"Kitty Talk"

It's not a secret that I grew up with dogs and always thought I'd be a dog mom. Until 2021, I never considered being a cat mom, let alone a cat aunt or cat friend. And so, when the day came that I did, in fact, become a very proud cat Meemaw, I treated our cats like I'd treated my dogs: with lots of love, cuddles, and "baby talk."

Because yes, I am that person who talks to my pets as if they can understand me. John thinks I'm cutely crazy for having full-on conversations with the boys, but I can't help it! They meow at me. They're so handsome and fluffy. I have to tell them this constantly! I've even tried to get John to talk to them more, but that's not his thing, and that's okay. Every person, and every cat, is different.

But it made me ask the question: Do cats even like when humans talk to them?

(Or, in my case, talk and sing and make noises constantly at them?)

After reading many articles from a variety of websites, the answer appears to be a resounding yes. Our cats do like when we talk to them. They understand tone of voice and they prefer their owner's voices over the voices of strangers.

According to the article "Do Cats Like It When You Talk to Them?" from Cats.com, "talking to your cat each and every day" is one way to bond with your cat. There is a misconception that cats are anti-social, but they are actually "social beings that crave attention." Talking to your cat not only shows your appreciation for them, but also that you enjoy their companionship.

"Baby talk" is a great way to bond with both cats and dogs. However, it's much harder for a stranger to bond with a cat than with a dog. While dogs will respond to any voice they hear, studies have shown that "cats seem to put everyone but their human on ignore." The article "Can Cats Recognize Their Owners Voice?" from Bark&Whiskers, describes the study, led by Charlotte de Muzon at the University Paris Nanterre in France, in which they recorded voices from cat owners and strangers and played the recordings and observed the cats' reactions.

Everyone recorded the same sentences, in the way they would speak to the cat in "kitty talk." For pretty much every cat, they only responded to their owner's voice, "When the cats heard their owners' "kitty voices," they tended to stop what they were doing and begin doing something else," such as look around, move their ears and tails, or become very still. When the recording played the strangers' voices, the cats were "noticeably less responsive" continuing on with what they had been doing and basically ignoring the other voices.

In my own experience, I've noticed that Franklin and Kap both respond to my voice, and to John's. They both know their names, and they also know their nicknames. They don't always come when called, but I can call Kap or Franklin from the opposite side of the house, and I'll notice them stop what they are doing and look my way. Sometimes they come when called (usually Franklin), and sometimes they look first to see if its worth coming over to me (like Kap, only willing to move if I have treats).

Cats also respond to tone of voice. They may not understand English as well as dogs do, but they know when they are receiving sweet praise or a telling off. Kap is usually too into whatever he is doing to care if I'm reprimanding him, but he will narrow his eyes at me and twitch his tail, telling me that he understands my tone of voice and is annoyed by it. Franklin, on the other paw, usually responds by sinking low to the floor and running away to hide when he understands he has done something wrong. When I am giving them praise, I'm usually using my "baby voice," a higher-pitched tone filled with love. Both Kap and Franklin understand that I am expressing my affection, and both will rub against my legs or try to get closer to me if I'm sitting. Franklin usually takes this as an opportunity for extra cuddles, whereas Kap prefers some good chin scratches and treats if I have any on me.

All in all, cats, just like dogs and, honestly, humans, understand tone of voice and respond to their owner's voice. So, if you ever feel a little crazy for having a full conversation with your cat, don't! They love you, and they love when you talk to them and bring them into your life, your world, and your love.

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