Study Reveals Cat Meow Volume Correlates with Owner's Gender

A recent investigation conducted in 2025 by researchers at Bilkent University in Turkey has uncovered a distinct link between the loudness of domestic cat vocalizations and the gender of the human they are interacting with. This significant finding, detailed in the journal Ethology, centered on a careful analysis of the greeting sounds cats produce when their human caretakers return home.

The scientific team, which included Dr. Kaan Kerman, observed notable variations in the intensity of these welcoming appeals. During the experimental phase, which involved 31 participating owners, cats displayed markedly higher vocal output when greeting male owners. On average, when addressing their male guardians, the animals emitted approximately 4.3 meows for every 100 seconds of observation time. This specific behavioral pattern remained consistent regardless of the cat's breed or age. Conversely, when welcoming female owners, the cats adopted a quieter approach, using an average of only about 1.8 vocal signals across the identical time frame. Interestingly, other forms of attention-seeking behavior, such as trills, purring, or non-verbal cues, did not show any dependency on the owner's gender.

Dr. Kaan Kerman put forth the hypothesis that cats instinctively amplify their calls when addressing men. He suggested that a male audience might necessitate louder signals to successfully capture attention or solicit resources like food, perhaps because men are generally less attuned to subtle, non-verbal hints. In contrast, female caretakers often employ a more melodic tone when speaking to their pets and appear more adept at recognizing faint signals, which could encourage the cats to utilize quieter vocalizations when communicating with them.

Meowing serves primarily as a communication tool directed toward humans, functioning as a means to convey specific emotional states. The process of domestication has evidently fostered a more sophisticated vocal repertoire in house cats when compared to their wild ancestors, Felis silvestris lybica. This adaptation highlights how deeply intertwined feline communication has become with human presence.

This research strongly indicates that cats are continuously assessing the signals they receive from people, actively adjusting their behavioral strategies to achieve desired outcomes. Such adaptability showcases a high degree of cognitive flexibility within the species. The findings offer a fascinating glimpse into the nuanced, responsive relationship between cats and their human companions, suggesting that cats are keenly aware of who they are addressing and tailor their volume accordingly.