Oh I believe you 100%. One of our cats (the one that is curious but can't go out) was a rescue and we had her, spayed and at home, by the time she was 10 weeks! (usually they stay with mom for 12 at least)

One of the things we learnt is that when they are kittens they meow but Mom teaches them to stay quiet because they are predators. In time, they realize us humans respond to the meow so they do it for us; you certainly noticed that when they see a squirrel or bird out the window, they make completely different noises.

Well, this cat never learnt because Mom was not around so she does not meow to us at all, she chirps at us all sorts of weird sounds and seems to establish a full on conversation (it's not just one odd sound, it's a series of chirps and wails hahaha)