Three Experts Weigh in on Cat Vocalizations 
(from an article in Catnip by Fran Pennock Shaw)

Psychologist Mildred Moelk, PhD, defines feline sounds into three general patterns, including soft murmurs made with the mouth closed, vowel sounds which comprise most "meows" and result from opening then closing the mouth, and louder sounds produced by a wide open mouth. Her list of 16 different sounds include variations in duration, intensity, tone, pitch, speed, and repetition. She suggests these sounds communicate the cat's desires and intentions.

Michael J. Owren, PhD, is also a psychologist who has studied cats. He thinks that different vocal sounds were intially a means for kittens to communicate with their mothers and siblings, and were later transferred to their interactions with humans. 

Nicholas Dodman, Director of the the Animal Behavior Clinic at Tufts University, says cats communicate partly by instinct, but also learn how humans react to certain sounds. They remember what achieved the desired effect before, and also watch and copy what other cats do. He also believes that cats recognize a particular human's voice, but probably not specific words.

Our experience training Simon Teakettle I, II and III seems to indicate more understanding of specific words than Dodman is willing to grant. 

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