Talking to Cats Like Babies Is Good for Them, Veterinarian Explains

For cat owners, the way we talk to our feline companions can significantly impact our bond. While dogs have long been considered the most popular pet globally, cats hold a substantial place in many households. Recent findings suggest that the tone of voice we use when addressing our cats plays a crucial role in how they respond to us.

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It turns out that in recent studies it has been shown that it is the most efficient voice we can use to communicate with our cat. Although it may seem like a ridiculous voice, your cat picks up information better with this type of voice.

Veterinarian Juanjo, known on social media as @juanjovetmascotas, highlights that using a childlike, high-pitched voice is the most effective method for communicating with cats. He explains that even if it sounds amusing, this specific vocalization helps cats better understand the information being conveyed. This advice is backed by a 2022 study published in the journal Animal Cognition.

The research, conducted by Charlotte de Mouzon, Marine Gonthier, and Gérard Leboucher, involved 16 cats. It demonstrated that felines can differentiate between the speech directed at them by their owners and the tone used in regular human conversations. The study revealed that cats exhibited significantly more activity, including increased attention and movement, when they heard their owners using a specific, high-pitched, and emotional tone—similar to how one might speak to a baby. Interestingly, this heightened response was not observed when a stranger used the same vocal style, suggesting cats selectively respond to their owners' unique way of speaking.

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The experiment was carried out with 16 cats, who were exposed to voice recordings from their owners and from strangers, in different tones.

While the study's sample size was limited, the findings offer compelling evidence of cats' ability to recognize their owners' voices and respond selectively. This specialized form of interaction likely strengthens the affective bonds between humans and their feline friends, making our daily conversations with them even more meaningful.

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Ten of the animals showed a significant increase in activity upon hearing their owner address them in a specific tone, while they reacted less to unknown voices or neutral tones.