[cheryl j (OP)]

According to OMG Facts Animals (which is not always the most accurate, I found) cats do not meow to other cats, just humans. I was wondering if anyone knows if this is true. It does seem that kittens meow when the mother leaves them. How does one eavesdrop on cats without them knowing it? One thing I always did find weird was how sometimes my cat's meow goes up like a question and other times it doesn't in an oddly appropriate way. It has a different meow for when it wants me to open the door and different one when he wants to be fed.

[dlorde]

One hypothesis I've heard is that domestication has led to infantile meowing extending into adulthood and becoming more nuanced so as to communicate more effectively with humans. I don't know if there's evidence to support this.

[mildydolly]

Our cats communicate differently with us than with other animals. They use lots of noises, sounds plus body language to communicate. Take the most common sound "meow" for instance. Have you ever noticed how the tone of "meow" changes when they express different states like hunger, anger, curiosity and happiness?

We know from research that cats have a language of their own. In fact, the meows you hear could be one of 20 different sounds they're making, all with slightly different inflections and behavioral responses. Yes, meow means something. What does it mean, you ask? Well, context matters hugely. Is it a mean meow, or a friendly one?

What about the cat's body action? Is he facing towards you, or away? Is the tail curled or lying flat against the floor? Getting the tone and body language right is critical. The truth is you and I could understand what our cats are trying to say if we only listened and interpreted. And both are quite easy to do. See more details at spam if you're interested.in diving into the fascinating world of feline communication, both verbal and nonverbal.

[chris]

They make a racket when they are mating, and the noise then is definitely not for our benefit!

[Petrochemicals]

You have obviously not been on YouTube.

[Deecart]

Yes, young cats are meowing when their mother is around.

One hypothesis I've heard is that domestication has led to infantile meowing extending into adulthood and becoming more nuanced so as to communicate more effectively with humans. I don't know if there's evidence to support this.

Your right (now i do not remember a study that can proove it)
This is what we call "Neoteny".

Neoteny, or the tendency to retain youthful behaviours and features throughout adulthood, has created a state of permanent kittenhood among domestic felines. Why did cats become neotenized relative to their wild ancestors? The answer lies in self-selection and later selection by humans.

https://www.metaphoricalplatypus.com/articles/cats/neoteny-why-adult-cats-retain-kitten-qualities/