If you talk to your cat in baby talk, you're far from alone. Many animal lovers make their voices higher and more drawn out when talking to their pets, but a new study from Animal Cognition seems to prove that cats actually prefer this sound, too.
Yes, you read that right: A recent study revealed that getting your pet's attention is as simple as speaking with a high-pitched tone and extended vowels, just like how you'd communicate with a human baby. Additionally, the study suggested that your cat can actually tell you apart from strangers.
They're far more likely to pay attention to us when we use this “caregiver speech,” research has shown. Now, scientists have found the same is true for cats, though only when their owner is talking. The work adds evidence that cats—like dogs—may bond with us in some of the same ways infants do.
Talking to dogs and cats in baby talk is a natural behaviour, as it is where the infantile schema comes into play. Most animals like it and are attracted to our cute voice. Your speech has an impact on your pet in everyday life, so pay attention to how your pet behaves with different vocal tones.
Indoor cats react when their owners speak in a high-pitched “kitty voice” – such as by moving their heads and ears more – but not when strangers do so.
Its conclusion may surprise some people: Cats bond with their caregivers to a similar degree as infants and, yes, dogs. “Cats that are insecure can be likely to run and hide or seem to act aloof. There's long been a biased way of thinking that all cats behave this way.
Natural sounds have a relaxing effect on both humans and cats. A prime example is the sound of sea waves. This frequency (twelve vibrations per minute) is perceived as soothing, as it resembles our breathing rhythm during sleep.
Yes, really. Filling a long-standing gap in feline research, a small study shows that cats can distinguish their owners' voices from those of strangers. Like many who share their homes with a cat, I often talk to the miniature predator who sleeps on my pillow.
According to some psychologists, “baby talk” is a way of maintaining proximity and remaining “in touch,” delivering warnings, encouragement, affection, and reassurance even without direct physical contact.
As mentioned, pet-directed speech and baby talk have a lot in common. They both are slower, more melodic and of a higher pitch than adult-directed speech. What this means is that humans might naturally adjust their way of talking when they know that the person or animal they're talking to doesn't speak your language.
Sorry to break it to you, but human meows mean nothing to cats. At most, you can get your cat's attention and they may even appreciate your attempts to communicate by purring or even meowing back. But to most cats, human meows sound like human language.
Every cat is different. While some cats enjoy being kissed, others will not. Some will feel love, while others will not see kissing as a sign of affection. There are better ways than kissing to show a cat affection that they will understand.
In most cases, cats will purr when they are in a relaxed environment, sending out waves of calmness. This may also occur when you stroke them, and if this is the case, your feline friend is feeling happy or sociable. However, cats purr to communicate other emotions and needs, too.
Some cats will be totally unperturbed by an infant's crying, whereas others may become stressed. No one knows exactly why, but one theory is that a crying infant sounds like a baby animal or kitten in distress, which may be why your cat is disturbed by the noise.
Cats lack the cognitive skills to interpret human language, but they recognize when you talk to them. To put it another way, cats comprehend human language in the same way that we understand meowing. It's similar to how you interpret your cat's language by "reading" how they arch their back or swish their tail.
Yep, according to science, some cats can meow at the same frequency as an infant's cry. This may prove one of two things: Cats have manipulated humans' love of babies to their favor; or. Cats and babies are actually the same.
Using baby voice with your dog is totally fine and can even boost your bond with new puppies. People around you might think you sound ridiculous, but you can just tell them science says it's OK.
Based on their positive reactions in this study, it seems like most domesticated canines appreciate the higher-pitched way of speaking you (and I) have become so accustomed to using, because baby talk gives them a sense of love and affection they rely on.
Your pets probably don't understand that in nine months a new baby will be joining your family, but dogs and cats do detect differences in your mood, posture, behavior, and body chemistry that clue them in to the enormous changes you're going through.
Not only the owner's voice will be recognized by a cat. Cats will also learn and memorize the sounds of your footsteps and breathing, among others. Your cat may be waiting for you at the door when you return from work because it has memorized your gait and learned to recognize the sound of your footsteps.
The standard meow is mid-length in duration and mid-pitched in tone and is the “asking for something” sound. The mewl, a short high-pitched meow, usually means “hello,” and can be accompanied by rubbing against your legs. A long, drawn-out meow usually means that your furry friend wants something specific, like dinner.
Cats like peace and quiet. Household conveniences, like vacuum cleaners, can easily disrupttheir nap time.
Cats can hear sounds "about 1.6 octaves higher than humans and one octave above dogs." Loud televisions, video games, stereos and phones all contribute to this type of noise pollution, which can drive your cat crazy, forcing her to retreat into a small space to hide.
Cats, in fact, do enjoy music, but they don't enjoy human music — at least according to new research. A study recently published in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science believes that in order for our feline friends to enjoy music, it has to be species-specific music.