Cats are some of the most mysterious and unpredictable pets. But what if you could understand your pet as if you were communicating in the same language? A study published in Nature Scientific Reports confirms that it’s possible.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo conducted an experiment to see if it was possible to teach a person to understand what a cat was saying. They used recordings of the sounds cats make in different situations, such as when they are hungry or when they need to go outside. They then asked 44 cat-owning volunteers to describe what they thought their pets were trying to tell them.
It turned out that the volunteers correctly guessed the meaning of the sounds 40 percent of the time. This may not seem like a high result, but given that cats cannot speak human language, it’s a pretty impressive result.
According to Saori Ueda, the author of the study, this is the first scientific proof that humans can understand the sounds that cats make.
“We hope that these results will help improve communication between humans and cats,” Ueda says.
Many cat owners have long noticed that they can understand their pets, but until now there has been no scientific confirmation of this fact. Some people even claim that they can talk to cats in their language.
However, not all experts are convinced that this is possible. For example, Karen McCombs, a veterinarian and author of “Cats: Behavior and Communication,” says that while people can recognize some of the sounds cats make, they cannot fully understand what the pet is trying to tell them.
“Cats use many different sounds, and each one can have many meanings depending on the context,” McCombs says.
Still, this research can help cat owners better understand their pets and improve their communication. For example, if you know that the sound your cat is making means she needs to eat, you can meet her needs faster and avoid unwanted behavior.
Also, companionship with cats can have a positive effect on human health. Studies show that having a pet can reduce stress levels and improve mood.
