by According to a small study published in the journal Animal Cognition,Cats can distinguish whether their owners are speaking to them or to other humans. Humans are known to have different intonations depending on who they’re speaking to, and this is true of pets like cats, but less is known about how cats respond. Researchers in France observed 16 cats’ responses to pre-recorded voices of their owners and strangers. The results showed that cats responded more strongly to their owners’ voices, including turning their ears toward the speakers, moving around the room and dilating their pupils. There was no change in the intensity of the behavior in response to the stranger’s voice. This is evidence that cats may form strong bonds with their owners.
