It might feel like an honour to be your pet’s chosen one, but pet behaviourist Amanda Campion explained how it may come with strings attached. The clinical animal behaviourist, with decades of experience around cats, claimed that you can learn a lot about how a cat sees the world around them by how they speak.
In a video on TikTok, she said: “Your cat might talk your ear off, but ignores everyone else – there’s a reason. Meowing is a learnt behaviour and it’s actually a way of Life communicating with a human. Very rarely will cats meow to each other, saving them for us humans.”
Even if you live in a busy house with lots of people, finding that your cat constantly comes to you and meows isn’t a sign of affection. In fact, it is their own way of training you.
Amanda said: “Cats will very often train one human that they have found out gives them the best results from that meow. So, if it’s you that they are often meowing at, and not your partner, then it is because you’ve delivered quick and fast results, whereas your partner hasn’t.
The pet specialist added that people who talk back to and have ‘conversations’ with their cats that to have more interactive relationships. She said: “They might associate your scent and your voice with feeding and with care.”
Amanda went on to claim that, if you make your feline family members feel safe, then they’re likely to reciprocate with a conversation. The changes in a cat’s voice might be “subtle”, but when you pay close attention, you’ll notice they likely have a different “voice” for different humans they encounter.
People with cats of their own were quick to share their experiences in the comments section. One joked: “So what you’re telling me is my cat considers me the primary servant over my husband?”
Another added: “Makes sense! Mine has trained me well!” And, a third commented: “OMG yes! They beg my partner for food but never beg me!”
Why is my cat meowing so much?
According to Cats Protection, the amount of meowing your cat is doing might signal something wrong. The charity adds: “Cats rarely have a change in behaviour for no reason”.
The advice continues that, if your cat is meowing more than normal, try to look at their body language. A spokesperson shared: “If their ears are turned out to the side or back, rather than relaxed and facing forwards, that’s a sign that they may be feeling anxious. If the eyes and pupils are wide, they might be worried.
“If you have noticed a change in the type or frequency of sounds your cat is making, it is best to take them to the vet to rule out any underlying health problems.”
