Every cat owner has a story to tell of being blanked by their cat, and some of them might be left wondering why they didn't get a dog. Your cat might be listening after all. It cares more than you might think.
A study by French researchers that was published last month in the journal Animal Cognition found that cats respond to what scientists call cat- directed speech, a high-pitched voice similar to how we talk to babies
Charlotte de Mouzon is an author of the study and cat behavior expert. It didn't work when it came from a stranger's voice
Cat behavior is difficult to study, which is one of the reasons we don't understand them as well as dogs. Cats are so stressed out in a lab that they can't make behavioral observations. Don't try to get a cat to sit still for an M.R.I. Scan.
The researchers went to the homes of the cats to play recordings of different types of speech. The team was concerned that the cats weren't reacting. They looked at film recordings of the encounters. The reactions were subtle. It could be moving an ear, turning the head, or even freezing what they were doing
The cats would approach the speaker if they heard a voice and meow. In the end, we had clear gains in the cat's attention when the owner used cat- directed speech.
According to the findings,cats are paying close attention to their caretakers, down to not only what they are saying, but how they are saying it.
Dr. Vitale has been researching relationships between cats and their owners. Dr. Vitale has found that the relationship between a kitten and its mother is similar to this one. Attachment behaviors intended for interactions with their mother may have been changed for interactions with humans.
Cats prefer human interaction over toys and food.
Dogs are assumed to be friendlier due to genetics.
Sarah Jeannin, who was not involved in the new study, said that dogs were artificially selected hundreds or thousands of years ago based on their ability to be trained.
According to Dr. Jeannin, dogs are not as close to humans as people think. People say that dogs are good friends, that you can trust them, and that they are very loyal. She said that they didn't know what dogs thought. The projection is that dogs are in love with us.
Scientists didn't ask the right questions about cats for a long time. Those who believe in the perfidy of cats won't like the answers that are emerging.
The idea that social interaction with humans is important in the life of a cat is supported by a growing body of work.
Cats respond in subtle ways, but that doesn't mean they're not friendly.
Cats don't do what you think they'll do. She said that if cats don't come when they're called, it could be because they're busy doing something else or resting. When you call a dog, the dog will show up. Would you go if you called a human when they were napping at the other end of the house?
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