Research overview: comparative vocal repertoires across the cat family

Felid species differ in their vocal repertoires, and comparative bioacoustics has sought to map these differences onto phylogeny and ecology. This overview surveys work cataloguing call types across small and large cats, the roar-versus-purr divide tied to hyoid anatomy, and species-specific signals such as the tiger's prusten or chuffing greeting, the snow leopard's main call, and the variety of close-contact sounds shared across the family. It discusses how social structure and habitat acoustics shape signal design. The topic provides an evolutionary framework for understanding why some cats specialise in long-distance roars while others rely on short-range murmurs and contact calls.