Scientists remain unsure of the exact reasons, but the prevailing hypothesis suggests that men are less stressed by their cats, prompting the cats to amplify their voices to get the desired attention, according to the scientific site ‘Phys’. During these brief moments, the team identified 22 diverse behaviors, ranging from affectionate rubbing and tail raising to indifferent yawning and wandering away.
However, the only consistent difference between male and female owners was the noise level. When a man returned, the noise became notably more disruptive, sometimes excessively so. The frequency of meowing increased significantly, even after adjusting the data for the cats’ age, gender, and breed, indicating that they ‘speak’ more when addressing a male.
The site concluded that men, on average, pay less attention, forcing the cat eager for recognition to raise its voice in front of an ’emotionally unavailable’ man. Can Kerman, from Bilkent University in Turkey, who led the research, stated, ‘Cats may learn to use their own voices strategically to initiate communication.’
