No—cheetahs cannot roar. They make a range of other sounds, including chirps, purrs, growls, barks, hisses and a call that sounds somewhat like a meow. “They meow instead” is catchy shorthand, but a chirp is described as their most common vocalization, and meowing is only one part of a broader repertoire.
Why can’t cheetahs roar?
Cheetahs are not among the big cats that roar. The Cheetah Conservation Fund explicitly distinguishes them from lions, tigers, leopards and jaguars, which can roar. Cheetahs communicate with other calls instead, as described by the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and the Cheetah Conservation Fund.
What sounds do cheetahs make?
Smithsonian lists purrs, barks, growls, hisses, chirps, stutters and a meow-like “eeaow.” The calls do not all serve one purpose, and their sounds are not simply a domestic cat’s meow in different forms.
| Call | What is known |
|---|---|
| Chirp | Smithsonian describes chirping as the cheetah’s most common vocalization. It can occur in varied situations, including when a female is in estrus, when an animal is distressed, between separated or reunited males, and between mothers and cubs. |
| Meow or “eeaow” | Smithsonian describes the call as similar to a domestic cat’s meow but lacking its initial low frequency. A 2016 study classified meow as one of seven call types and found it was the most frequent type in its captive sample. |
| Purr | Smithsonian describes purring as a close-range call that can continue during both inhalation and exhalation. |
| Bark, growl, hiss and stutter | These are also included in Smithsonian’s list of cheetah vocalizations; the reviewed descriptions do not assign each a single fixed meaning. |
Does “meow” mean cheetahs sound just like house cats?
No. “Meow” is a label for one cheetah call, not a claim that the call is identical to a house cat’s or that cheetahs only meow. Smithsonian’s description of the “eeaow” notes an acoustic difference: it lacks the initial low frequency associated with a domestic-cat meow.
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The 2016 study by Smirnova and colleagues, published in PLOS ONE, recorded 8,120 calls across 457 acoustic-recording trials involving 13 adult captive cheetahs at four Russian zoos. Researchers identified seven call types and reported meow as the most frequent in that dataset. Those results describe that captive sample; they do not establish that meow is the most frequent call for all cheetahs, including wild animals. Read the study.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What does a cheetah’s chirp mean?
There is no single meaning that applies to every chirp. Smithsonian reports chirping in several circumstances: females in estrus, distressed animals, separated or reunited males, and mothers communicating with cubs. Context matters, so hearing a chirp alone is not enough to identify what a cheetah is experiencing.
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