{
  "id": 19695408,
  "title": "Talking or just meowing? Food test suggests cats call for human attention",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/talking-or-just-meowing-food-test-suggests-cats-call-for-human",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-11-12T19:40:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-11-meowing-food-cats-human-attention.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of São Paulo in Brazil suggests that cats may be using their meows to communicate with humans, rather than simply expressing their own feelings. To investigate this hypothesis, the team recruited 38 cats and their owners to participate in a series of tests conducted within the cats' own homes.\n\nIn each test, the owners placed their cat's favorite food inside a plastic box, making it unreachable. The cats were then divided into two groups: in one scenario, their owners stayed in the room and remained silent but attentive to their pets; in the other scenario, the owners left the room, leaving their cats alone with the box. Researchers recorded the cats' behavior using video calls, monitoring their vocalizations and actions.\n\nThe results of the study revealed that cats produced considerably more meows when their owners were present, with the odds of a cat meowing being about 16 times higher when its owner was nearby compared to when it was alone. This finding indicates that meowing may serve a communicative function beyond merely expressing a motivational response, such as hunger.\n\nMoreover, when owners were present, about 56% of the recorded meows occurred while the cats were looking at them. Additionally, the cats would shift their gaze between their owners and the food box, suggesting they were attempting to draw attention to the food. In contrast, when left alone, the cats spent more time standing still and looking toward the door.\n\nWhile these findings do not prove that cats are deliberately communicating their intentions, they do suggest that the presence of a human audience may trigger a more focused and communicative use of meowing. However, the researchers also acknowledge that the study involved a relatively small sample of cats, all of which were known to be particularly vocal around feeding time. It remains to be seen whether this audience-sensitive pattern holds true for less vocal cats or in different contexts.\n\nThe study, led by Naila Fukimoto and published in the journal Animal Behaviour, highlights the need for further research to explore whether the patterns observed in this study extend to other types of cats and situations. If the results hold, it may provide valuable insights into the complex communication dynamics between humans and their feline companions.",
  "summary": "As any cat owner knows, their feline companion is the boss of the home, and their meows are one way to get attention. But are those noises actually an attempt to communicate with us, or simply an expression of how the cat feels?",
  "key_points": [
    "Cats produce 16 times more meows when owners are present compared to being alone.",
    "56% of recorded meows occur while cats look at their owners when owners are present.",
    "Study suggests human audience triggers more focused and communicative meowing."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}