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Experiments Prove That Cats Can Recognize Their Owner’s Voice
In 2013, Japanese scientists conducted a “habituation-dehabituation” experiment to confirm that domestic cats can recognize their owner’s voice. A total of 20 cats participated in the study. Researchers first recorded the voices of the owner and four strangers (of the same gender) calling the cats’ names in a normal tone. These recordings were then played back repeatedly. The results showed that during the playback of the strangers’ voices, the cats gradually became accustomed to the sound and reduced their response, treating it like white noise. However, when the cats heard their owner’s voice again, they showed an increased response, recognizing the familiar sound.
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Cats Have Sharp Hearing and Can Hear Their Owner’s Footsteps from a Distance
The sound of footsteps differs in volume, speed, and frequency depending on the person. These subtle differences, which may be barely noticeable to human ears, are amplified in a cat’s ears, allowing them to distinguish between different people. This is because a cat’s hearing is 3 to 6 times more sensitive than that of humans. While the human hearing range is between 20-20,000 Hz, a cat’s hearing range spans from 45 Hz to 64,000 Hz, meaning they can hear a wider range of sounds. Cats also have well-developed muscles around their ears, allowing them to rotate their ears 180 degrees, which helps them collect more sound waves and expand their hearing range. Additionally, the Henry’s pocket structure in a cat’s ears enhances high-pitched sounds and “filters out noise,” enabling them to identify two different sound sources up to 15 to 20 meters away and distinguish them with a 1-meter gap. As a result, many shy cats can detect an approaching stranger long before they even reach the doorstep, quickly noticing and scurrying away.
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Cats Greet Their Owners in Different Ways, but They Do Greet Them
Since cats can recognize their owner’s voice, why do some cats eagerly wait by the door to greet their owners, while others seem indifferent? A 2013 study found that while cats can recognize their owner’s voice among a group of strangers, their reactions vary. In other words, most cats (if they choose to) can distinguish your footsteps after you enter the building or exit the elevator, but the way they greet you can differ greatly. Some cats will enthusiastically greet you, while others may respond more subtly (e.g., twitching their ears or flicking their tail).
This Issue’s Wish: May Your Kittens Wake Up to Food, Cans, and Cat Treats; May the Litter Box Be Clean, and May You Be Welcomed Home by Your Cat.May your kitty wake up to a meal, with plenty of canned food and cat treats ready for them. May the litter box be clean, and may you be greeted warmly when you return home by your cuddly and well-behaved cat. If you have any questions about raising cats, feel free to leave a comment!
