Cats generally meow when they’re around people—but does that mean they meow only to humans? Understanding this isn’t just interesting trivia; it can also help you build a closer bond with your cat.

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In our next article, we’ve tried to explore the topic in detail.

Why Do Cats Meow at Humans?

Cats meow at people for a variety of reasons. It could be a simple greeting, a signal that it’s mealtime, a request for cuddles or petting, or a way of expressing that they want to be let outside or need help with something. And that’s far from a complete list! Most cat owners can already distinguish between their cat’s different meows and what each one means.

Mother cats meow to their kittens, and the kittens meow back—but this habit fades in adulthood and remains only in communication with humans. And there’s a good reason for that!

Domestication Was the Catalyst

If you were to try and tame a feral cat that grew up away from humans, you’d notice that it doesn’t meow—or, at most, makes only similar sounds. But that doesn’t mean they don’t communicate. They use scent cues, facial expressions, and body language to interact with each other.

Cats meow only at humans because those other methods don’t work—or only work to a limited extent—when dealing with us. Being intelligent and observant animals, they quickly figured out during the process of domestication that if they wanted to get their point across, they’d need different tools. So meowing evolved into a sort of second language that made communication with humans possible

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And yes, we’re talking about a unique language! Just as different words carry different meanings, so do various types of meows. A short meow is usually a simple greeting, while a prolonged one signals a need or tries to get your attention. High-pitched meows may indicate anxiety, pain, or fear. You can read more about specific sounds and their meanings in this article.

And in this other piece, we’ve rounded up the most vocal cat breeds—those who love to “talk” to their humans. Living with them can feel like being part of an ongoing conversation.

What Are the Exceptions?

While it’s not meowing in the traditional sense, it’s worth mentioning: Unspayed female cats in heat—from late winter to early autumn—often go into heat multiple times. During this time, they use a loud, distinctive yowl to signal to male cats that they’re ready to mate. But to be completely honest, this sound is more of a cry or shout than a meow—and it gets more intense the more urgent the female becomes.

And while we’re on the topic of sounds: mating season is far from quiet. During these encounters, discretion is definitely not the norm. The loud cries of the females actually serve an important purpose. If you’re curious why cats scream during mating, we’ve covered that in this earlier article.