Cats Rarely Meow at Other Cats — Do They Save Their Voices for Us?

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While it's commonly believed that cats only meow to communicate with their human owners, researchers say there isn't enough scientific evidence to confirm this. Cats primarily use scent and body language to communicate, and vocalizations like meowing may be more important for cats living with humans who are a very vocal species. Researchers are now studying shelter cats and feral colonies to better understand how cats communicate with each other.

Why it matters

Understanding how cats communicate, both with humans and with other cats, can provide insights into their behavior and social dynamics. This research could help improve how we interact with and care for our feline companions.

The details

Most research on cat communication has been based on owner reports, which can be biased. Researchers like Carly Moody at UC Davis are now studying cat interactions in more controlled settings like animal shelters. They've found that cats are much more active at night when the shelter is closed, suggesting they may be vocalizing to each other then. Studying feral cat colonies could also provide more insight, but past research on feral cats has had methodological issues.

• In 2002, a paper in the journal Anthrozoös suggested cats rub against humans for social reasons, like they do with other cats.
• A 2016 study in the journal Developmental Psychobiology found that very young kittens can communicate vocally with their mothers and distinguish their mother's voice.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Researchers plan to continue studying shelter cats and feral cat colonies to better understand how cats communicate with each other, especially through vocalizations like meowing.