Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.

Your Cat Really Is Manipulating You, Study Shows

This article is over 15 years old and may contain outdated information
image

According to research done at the University of Sussex, cats have the ability to modify their purrs in a way that makes them irresistible to humans, proving long held suspicions that cats are playing us for the fools that we are.

It’s not all in your head. Cats actually do have the ability to exploit humans to their advantage using a special purr, a study done at the University of Sussex shows. According to the research, which culled data from cat owners reporting on their pets’ purrs and their relative level of urgency or pleasantness, cats can use their vocal chords to hide a high-pitched cry within an otherwise regular purr.

That cry, according to previous research, is similar to the cry of a human baby – and there’s a sound that nobody can ignore. According to the study, the more “urgent” purrs reported on by cat owners were more often than not laced with this cry, and that’s not just a coincidence.

“We think that (they) learn to dramatically exaggerate it when it proves effective in generating a response from humans,” Dr. Karen McComb said. “Obviously we don’t know what’s going on inside their minds. But they learn how to do this, and then they do it quite deliberately.”

So your cat has been manipulating you for food, love and attention using a cry similar to one of the most insistent and undeniable sounds known to humankind. Those sneaky devils. I knew they were playing us all for saps this entire time. See, this is why I only have goldfish.

Recommended Videos

The Escapist is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy