Not all big cats can roar like a lion, a tiger, or a leopard. Snow leopards are one of those cats. Rather than roaring, snow leopards make a sound some people classify as a “yowl.” It may not have that same reverberating effect as a roar, but this sound is eerie nonetheless.
Videos by Outdoors
The Buffalo Zoo shared a video of a snow leopard named Altai making its yowl sound, adding that these animals make other sounds too (just not roaring): “It may be hard to believe, but snow leopards do not roar like other big cats! Their vocal cords are structured in a way that prevents them from doing so. Instead, they yowl, like Altai does in this video. Snow leopards will also hiss, moan, growl, and make a puffing sound called a ‘chuff.’”
Turn your volume up and listen to a snow leopard’s non-roar sound here: