Cats only meow at owners when they want something

Detailed summary

A study suggests cats may be using their famous meows to get something from their owners rather than simply showing affection.

Cats may have a reputation for being independent, but new research suggests their famous meows could actually be a carefully targeted attempt to get what they want from their owners.

Scientists found that cats meowed significantly more often when their humans were nearby while they were trying to reach an inaccessible food reward.

The researchers from the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil set out to investigate the "audience effect" in cats, examining whether their behaviour changed depending on whether a person was present.

They observed 38 cats in their homes after placing their favourite food inside a box they could not open.

The animals were watched for around a minute both with and without their owners present.

The results showed the cats produced significantly more meows when their owners were there.

They also frequently stood still and looked directly towards their humans while meowing.

When their owners were absent, the cats were more likely to stare silently at the door.

The researchers explained: "A signal is considered socially communicative, rather than simply a reflection of a motivational or emotional state, when it is influenced by the presence of other individuals – the so–called audience effect.

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