You might think you bond with your cat – but now there’s scientific evidence to back it up.
In a new study published Tuesday in the journal Animal Cognition, researchers at Université Paris Nanterre in France found cats can actually recognize their owners’ voices when they talk to them. The cats can also tell the difference between their owner’s voice and that of complete strangers. The experiment suggests something many pet owners already know: you and your cat can form strong bonds over time.
“These findings bring a new dimension to the consideration of the human-cat relationship as they imply the development of a specific experiential communication in human-cat dyads,” the study authors wrote.
The researchers recruited 16 pet cats to see how the animals responded to the tone of voice that spoke to them – or cat-directed speech (CDS) – and the tone of voice that spoke to other humans – or adult-directed speech (ADS). They also wanted to see how the cats responded to the language of strangers compared to their individual owners.
Using recorded voices of owners and strangers saying different phrases in CDS and ADS, the study authors found that the animals were able to distinguish between the phrases spoken by their owners. When they heard the familiar voices, the cats responded more strongly, for example by directing their ears to the voice, moving around the room, and choosing their pupils. However, when a stranger spoke, they displayed diminished behavior.
The authors of the study found similar results for sound. When their owners spoke in ADS, there was less activity with the cats. However, when their owner spoke in CDS, the behavioral intensity increased. This increase did not occur when strangers spoke in both keys.
So this suggests that cats know if their owners are talking to them—and especially when they’re using the cooing baby talk that so many pet parents use around their furballs. This means the more time you spend with your cats, the stronger your bond with them will become.
The authors of the study note that the sample size was small and therefore caution against generalizations that may result from the study. However, the results still show that your cats know you fairly well, even though they can be aloof and distant. So be sure to give them some catnip or some salami as a treat.