Chittering at prey is a very common cat behavior. It shows that they are simultaneously excited by the prey and frustrated that they can’t get to it. My cats chitter when they sit on their window perch and see birds or squirrels on the lawn.
What’s also funny is when they are dreaming, now that’s a hoot.
It is also how they slice through the spinal cords - it's that movement of the teeth that does the cutting.
Hyper-predators going through the motions....
You should hear ours when they bring in wiggly presents for us. They loudly announce, “LOOK, MAMA, WHAT WE BROUGHT YOU!!!” Yesterday, a 3 foot snake and a giant lizard dropped at my feet (the lizard, not the snake). Big brother is one the porch watching the young’uns wrestle.
My cats do the same but I never knew the name for it. Chittering, I like it. Thank you.
We live in a highrise. A pigeon used to tease our cat by strutting up to the glass door & parade about while spreading its wings. Kitty’s chittering was that of a very frustrated cat.
If the sound could be translated into English it would probably amount to seven popular words and the FCC would ban it being broadcast.