Cats might be famous for their mysterious ways, but new research suggests they’re even more perceptive than we realised.
A recent study found that cats meow more often when greeting men than women.
It turns out our feline friends don’t just recognise our voices; they also adapt their behaviour to match our responses.
Researchers from Ankara University, Turkiye whose research was published in the journal Ethology observed dozens of cats in their home environments and discovered that male owners typically received more meows, purrs, and chirps within seconds of walking through the door.
The difference wasn’t random, cats seemed to have learned that men respond more slowly to subtle cues, so they turn up the volume to make themselves heard.
Women, on the other hand, tend to notice quieter signals, allowing cats to stay more subdued.
This discovery adds another layer to the complex relationship between humans and cats, proving they’re not only observant but also emotionally intelligent creatures who read us far better than we might think.
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Cats Have Different Conversations With Men And Women
If you’ve ever felt like your cat is trying harder to get your attention than someone else’s, you might not be imagining it.
Researchers from Ankara University in Turkey, led by Yasemin Salgırlı Demirbaş, studied 31 cats living in their homes between 2022 and 2024.
The cats’ owners were asked to wear chest-mounted cameras as they returned home, allowing scientists to capture the first five minutes of reunion without interference.
When the videos were analysed, a clear pattern emerged.
On average, cats directed around 4.3 meows in the first 100 seconds toward men, compared to 1.8 meows for women.
The behaviour was consistent regardless of the cat’s age, breed, sex, or household size.
Why Do Cats Meow More At Men?
The researchers believe the reason lies in communication style.
Men may respond more slowly or less frequently to their cat’s body language, prompting felines to be more vocal to get their attention.
Meanwhile, women tend to engage more through speech and notice subtle gestures, so cats don’t need to rely as much on meowing.
This doesn’t mean cats prefer one gender over the other. Rather, it highlights how flexible their communication can be.
Domestic cats have evolved to read human behaviour remarkably well, often adjusting their tactics depending on who they’re interacting with.
Cats Read Us Better Than We Realise
Beyond meowing, the researchers also tracked 22 specific behaviours, including tail posture, yawning, stretching, and head-rubbing. Interestingly, vocalisation was the only behaviour that varied between male and female owners.
However, the study also revealed how cats express their emotional state during greetings.
Cats that felt calm and comfortable tended to keep their tails upright, approach confidently, and rub against their owner’s legs.
Those experiencing stress or hesitation were more likely to yawn, scratch, lick themselves, or shake their fur, all subtle signs of self-soothing or uncertainty.
Culture And Context Might Play A Role
While the results are intriguing, the researchers were quick to point out a few limitations.
All of the households in the study were based in Turkey, and cultural factors such as how often owners interact with their pets or how long they’re away from home may influence feline behaviour.
Even factors like feeding time or hunger levels could have affected how vocal the cats were.
That said, the findings align with what many cat owners have long suspected.
Cats are much more socially aware than they’re given credit for.
They don’t just meow randomly but adapt, observe, and communicate in ways that best suit their human companions.
The Study Used Innovative Recording Methods
What made this research particularly clever was the use of chest-mounted cameras worn by the owners themselves.
This approach allowed scientists to capture natural, unfiltered interactions between cats and their caregivers without disrupting the environment or influencing the animals’ behaviour.
Traditional observation methods might have caused cats to act differently, but this technique preserved authenticity.
The cameras recorded the first five critical minutes after the owner arrived home.
This window of time proved ideal for analysing greeting behaviours and vocal patterns, offering researchers a genuine look at how cats communicate during reunions.
What This Means For Cat Owners
So, if your cat seems to meow endlessly when you walk through the door, they might not be scolding you but trying to hold a conversation in the only language they know.
And if they’re quieter around someone else, it doesn’t mean they care less.
It simply shows that cats, in their quiet genius, know exactly how to tailor their behaviour to the people they live with.
Understanding this can help you respond better to your pet’s needs.
Pay attention to both their vocal and non-vocal cues, and you’ll strengthen the bond you share with your feline friend.
