A recent study in Turkey has concluded that cats modify their vocal communication according to the sex of their owner, and that they meow more frequently when greeting males. The research, led by Kaan Kerman – assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at Bilkent University in Turkey– and conducted in conjunction with Ankara University, analysed the behaviour of 31 felines when greeting their owners at home.
In statements to the Anatolia news agency, Kerman explained that the results show that cats meow more to men than to women. The professor recalled that most of the previous studies on this subject have been based on surveys, due to the difficulty of observing animals in a laboratory or research centre. In this case, however, it was decided to record the greeting in a domestic environment in order to properly assess how feline communication changes when the owner walks through the front door.
The study was conducted between 2022 and 2024, and analysed 31 participants who submitted videos in a valid format. Because of the problems of observing cats in the lab, the team devised a method that allowed the study of natural cat interactions in homes: owners were instructed to put on a body camera before entering their home, and to act normally for the first five minutes, when cats typically exhibit the clearest greeting behaviours.
The study analysed 22 feline greeting behaviours
To homogenise the analysis, the researchers coded the first 100 seconds of each recording and identified 22 types of behaviour associated with cat greeting, also assessing demographic variables that could influence behaviour: the sex of the cat and owner, number of cats in the household, whether the animal was adopted or purchased, and breed, among other factors.
According to Professor Kerman, the data revealed a significant difference based on the sex of the owner: “The research found that cats’ vocalisations can vary according to the gender of their owners. We found that cats meow more often at males and vocalise more – not louder – towards them. Cats call an average of 4.3 times per 100 seconds to males and an average of 1.8 times to females,” the study notes.
Kerman said one possible explanation is that males may have more difficulty sensing their cats’ needs, leading the felines to vocalise more – to meow more – to get their attention. The academic further clarified that this pattern corresponds to greeting only, noting that no link was observed between the frequency of meowing and the cat’s movement towards the food bowl.
“Male owners may have a little more difficulty in recognising their cat‘s needs compared to female owners. Of course, this doesn’t mean that men don’t listen to women, or that they can’t communicate with cats as well as with women, but it does imply that they need a little nudge. At least, that is our hypothesis. Whether this applies to men worldwide or only to men who own cats is something we can’t say for sure, as it could be entirely cultural,” the study’s author concluded.
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Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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