Cat owners often describe their pets as enigmatic, self-possessed and occasionally indifferent. New research now suggests that cats may also be selective in how they communicate. A study published in Ethology reports that domestic cats are noticeably more vocal when male caregivers return home.

For years, much of what scientists understood about greetings between humans and cats came from owner accounts rather than structured observation. To examine these interactions more reliably, a research team led by Yasemin Salgirli Demirbas at Ankara University observed 31 cats and their primary caregivers inside their homes.

Participants were instructed to film the first moments after entering their home using a chest-mounted camera. They were told to behave as naturally as possible while the team later analysed the first 100 seconds of each recording. Twenty-two behaviours were assessed, including vocalisations, head-rubbing and signs of mild stress such as stretching or yawning.

Cats meow more for men

Across hundreds of recorded greetings, one pattern emerged consistently. Cats produced significantly more vocal sounds when greeting male caregivers. This applied regardless of the animal’s age, breed, sex or household size. On average, the cats meowed 4.3 times within the first 100 seconds when a man entered the house, compared with 1.8 meows when a woman returned.

The researchers suggest that cats may be compensating for a communication gap. Since men typically speak less to their cats or offer fewer verbal cues, the animals may increase their vocalisations in an attempt to gain attention.

As the authors note, cats appear to rely more heavily on vocal signals with male caregivers, possibly because men engage less in verbal interaction. The increased meowing may therefore be a strategy for prompting a response.

A multifaceted greeting

The study also shows that feline greetings are more complex than a simple meow. Cats employ a combination of social behaviours, such as raising the tail, approaching the caregiver and rubbing against their legs, along with behaviours linked to coping or stress relief, like yawning or stretching. According to the researchers, this blend indicates both friendliness and emotional management, perhaps reflecting relief when the caregiver arrives home.

While the findings open up new insights into how cats communicate, the authors caution that the study was limited to a small sample in Turkey. Broader research across different countries and cultural contexts will be important to determine whether these gender-related differences in meowing apply globally.