mod said that it’s best to think of cats meowing as a bit like languages and accents. “While there's a general mood you can hear in a cat's meow, there are also kitties who meow by the beat of their own paws,” they said that there’s some overlap between how cats communicate by meows, but there’s also a lot of room for individual self-expression among felines.

#7

We Decided To Make The Drive From Phoenix To Sf With Two Cats, Thinking It Would Be Easier Than A Flight. We Set Up A Metal Barrier To Keep Them In The Hatchback Trunk With Food/Water/Litter But They Squeezed Their Way Out In Less Than 10 Minutes. The Rest Of The Drive Was Chaos

We Decided To Make The Drive From Phoenix To Sf With Two Cats, Thinking It Would Be Easier Than A Flight. We Set Up A Metal Barrier To Keep Them In The Hatchback Trunk With Food/Water/Litter But They Squeezed Their Way Out In Less Than 10 Minutes. The Rest Of The Drive Was Chaos

furubakun Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Gish Has A Lot To Say

Gish Has A Lot To Say

YumYumCult Report

Add photo comments
POST
ƒιѕн
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Its nice to see that I'm not the only one with a camera roll full of cat pics

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

“One of my best friends had a cat named Bella. We also called him German Cat. Bella earned his nickname by having the angriest and loudest voice a kitty could have. Bella was also the sweetest and cuddliest boy you could meet, he was just speaking the kitty version of German,” u/boxster_ said.

ADVERTISEMENT

“At the end of the day knowing your cat and looking for context clues is the best way to understand what they mean. I know that if my cat yells at me at 8:15 pm, that means he wants dinner a few minutes early. I know that if my lights are on and it's past midnight, he would like me to get myself in bed already so he can lay on my head and lick my hair,” they said.

“Every cat is unique. Some cats may only make sounds when angry or hurt, some cats will only be quiet if asleep, and others will be something else entirely.”

#10

The Cat Climbed On Top Of My Husband Just To Yell At Him

The Cat Climbed On Top Of My Husband Just To Yell At Him

Other_Vader Report

#11

I Was Told, Very Loudly, To Post Zipper Here. Torties Are Known To Be Talkers, And Zipper Is No Exception!

I Was Told, Very Loudly, To Post Zipper Here. Torties Are Known To Be Talkers, And Zipper Is No Exception!

SpasticShagworm Report

Add photo comments
POST
Penny Fan
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My lunatic tortie never stops talking. She even whines like an angry teenager when you tell her to come inside " but muuuuuuuuuuuuum!"

View more commentsArrow down menu
#12

My Cat Loves Yelling, It Never Stops. BF Is Getting Used To It, I Can Tell!

My Cat Loves Yelling, It Never Stops. BF Is Getting Used To It, I Can Tell!

JustNoMercy Report

The r/Catswhoyell subreddit recently celebrated its fifth birthday. Since being founded in 2018, the sub has grown to house over 684k members and counting. The group allows photos and videos of cats yelling, however, it frowns upon pics of yawning felines.

ADVERTISEMENT

“No full-on yawns allowed without shame. No yell-shaming. All yells no matter their shape, size or volume are good and valid. Silent yells too. Yawn pictures will be removed, but video yawns with sound are permitted,” the group’s team of dedicated moderators explains.

Meanwhile, redditors are encouraged to post original photos. Nobody should claim that a cat is theirs if it isn’t. It’s unethical! If you are posting about someone else’s cat, make sure that you share the source, otherwise, your post may get removed. What’s more, the subreddit supports rescuing cats from shelters, so anyone who bought a cat from a breeder shouldn’t share photos.

#14

This Is My Baby Boy Haru, Currently Screaming At The Snow

This Is My Baby Boy Haru, Currently Screaming At The Snow

Einuji Report

Add photo comments
POST
Kimberly Alison
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

🎵“I’m singing at the snow, just singing at the snow…” 🎵🎵

View more commentsArrow down menu
#15

Move Human!!!

Move Human!!!

trustworthy-adult Report

Add photo comments
POST
ƒιѕн
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

♫ Move, bìtch, get out the way... Get out the way, bìtch, get out the way ♫

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

In the meantime, if you’re planning on posting photos of cats who yell that are adoptable, feel free to post the organization’s info in the comments. However, the online community does not allow internet users to advertise private adoptions, breeders, Craigslist, or disreputable sources.

