If you thought cheetahs, being the sleek and powerful speed demons of the animal kingdom, would have a deep, thunderous roar like a lion or tiger—you’re in for a delightful surprise. Instead of intimidating roars, cheetahs chirp, meow, and purr—and honestly, it’s one of the cutest things you’ll ever hear.
Most people assume that all big cats share the same vocal abilities. Lions roar to establish dominance, tigers growl to warn intruders, and leopards have deep, raspy calls that echo through the wild. But cheetahs? They do something completely different. Their primary form of vocal communication is a high-pitched chirp that sounds more like a bird than a predator. It’s both bizarre and adorable, and if you’ve never heard it before, prepare to have your mind blown.
Cheetahs chirp mostly to communicate with their cubs or call out to one another across distances. In the wild, a mother cheetah will chirp loudly if her cubs wander too far, a sound that helps them reunite. The cubs, in turn, chirp back, letting her know where they are. The result? A conversation that sounds way more like a nest of birds than a family of big cats.
And the cuteness doesn’t stop there. Cheetahs also purr—loudly! Unlike lions and tigers, whose purring is usually deep and rumbling, cheetah purrs are softer, more rhythmic, and can last for long stretches, especially when they’re relaxed or bonding with their young. Imagine a house cat’s content purr, but bigger, richer, and even more soothing.
Another unexpected cheetah sound? A tiny, kitten-like meow. It’s not as frequent as their chirps or purrs, but cheetahs sometimes let out soft meows, especially in casual social interactions. It’s almost like they forgot they’re one of the most efficient hunters on the planet and decided to embrace their inner house cat instead.
The reason cheetahs don’t roar like other big cats comes down to their vocal cord structure. Unlike lions and tigers, whose larynx is designed for deep, earth-shaking roars, cheetahs have a different anatomy that allows them to purr continuously but not produce a full-fledged roar. In a way, their voice matches their personality—elegant, unique, and unexpectedly charming.
So if you’ve never heard a cheetah chirp before, you’re definitely not alone. But once you do, there’s no going back—it’s one of nature’s most surprising, cutest, and most unforgettable sounds!
