A new study published in the journal Ethology suggests that cats may vocalize differently depending on the caregiver’s gender: in the first 100 seconds after arriving home, men received, on average, 4.3 vocalizations, while women received 1.8.
The investigation analyzed interactions in natural, everyday conditions, with recordings at home and instructions for participants to behave “as usual”, to capture authentic reactions from the animals.
In addition to meows, the study also counted other greeting sounds, such as purrs and chirps, to understand whether the vocalizations were part of a consistent greeting pattern.
What the study observed and what it didn’t find
In total, 31 cats were followed and 22 different behaviors were monitored during short greeting sessions, with a special focus on the first moments after the caregiver’s return.
The data that stood out most was precisely vocalization: the researchers indicate that cats vocalized more towards male caregivers and that, other than that, there was no clear effect of variables such as age, sex or breed of the cat.
Another relevant detail: the vocalizations appeared as a relatively “independent” signal from the other behaviors observed, which suggests that they are not just a reflection of stress or agitation, but can function as intentional communication in the context of the reunion.
The “new theory”: why do men hear more meowing?
The study, cited by , does not prove the cause, but it raises a hypothesis that is already circulating in several readings of the work: women would tend to pay more attention and better interpret subtle signals from cats, reducing the need for vocal “reinforcement”.
Men, described as more distant in some interactions, could be leading cats to “turn up the volume” to get a response, a pragmatic way of attracting attention when more discreet signals do not arrive.
The authors themselves admit this reading when they suggest that male caregivers may need more explicit signals to perceive and respond to the animal’s needs, which, over time, may “teach” the cat to vocalize more in this context.
What does this mean for those who have a cat at home?
In practice, the study does not say that cats “like” men or women more, it says that they can adjust the way they communicate to the type of response they receive, especially when greeting.
It is also worth taking into account the size of the study and the context (participants in the same cultural setting), which means that more research is needed to understand whether the pattern is repeated in other countries and family routines.
Still, the practical “tip” is simple: if your cat meows a lot when you get home, it may not just be hunger, it may literally be asking for interaction. And the more consistent the response (affection, soft speech, routine), the less need you will have to insist by shouting.
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