Did you know that your pet cat won't go 'meow' in Japanese? Instead, a cat's meow would be
にゃお {noun} meow (also: mewing, miaow) ニャー {noun} meow.
For example, in English cats say “meow,” but in Japan, they say “nyao,” “nya,” or “nyan.” Oh, except for Chobimaru, one of the four cats owned by Japanese Twitter user @llritotomohiro.
Instead of saying meow, cats in Japan say nyan. By coincidence, this is similar to the pronunciation of the Japanese word for “two”. Because of this, February 22, or 22/2, is recognized by many as Neko no Hi, or Cat Day. And since this year has 22/2/2022, it is considered an extra special Cat Day.
The bakeneko (化け猫, "changed cat") is a type of Japanese yōkai, or supernatural entity; more specifically, it is a kaibyō, or supernatural cat. It is often confused with the nekomata, another cat-like yōkai.
It can refer to actual cats or to characters in anime or manga that have catlike features. Specifically, the catgirl (a woman with cat ears, whiskers, and sometimes paws or a tail) is referred to as a neko.
Will My Cat Understand If I “Meow”? 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.
What the cat is trying to say: Kittens meow, or mew, to their moms when they want to nurse. Cats will direct this affectionate sound to a favorite person as a greeting. Unlike the demanding meow, the mew is a polite vocalization that often charms the person on the receiving end.
Do cats understand each other's meows? Yes, cats do understand each other's meows. Sometimes, cats will meow or trill as a form of greeting when they meet.
Nekojita, 猫舌 (cat tongue)
The Japanese have a word for this and its nekojita (猫舌) or “cat's tongue.” While it might sound similar, this Japanese word has no relation to the English idiom “cat got your tongue.” It simply means food or a drink is too hot (not to be confused with too spicy) for you to eat.
From Japanese 猫耳 (nekomimi), from 猫 (neko, “cat”) + 耳 (mimi, “ear”).
nyā, a transliteration of the Japanese onomatopoeia for a cat's meow.
The word for cat in Japanese is neko (猫 / ねこ), and koneko (子猫 / こねこ) for kitten. Cats have their own place in Japanese culture, and that's why there are so many words related to our feline friends in Japanese.
In American English, the spelling "meow" was first used in 1842. Before that, the word could be spelled "miaow", "miau", or "meaw". Of any variant, the earliest attestation of a cat's cry in Early Modern English is from the 1630s.
Kittens meow to let their mother know they're cold or hungry, but once they get a bit older, cats no longer meow to other cats. But they continue to meow to people throughout their lives, probably because meowing gets people to do what they want.
Multiple Meows
If your cat meows multiple times or a few meows every minute, it says he's VERY excited and happy. It's more comfortable version of the short meow, meaning that your cat is saying that it's great to see you. Just like the short meow, give him a pet!
This is a quick, staccato “Meh!” or “Eh!” that seems to serve as a conversational filler or greeting. My cats often do these cat meow sounds when they approach me for affection or just have a dialogue with me.
Turns out, it depends on the cat. Some cats are socialized as kittens to be held and kissed, while others haven't had that exposure and might be put off by a kiss as an expression of love. So, some cats like it and some cats don't—but there are ways of detecting the category into which your feline friend falls.
Conclusion. Most cats don't understand that kisses from humans are a sign of affection. A cat will surely let you know if they enjoy being kissed or not. The best ways to show your cat that you love them are to give them toys, treats, and plenty of one-on-one time.
The gay community in Japan has also adopted Neko (猫) as a term. It refers to partners who enjoy submissiveness rather than being bottom or dominant. It can also refer to femmes among women and twinks among men, both of which are similarly feminine. The opposite word is tachi or top.
As characters, cats (and nekomimi) are not considered furry per se, all though they can be also found in furry art, fursuiting, and as a basis for role play characters or fursonas.
In Kenji Miyazawa's 1924 work, Suisenzuki no Yokka (水仙月の四日, literally The 4th of Narcissus Month) is the first modern day example of a beautiful, cat-eared woman.