What Do Cats Think When Humans Meow At Them?

Have you ever wondered what goes through your cat’s mind when you meow at them? Does your cat understand you? Do they think you’ve lost your marbles? Cats can be perplexing creatures, so their reactions to our strange antics aren’t always clear.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Cats don’t actually understand human meows, but they can pick up on the tone and intentions behind them based on your body language, facial expressions, and other contextual cues.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore why humans meow at cats in the first place, what science tells us about how cats perceive human meows, and how to interpret your cat’s different reactions when you try communicating with them through meows.

Why Do Humans Meow at Cats?

Humans meow at cats for several reasons, often to show affection, bond with their feline friends, or get their attention. Meowing at cats can seem silly, but it serves important purposes for cat-human relationships.

Showing Affection

Many cat owners meow at their cats as a way to vocally express fondness. Just as saying “I love you” to human loved ones reinforces affectionate bonds, meowing can communicate caring feelings to pet cats.

Some cats even learn to recognize their owners’ meows as special communication meant just for them. Meowing back at a beloved human is one way cats may return the affectionate gesture.

Mimicking and Bonding

Since meowing is a primary way cats communicate with each other, mimicking their vocalizations can help humans connect with their pets. Copying a cat’s meows shows an interest in engaging with them on their level. This can strengthen social bonds between cats and their people.

So meowing at cats may simply be an attempt to speak their language and deepen the human-feline relationship.

Getting Their Attention

Meowing gets noticed! Cats are alert to meow sounds, so humans often meow to get their cat’s attention. If a cat is sleeping or focused intently on something like watching out a window, a friendly meow can serve as an effective “hey, look at me!” cue.

Meows are less startling than sudden loud noises or touches which could scare a cat. So meowing is a polite way for humans to catch their cat’s interest.

While meowing at cats may seem silly or purposeless to some, it allows humans to tap into feline communication methods. Meowing can strengthen bonds, show affection, and facilitate positive interaction between cats and their human companions.

So the next time you meow at your cat, know it’s not weird – you’re just speaking their language!

How Do Cats Perceive Human Meows?

When humans meow at cats, they often do it to get their attention or as a form of communication. But do cats actually recognize these human meows or understand what we’re trying to say? The answer is more complex than a simple yes or no.

Cats Don’t Recognize Words in Meows

First, it’s important to understand that cats don’t recognize specific words or language in human meows in the same way humans recognize words in human speech. As domesticated animals, cats have learned to recognize human voices and certain key words we frequently use when talking to them, like “treat” or their name.

But they aren’t able to distinguish specific words when we meow at them.

Cats communicate mainly through vocal tones and body language, not complex language. Their meows serve more as emotional expressions than conversations. So when we meow at cats, we aren’t actually speaking their language – we’re just making sound effects!

Cats Respond to Tone, Body Language and Context

Even though cats can’t recognize words in human meows, they can pick up on the tone and read body language cues. A friendly, high-pitched meow will get a different reaction than an aggressive, low-pitched one. Meowing while crouching down and moving slowly towards the cat signals playtime.

But meowing loudly while staring directly at the cat could signal a threat.

Cats also rely heavily on contextual clues. If a human meows while pointing at an empty food bowl, the cat may recognize the meow as connected to feeding time. A meow when a human enters the house may get a welcoming response.

Cats learn to associate certain meows with certain activities or situations based on routines.

Individual Cats May Respond Differently

While most cats rely more on tone than words, some individual cats do seem particularly responsive to human meows. According to Dr. John Bradshaw, cat behavior expert and author of Cat Sense, about 10-15% of cats have better associative learning abilities.

These cats may be able to make associations between certain meows and outcomes.

For example, some cat owners swear their cats respond reliably to commands like “meow for food” or “meow for treat.” This likely reflects the cat making connections over time between that specific meow and being fed.

However, such cases are still the minority – most cats will not learn to associate a particular meow with a particular meaning.

At the end of the day, when humans meow at their cats, we need to remember we aren’t speaking their language. But some strategic meowing, combined with tone, body language and routine, may just help get our message across!

How to Interpret Your Cat’s Reactions to Your Meows

Excited, Energized Response

If your cat responds to your meows with an excited, energized reaction such as running around, jumping, or playfully pawing at you, this likely means they interpret your vocalizations as an invitation to play or interact (ASPCA).

Cats often meow at each other as a way to get attention, so when you meow at your cat, they may think you want to engage with them. An energetic response shows they are feeling motivated for activity and fun.

Some specific positive reactions to watch for include:

• Dilated pupils
• Upright, tall body posture with a high tail
• Rubbing against you or head-butting you
• Gentle nibbling or licking

These are all signs your cat is keyed up in a friendly, eager way by your vocalizations. Make sure to indulge their excitement with playtime or pets to reinforce the bonding experience.

Confused, Startled Response

On the other hand, your cat may react to your meowing with confusion, fear, or by being startled. Signs of this type of negative reaction include:

• Jumping or running away from you
• Hissing, growling, or swatting at you
• Having a crouched, low position with ears folded back
• A puffed up or arched tail

This body language signals that your cat feels threatened and perceives your sounds as unfamiliar or scary. Cats use different meow tones and pitches to communicate specific needs, so the way you are vocalizing likely sounds bizarre or alarming compared to normal cat-to-cat meowing (The Spruce Pets).

It’s best to avoid meowing at cats exhibiting fearful behavior as this will only heighten their stress.

Ignored or Disinterested Response

Lastly, some cats may simply not react at all when owners try to meow at them. An indifferent response with no change in behavior often means the cat does not interpret human meowing as an actual attempt to communicate anything meaningful.

Without a clear message being conveyed, the vocalization gets tuned out.

A 2020 study found that cats do recognize their own names and some human words, but their grasp of our language is limited compared to dogs (