@futurebird One of my cats basically quietly says "meh" when she meows because she is afraid to be too loud. (She can meow normally. I've heard it before. I don't know why she whispers.)

My parents used to have a cat that had a voice like someone who had smoked all their life (no the cat didn't smoke!) The worst thing was, she wasn't satisfied just to gravel-meow. She'd stand in the hallway and shout as loud as she could because it was important that everyone hear.