The study did not directly investigate the cause of increased vocalization toward men, but the researchers offered several possible explanations. Women in the study tended to give their cats more attention, were generally better at assessing feline emotional states, and were more likely to mimic cat vocalizations.
“It is therefore possible that male caregivers require more explicit vocalizations to notice and respond to the needs of their cats, which in turn reinforces cats’ tendency to use more directed and frequent vocal behavior to attract their attention,” the researchers suggest.
What the Study Adds
Although the study involved a relatively small sample size and participants from only one country, its use of recorded video footage gives it an advantage over many pet studies that rely on owner self-reporting.
The findings also reinforce existing research showing that cats use vocalizations strategically—to attract attention, express affection, or signal dissatisfaction. Rather than being aloof or indifferent, cats may be actively adapting their communication style to different humans.
Cats have lived alongside humans for thousands of years, yet researchers continue to uncover new insights into how they recognize us and how communication between species evolves.
“These findings suggest that cat greetings are multimodal, may reflect different motivational or emotional states, and can be modulated by external factors such as caregiver sex,” the researchers conclude.
