Lions, jaguars,leopards, and tigers are known for their deafening roars. But why can’t wild and pet cats do the same? The answer lies in a small bone called the ‘hyoid’. The hyoid bone in big cats is flexible. It has a specialized stretchable ligament that enables these cats to emit a wide range of pitch. Air passing through a big cat’s vocal cords stretches the ligament. The more the ligament is stretched, the deeper and more intimidating pitch is produced by the cat. Another anatomical feature that allows big cats to make deafening sounds is the shape of their vocal cords. Unlike most animals whose vocal cords are triangular in shape, big cats have square vocal cords that helps vocal cord tissues withstand stretch.
On the other hand, the hyoid bone of domestic cats and other wild cats that are unable to roar is completely ossified. This means it has hardened thus making it non-flexible. This is why your cat can only produce a less intimidating meow or purr which is a far cry from the deafening sound that their cousins make.
Your local animal hospital Columbia MD is a valuable source of information about your pet’s health and/or behavior.
