My dog and cat sometimes bark and meow at each
other like they understand each other. Since
humans don’t speak dog or cat, and thay don’t
speak our language, can dogs understand meows and
vice versa?
Maya
NC
My instinct is to say no. But I can’t prove it.
It is generally accepted among scientists that animals have limited language capabilities. The majority of their communication is believed be visual (through body language). Vocalization is not thought to play a very major role in animal communication.
Also, since cats and dogs don’t attend school, their communication patterns are believed to be hereditary and instinctive. This means that in theory dogs and cats should be able to communicate with each other only minimally, since they only inherit the ability to communicate with their own species.
That said, nobody really understands the true degrees of communication that occur among (or between) cats and dogs. In the past, scientists doubted that animals had emotions or personalities, just as they now doubt that animals can communicate extensively with one another. Most people now recognize the uniqueness of individual pets, and it is becoming clear that animals lead quite rich emotional lives.
One thing is sure: some degree of communication absolutely is possible between species. For instance, no schooling is necessary for a human to recognize that a snarling dog should not be touched. And pets are quite able to recognize anger, sadness, and happiness in their people.
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My eight(ish) year old cat Martha meows all the time!
I notice it is definitely louder and more
persistent when she is hungry (or so I think) but
is she trying to tell me something? What does it
mean when a cat meows, and should I be worried if
it happens a lot?
Holly
San Francisco, CA
Cats vocalize (meow) for many reasons. Some cats meow when they want attention. Others meow when they are hungry. In some cases, cats vocalize when they are agitated, stressed or afraid. Many cats vocalize for no reason that humans can ascertain.
There is one medical condition that quite famously causes increased vocalization in eight-year-old cats: hyperthyroidism.
Hyperthyroidism is a disease of cats that in my experience develops most often between seven and ten years of age. It is a disease of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is located in the neck and it regulates body metabolism. The disease causes the gland to become hyperactive. Dogs almost never develop hyperthyroidism.
Hyperthyroid cats may lose weight, drink large amounts of water, vomit, produce diarrhea, have poor quality hair and vocalize excessively. Internally, the disease causes high blood pressure, heart disease and kidney problems. It may also lead to blindness.
Hyperthyroidism can be diagnosed with blood tests. It can be treated with medicines or an injection of a special type of iodine.
I recommend that you have your veterinarian assess Martha. The vet will want to run tests. If the tests do not show a cause for her increased meowing, then the change may be due to personality and temperament changes as Martha matures.
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My dog and cat sometimes bark and meow at each
You have questions. 