Many subreddits have their quirks, and r/Catswhoyell is no different. It has a very amusing (or is that ameowsing?) guide to using flairs for its numerous feline-loving members. For instance, you should add the ‘Human Conversationalist’ flair to your post if it’s about a human talking to a cat and the pet meowing back. However, that’s not to be confused with the ‘Human Conmeowsationalist’ tag which is meant for humans meowing at cats who, in turn, meow back.

Some other interesting flairs include ‘Baby Cat’ (“Mew mew mewmew mewmewmew: all things baby cats!”), ‘Ol’ Yeller’ (everything related to senior cats), ‘Scream Team’ (two or more cats yelling), and ‘Aw Lawd They Yellin’’ (“Cat is rather rotund. And yelling. Always yelling,” the mods explain). 

#17

This Little Lady's Screams Saved Her Life When My BF Heard Her Shouting From Under His Car On A -15° Day. She Has Bones Sticking Out, A Crusty Eye, A Sinus Infection And Badly Frostbitten Beans. Going To The Vet Today!

This Little Lady's Screams Saved Her Life When My BF Heard Her Shouting From Under His Car On A -15° Day. She Has Bones Sticking Out, A Crusty Eye, A Sinus Infection And Badly Frostbitten Beans. Going To The Vet Today!

[deleted] Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#18

Every Night, Vigo Sits In That Specific Corner While I Take A Shower. So I Made Him A Box. Today He Was Particularly Excited To Find A Box At His Usual Spot!

Every Night, Vigo Sits In That Specific Corner While I Take A Shower. So I Made Him A Box. Today He Was Particularly Excited To Find A Box At His Usual Spot!

escape_photo Report

Among the other creative flairs, you’ll find ‘Scraggly Yell’ (“Git me mah smokes!”), angry cattos get the ‘Calm down, dear kitty! Tag’, yawns that are also yells are assigned ‘A yawn and a yell!’, and ‘Certified Yell’ flairs are meant for the most distinguished, epic, and worthy of yells.

As it turns out, when it comes to adult cats, meowing, for them, is far from their preferred way to communicate with others of its kind.

“Unlike many other pets, cats evolved as solitary hunters so their communications skills are less developed than with group-living species, such as dogs,” PDSA Vet Anna Ewers Clark explained to Bored Panda during an earlier interview.

#19

This Is Mufasa. He’s A World Champion Yeller And Also Very Fluffy. I Call It “Airing His Grievances”. He Has Many

This Is Mufasa. He’s A World Champion Yeller And Also Very Fluffy. I Call It “Airing His Grievances”. He Has Many

shakycam3 Report

#20

Happy Halloween From My Yeller Sylvester And I!

Happy Halloween From My Yeller Sylvester And I!

ElSpico Report

ADVERTISEMENT

Kittens will meow in order to communicate with their cat moms and they develop this ability even if they’re isolated from their parents and siblings. However, once they become adults, many of them will stop meowing. "Sometimes, they will hiss or yowl at each other (usually in defense or during a fight) but the primary way of communicating with other cats once they’re grown is through body language,” the vet told us. However, adult cats will meow to talk to us.

"As we tend to pay our cats attention when they meow, this encourages them to chat to us and many cats learn that certain meows and sounds will get a specific response from their human. For example, meowing in our ear in the morning often leads to breakfast; few owners can sleep through a persistent cat shouting! This means that they keep meowing at us while we’re in bed hoping we’ll get the message that it’s time to get up. This can be thought of like an owner-cat ‘language’ with cats using their voices to explain what they need,” the vet said.

#22

Bean Doing A Yell After Adoption

Bean Doing A Yell After Adoption

nakedplantlady Report

ADVERTISEMENT

"Although there will be cat meows that will are unique to each individual (and sometimes specific to each owner), some noises cats make can be common across all cats. Trills and chirrups are usually a cat greeting and will often be accompanied by the ‘tail up’ signal which is a welcoming gesture," the PDSA representative told Bored Panda earlier.

"Hissing, yowling and snarling are most commonly heard as part of an attack or defense when your cat feels threatened. If your cat is making any of these noises, it’s important to try to figure out what’s upsetting them and try to stop or prevent it,” she said.

