Why Cats Meow When Their Owners Are on the Phone

[Dog Newspaper=Reporter Han Jeong-a] Why do cats meow when their owners are on the phone?

The Japanese magazine DIME published a story about cats that meow while their owners are on the phone.

When a cat occasionally looks up at the ceiling and meows, people may wonder, “Can it see something there that only cats can see?” From a cat’s perspective, its owner talking on the phone is much the same situation.

When speaking on the phone with an elder or a work contact, owners may use a higher-pitched voice than they normally use when talking to their cat.

Cats have more highly developed hearing than humans. They immediately notice that something has changed, and a voice that sounds different from usual can be confusing to them.

So they may be saying, “You sound different than usual. Are you okay, human? Are you sick? Are you perhaps upset?”

They may also be expressing as strongly as possible that they want attention: “If you have time to talk to yourself, play with me more!”

Some cats may mistakenly think, “Are you talking to me?” and eagerly respond.

Rather than assuming a cat is deliberately trying to interrupt a phone call, its behavior can also be seen as a bid for attention.

So how can owners avoid these unintended interruptions?

Although it does not work for every cat, if a cat is being too loud, one option is to switch to speakerphone so it understands that someone is on the other end of the call.

Another effective approach is to pet a cat when it comes close, helping it feel content and settle down quietly.

Simply pushing a cat away because it is being disruptive could lead to retaliation(?).

Reporter Han Jeong-a han@dognews.co.kr