Your cat invented the meow… just for you

Listen to two adult cats crossing paths: hissing, growling, staring… but almost never a "meow". The sound your cat makes at you ten times a day is one it keeps for humans.

A kitten sound it kept for you

Kittens meow to call their mother when they are hungry, cold or scared. As adults, cats communicate with each other mostly through body language: tail and ear position, gaze, scent and rubbing. According to Norwegian ethologist Bjarne Braastad, adult cats keep this baby sound with humans because they have learned it works: we answer.

The purr that asks

In 2009, a British team (University of Sussex) compared the purrs of cats asking for food with their ordinary purrs. The former hide a high-pitched sound close to a baby's cry. Even people without cats rated them as more urgent and less pleasant. Your cat is not scheming, but it has found the button that makes humans react.

It also recognises your "cat voice"

A study published in 2022 in Animal Cognition shows that cats distinguish sentences their owner addresses to them from those addressed to an adult. And the little high-pitched voice we use with our cats is very similar to the one we use with babies.

Every cat has its own vocabulary

A short, high meow often means "hello". A long, insistent meow can signal a request or discomfort. A low tone tends to express displeasure. But each cat develops its own variations with its family, and some breeds, such as the Siamese, are chattier than others.

Frequently asked questions

Should I answer my cat?

Yes, talking to your cat strengthens your bond. Just avoid rewarding every night-time meow if you want to sleep.

My cat meows much more than before: is it serious?

A sudden change, especially in an older cat, may have a medical cause: see a vet.

Why does my cat hardly ever meow?

Some cats are simply quiet and express themselves through body language. If it is new, mention it to your vet.

Read more: does your cat wake you at 3am? and 10 signs your cat loves you.

General information that does not replace a vet's advice.

Sources: McComb K. et al., "The cry embedded within the purr", Current Biology, 2009; de Mouzon C. et al., Animal Cognition, 2022; Braastad B. (NMBU), via Science Norway; Kinship.