I stumbled across a video describing the evolution of "feline verbal language."  The theory is that cats only talk (meow) when they are communicating with humans.  It's a skill they've developed over centuries to actually manipulate humans.

Among cats, they rely on body language, growls, hisses, puffed-up fur, posing and purring to communicate.  They use the same when communicating with other animals.

However, when they want something from a human, they use the appropriate sound to get what they want or need.  They know one sound gets them food, another gets them affection/petting, and so on.  They even modify sounds when they discover which ones work best on "their" humans.

i have always been able to carry on conversations with my cats just as I've observed others doing.  Cats definitely learn certain English words like their names or "hungry?"  But that's just conditioned responses.  It's odd that i never really thought about how cats don't meow among themselves or to other species.

Never had cats until a few months ago....they showed up looking next to death....all skin and bones. Very vocal when they see my wife,but not really friendly as in pet friendly. Saw the story and can see  how the little guys seem to know how to ask for what they need! We had a rat problem when it rained hard...no more rats!! I'm 78 yrs old and I think my chickens talk to me also!!

If your animals are not trying to communicate with you then something is wrong