Sound Off

Have you ever wondered what your pet is saying? Whether it's a loud bark, a soft purr or a little chirp, our pets are communicating with us in their own way!

A Dog's Life

We consulted Interpreting Your Dog's Barking for Dummies for clues about your dog's thoughts:

• Sighs mean "I'm content and am going to settle down here awhile."
• Panting is a simple sound of stress, excitement, or tense anticipation.
• Long string of barks with pauses mean "I'm lonely and need companionship."
• One or two sharp short barks are an indication of seeing someone familiar.
• A series of yelps means "I'm really scared!" "I'm hurting!" "I surrender!"

The Cat's Meow

The Humane Society has these insights into your feline friend's sounds:

• The yowl is a long, drawn-out meow with a few possible meanings: your cat is scared, in pain, looking for a mate, or has captured prey.
• The all-purpose "meow" can be a greeting, a command, an objection, or an announcement.
• Chattering is the strange noise your cat makes when she's sitting at the window watching birds or squirrels.
• Her rumbling purr is usually a sign of contentment.

For the Birds

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology decodes your feathered friend's favorite chirps:

• Long and elaborate songs are used to impress and attract a mate or declare territorial boundaries.
• Briefer calls, typically used to identify family members, announce the presence of a predator, or convey information about food.

JABBERS' Picks: Unique Pet Names

Rebecca Kollaras' cat Paul Anka

What's in a name, JABBERS? A lot of great stories! We wanted to know your most unusual pet names and hot diggety dog, we received some entertaining and interesting replies. You all are a creative bunch! Read below for a few of your fellow JABBERS' pet names.

Drink Up! 

Erin McVeigh said, "We have a dog named Murphy. I got him on St. Patrick's Day and when we came home I opened a Murphy's stout - seeing that bottle, I knew I had the perfect name. A few years later I met my husband who had a cat named Soda. I asked why the cat had such an unusual name and he explained it was from a Seinfeld episode where George wants to name the kid "Soda." How could two people who name their animals after beverages not fall in love?!"

Fit for a King 

Boo Zamek said, "Our cat is named Charles {Charlie} because we always said if we ever had a boy, we would name him after King Charles, Czech Holy Roman Emperor from the 1300s. {My husband is Czech.} After our second - and last - daughter was born, we adopted a male cat and naturally graced him with the name we had been holding in reserve for so long. Charlie has proven worthy of the moniker and would certainly make his royal namesake proud!"

Soviet Style 

Cristina Serralta said, "When I went to get my beagle there were two left from the litter and one had a stain on his head. We nicknamed him Gorbachev. I ended up getting the other one, but in honor of the Soviets, I named my doggie Nakita."

I Scream for Ice Cream 

Scott Krupie said, "After the Marlins won their second World Series, we intended to name our next dog Pudge for Pudge Rodriguez. However, our reverse brindle boxer looks like a hot fudge sundae, so we named him Fudge instead!"

Sing the Same Tune 

Rebecca Kollaras said, "My cat is named Paul Anka. I heard a loud meowing and opened the door and saw a one-pound kitten crying for attention on my doorstep. He was crooning like Paul Anka."

Culture Shock  

Patricia Rodriguez said, "I named my dachshund Moma after the Museum of Modern Art in New York. I love traveling and New York is one of my favorite locations, bustling with energy and full of cultural hot spots. The majority of people mispronounce it and call her 'Momma' or 'Mona' but I love those moments when strangers stop for a chat and say 'MoMa, like the museum?' They get it!"

A New Meaning  

Marcy Goldstein said, "We have two westies. When we went to the breeders to choose the first one, the puppy was climbing all over my husband. He remarked that the puppy was such a Vonce, Yiddish for bed bug.  I said what a great name for our dog, who we've now had for 11 years. When it came time to get our female, my husband came up with the name Vilda, short for Vildachia, which means trouble maker - she lives up to her reputation."