Miaow/miˈaʊ/ Definition 1 of 2Pro Tip 1/3Cat Communication Miaow is often used by cats to communicate with humans rather than with other cats. My cat only miaows when she wants my attention. Pro Tip 2/3Emotion Indicator The tone of miaow can indicate a cat’s mood, such as happy, scared, or hungry. A soft miaow might mean your cat is content. Pro Tip 3/3Onomatopoeia Miaow is an onomatopoeic word, mirroring the actual sound cats make. When I read 'miaow' in a book, I can almost hear a cat.