When male cat owners return home and see their cats meowing as they approach, it's natural to feel touched. But hold that thought—the behavior might not always stem from affection. A study published in the November issue of Ethology suggests that compared to female owners, cats meow more often when greeting men because they recognize that men "need clearer vocal cues before paying attention and responding to their needs." In other words, even cats seem to confirm what many have joked about: men aren't the best listeners, so cats adjust their behavior accordingly.
In the study, volunteers who identified themselves as their household's primary caregivers wore discreet cameras to record the first few minutes after they returned home. They were asked to behave as naturally as possible. The research team analyzed the first 100 seconds of footage from 31 participants. If a household had multiple cats, only the first cat to approach was analyzed. Among all examined factors—such as the cats' sex, age, breed type, and number of cats in the home—only one variable correlated with meowing frequency: the owner's biological sex.
On average, during the 100-second greeting window, cats meowed 4.3 times toward men but only 1.8 times toward women. The researchers theorized that this pattern reflects distinct communication styles. Previous studies have shown that female owners tend to talk more to their cats and may also be better at interpreting feline vocal cues.
Jonathan Losos, an evolutionary biologist at Washington University in St. Louis, commented that the idea makes sense as long as other possible explanations are ruled out. "So the authors are basically saying men are clueless, often ignore their cats, and that cats have to speak louder to get their attention… which might actually be true," he joked.
However, Mikel Delgado, a senior researcher and feline behavior expert at Purdue University, cautioned against overgeneralizing. "We must interpret these findings carefully and avoid assuming they apply to all cats," she said. The study also didn't consider factors such as how long the cats had been left alone or whether they were hungry at the time. Although participants were told to act naturally, the study didn't record how much the owners spoke to their cats during filming—something that could also affect meowing frequency.
Kaan Kerman, a psychology lecturer at Bilkent University in Turkey and a member of the research team, acknowledged that cultural influences may play a role. Because all participants lived in Turkey, regional patterns could affect results. Previous research has shown that cat-human interactions vary across cultures. In Turkey, men tend to communicate less verbally with cats, possibly prompting cats to vocalize more assertively to get their attention.
Kerman hopes that researchers in other countries will replicate the study, emphasizing that it is crucial for feline welfare. "Cats are very good at hiding their problems," he noted. "The better humans understand what cats are trying to express, the better we can care for them."
