Barking Cats

[johnmajor]

My cat sits on the window sill and 'barks' at the birds and makes no obvious attempt to catch them. Does anyone know why? and what is the function of her 'bark'?

[mikewith]

Our cats do the same... I think they've worked out that they're not going to catch the birds so they've given up trying. The bark seems to be their way of informing the other cats that they are indeed superhunters, who have spotted potential prey... but without the hastle of doing much about it.