Be Careful What You Say — Your Cat May Be Listening

Research suggests that cats can learn words, sometimes faster than a human baby.

By Avery Hurt
Nov 11, 2024 7:00 PM
baby talking to a cat
(Credit: Lucy Lulu/Shutterstock)

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Cats have a reputation for being distant and aloof, although people who share their homes with cats often disagree with that. But even the most devoted cat lovers might be surprised by the results of a new study.

Saho Takagi, an animal behavior researcher at Azabu University in Kanagawa, Japan, and her colleagues adapted a method often used with human babies to test cats’ ability to learn words. The cats — 31 of them — aced the test. In fact, they learned the words faster than the average 14-month-old human.

Word Association for Cats

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