#25

“Use Yer Heckin Blinker Next Time, Ya Overgrown Hairball”

“Use Yer Heckin Blinker Next Time, Ya Overgrown Hairball”

evacia Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#27

I Took My Boy To The Vet. This Is How He Felt About It

I Took My Boy To The Vet. This Is How He Felt About It

Elanadin Report

"A relaxed, happy purr is an indication that your cat is satisfied with life. This might be when they’re curled up on your lap or stealing the fluffy blankets. However, purring can also indicate pain or severe stress so always look at your cat’s body language and think about whether you’d expect them to be relaxed in their current surroundings,” she explained.

“Kittens will still meow even if they grow up away from their own kind. In fact, if kittens are brought up being cared for entirely by people, this can actually mean they’re more talkative as they have learned that humans respond to them and give them food or attention when they meow. However, if kittens don’t grow up around people, only around other cats, they may stop meowing when they’re older."

#28

This Is Ruby. She Yells Every Time You Say Her Name

This Is Ruby. She Yells Every Time You Say Her Name

[deleted] Report

#29

This Is Waffles. Waffles Has Been Shouting At Me For 10 Years. She’s My Ride Or Die

This Is Waffles. Waffles Has Been Shouting At Me For 10 Years. She’s My Ride Or Die

richdangerowens Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#30

Silly Kitten At Work For His Neuter That Kept Screaming At Us To Hold Him (Which I Did And Then When I Had To Put Him Back, He Resumed Lol)😍❤️

Silly Kitten At Work For His Neuter That Kept Screaming At Us To Hold Him (Which I Did And Then When I Had To Put Him Back, He Resumed Lol)😍❤️

Coffeepanda09 Report

Let us know which of these cat pics made you the happiest! And tell us all about how your cat communicates with you.

For some more cats who love yelling and meowing, take a peek at Bored Panda's previous features here, here, and here.

#31

I Am Not Your Remote Holder

I Am Not Your Remote Holder

kevonicus Report

Add photo comments
POST
PlatinumTheCat
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My cat is weird, he would just lay there with whatever c**p I put on him and not care

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#32

This Little Girl Screaming At My Local Animal Shelter

This Little Girl Screaming At My Local Animal Shelter

xlr8_87 Report

#33

Yelling Because She’s Happy The Sun Is Out And She Needs Us All To Watch Her Enjoy It!

Yelling Because She’s Happy The Sun Is Out And She Needs Us All To Watch Her Enjoy It!

leighwick Report

#34

Two Yellers

Two Yellers

adelemw Report

#35

My Mom Is Giving Rei Kisses And She Is Having None Of It

My Mom Is Giving Rei Kisses And She Is Having None Of It

Fireboss76 Report

#36

He Yelled At Me For Waking Him From His Nap. In My Clothes

He Yelled At Me For Waking Him From His Nap. In My Clothes

fascismforfun87 Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#37

Daegon Channeling The Beast Inside Of Him

Daegon Channeling The Beast Inside Of Him

S_Elieen Report

#38

Found A Kitten In My Engine And He’s Got Sh*t To Say

Found A Kitten In My Engine And He’s Got Sh*t To Say

AJfuckingSucks Report

Add photo comments
POST
ƒιѕн
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah like how scared he was and how long it took you to find him and get him some food. Now clean them ears and give him a bath. You can even live in the house with him.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#39

My GF Made A Friend At Her Grandpas House

My GF Made A Friend At Her Grandpas House

wyrmface Report

#40

This Is Fridge. She Would Like To File A Formal Complaint With The Staff About Feeding Schedules

This Is Fridge. She Would Like To File A Formal Complaint With The Staff About Feeding Schedules

flicus Report

#42

Gizmo Wanted To Be In The Bathroom, But Now He Doesn't ¯_(ツ)_/¯

Gizmo Wanted To Be In The Bathroom, But Now He Doesn't ¯_(ツ)_/¯

notabiochemist Report

#43

This Is Banana. He Scream

This Is Banana. He Scream

scoutfinches Report

#44

Little Screamer

Little Screamer

MrCreamHands Report

Add photo comments
POST
Kathryn Baylis
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, put the baby tf down and soothe her, instead of holding her in a way that’s uncomfortable. Cripes, remember you’re holding a living creature if you have to take a goddamned picture, ffs. Try to hold them in a way that’s more comfortable for them. If YOU wouldn’t like to be held like that, then don’t hold them like that, ffs.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#45

Don’t Judge My Sits!!!

Don’t Judge My Sits!!!

it_rolleda6 Report

Note: this post originally had 103 images. It’s been shortened to the top 45 images based on user votes.