Only When It Feels Good: Specific Cat Vocalizations Other Than Meowing

Area of Science:

• Animal Behavior
• Ethology
• Animal Communication

Background:

• Vocalizations in domestic cats (Felis catus) are diverse and context-dependent.
• Vocalizations other than meowing (VOM) are less studied but may convey specific emotional states.
• Understanding feline vocal repertoire is crucial for interpreting their emotional valence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and characterize feline vocalizations other than meowing (VOM).
• To investigate VOM occurrence in pleasant versus aversive situations.
• To determine the influence of cat sex on VOM production.

Main Methods:

• 74 domestic cats (32 males, 42 females) in Curitiba, Brazil, were observed.
• Cats were exposed to either a pleasant situation (snack offered) or an aversive situation (simulated transport).
• Vocalizations were recorded and analyzed, with statistical analysis of sex correlation.

Main Results:

• Vocalizations other than meowing (VOM) were exclusively observed in the pleasant situation.
• The most frequent VOMs were acknowledgments, trills, and squeaks.
• No significant correlation was found between VOM production and the sex of the cat (p=0.08).

Conclusions:

• Feline vocalizations other than meowing (VOM) appear to be exclusively associated with positive emotional states.
• VOMs may serve as indicators of positive valence in cat emotional states.
• Further research is needed to explore the full range of VOMs and their generalizability across different contexts and populations.