Ask a Vet with Dr. Sam: Is it true that cats only meow at humans?

Next to birds, cats possess the widest range of vocalizations of any domestic pet – in fact, cats can make over 100 distinct sounds! These fall into a variety of nuanced communications such as purring, chirping or trills, chattering, growling, hissing, and of course, meowing. 

Kittens meow to let their mother know when they’re hungry or cold, but as they get older, they generally outgrow this behavior. Adult cats tend not to meow to other cats because they can effectively communicate in other ways – primarily through scent, but also body language, touch, and facial expressions. Cats try to communicate with their humans using these same methods, but frankly, they’ve learned that we’re not very good at picking up on these subtle signals! Which is why cat behaviorists believe cats use meowing as a more effective way to communicate with people to have their needs met.

You’ve probably noticed the difference in your own cat’s meows and the times when it uses them. Maybe you get a quick meow when you greet your cat – this could be the equivalent of them saying “Hello” back to you. However, you probably get a very different meow around feeding time, when the sound is more drawn out or louder indicating your kitty is hungry and expects dinner to be served now! 

Each cat is unique and the amount of meowing or “conversations” a cat might have with its humans could be a result of several factors. For example, kittens who have been well socialized with people might turn into more vocal adults. There are also certain cat breeds (such as Siamese, Burmese, Siberians, and Abyssinians) that are talkative by nature and might display more meowing with their people. 

Getting older is another factor that can impact how vocal a cat is, as age-related dementia, deteriorating eyesight, or hearing loss can all increase your cat’s meowing. A cat who is losing some of its key senses like sight and sound could feel confused and may seek to orientate itself by meowing. In addition, a cat with hearing issues will vocalize louder since they can’t determine their volume. If you notice any changes in your cat’s meowing behavior, it’s important to bring them to your vet to determine the cause and rule out anything that might be causing them pain.

Listen carefully to your cat’s meows to learn what it needs from you and you’re likely to be rewarded with a different vocalization – purring!