Research overview: the meow as a human-directed signal

Adult cats rarely meow at one another but meow frequently at people, leading to the hypothesis that the meow has been shaped by life alongside humans. This overview surveys research comparing the calls of domestic cats with those of their wild ancestor, finding domestic meows rated as more pleasant and higher pitched, and studies showing cats develop individualised meows that their own owners learn to interpret. It discusses the meow as a learned, partly idiosyncratic tool for soliciting attention, food, and access. The topic frames cat-human vocal communication as a jointly constructed system refined through domestication and individual relationships.