WHY CATS MEOW AT HUMANS MORE THAN EACH OTHER

Thousands of years ago, cats were originally solitary creatures, preferring to live and hunt alone rather than in groups. Their social interactions were mostly limited to mother-kitten relationships, and outside of this dynamic, cats seldom meowed at each other.

However, as cats began coexisting with humans, their vocalizations took on new significance. When a cat meows at us, it’s akin to viewing us as their caregivers, much like their own feline mothers.

Cats likely encountered humans around 10,000 years ago, as humans settled into permanent communities. These settlements attracted rodents, which in turn drew cats seeking prey. Cats that were less fearful and more adaptable flourished, benefiting from a steady food source. Gradually, these cats developed closer relationships with humans.

Unlike dogs, which were selectively bred by humans for specific traits, cats essentially domesticated themselves. Those that could tolerate and communicate with humans gained an evolutionary advantage, leading to a population well-suited to cohabiting with people.

To understand this process, we can examine the Russian farmed fox experiments initiated in the 1950s by Soviet scientist Dmitry Belyaev and his team. They selectively bred silver foxes, pairing those that displayed less fear and aggression toward humans.

Across generations, these foxes gradually became more docile and friendly, acquiring physical traits reminiscent of domesticated dogs such as floppy ears and curly tails. Their vocalizations also evolved, transitioning from aggressive “coughs” and “snorts” to more amicable “cackles” and “pants,” akin to human laughter.

These experiments illustrated that selective breeding for tameness could induce a spectrum of behavioral and physical transformations in animals, achieving in a few decades what typically would take millennia. While less distinct than the differences between dogs and their ancestral wolves, cats too have evolved since their days as African wildcats. They now exhibit smaller brains and a broader array of coat colors, characteristics commonly observed in many domesticated species.

Cats’ vocal adaptations

Similar to silver foxes, cats have also adapted their vocalizations, although this process occurred over a significantly longer timeframe. Human babies are born altricial, meaning they are entirely dependent on their parents at birth. This profound dependency has made humans particularly sensitive and responsive to distress calls – ignoring them could potentially jeopardize human survival.

Cats have modified their vocalizations to capitalize on this human sensitivity. Research by animal behaviorist Karen McComb and her team in 2009 provided evidence of this adaptation. Participants in the study listened to two types of purrs: one recorded when cats were seeking food (solicitation purr) and another when they were not (non-solicitation purr). Both cat owners and non-cat owners rated the solicitation purrs as more urgent and less pleasant.

Acoustic analysis revealed a high-pitched component in these solicitation purrs, resembling a cry. This embedded cry taps into our innate sensitivity to distress sounds, making it difficult for us to ignore.

Humans have also adapted their vocalizations. When speaking to babies, we use “motherese” or “baby talk,” characterized by higher pitch, exaggerated tones, and simplified language, which helps engage infants and supports their language development.

We extend this style of communication to our interactions with pets, known as pet-directed speech. Recent research, such as a 2022 study by animal behaviorist Charlotte de Mouzon and colleagues, indicates that cats can distinguish between speech addressed to them and speech directed to adults. This discrimination is particularly strong when the speech comes from their owners.

Our adoption of pet-directed speech reinforces a bond that mirrors mother-kitten interactions. Changes in vocalizations are not unique to cat-human relationships. Dogs, compared to their ancestral wolf counterparts, have expanded their barking behavior to communicate more effectively with humans. Similar to cats, we use pet-directed speech when interacting with dogs.

Over time, cats have evolved to use vocal signals that resonate with our nurturing instincts. Coupled with our use of pet-directed speech, this two-way communication underscores the unique relationship we’ve cultivated with our feline companions. It appears that cats have adeptly adapted to solicit care and attention from us, positioning them as winners in this relationship. Nonetheless, many cat owners wouldn’t have it any other way.