Melody matters: An acoustic study of domestic cat meows in six contexts and four mental states

Susanne Schötz; Joost van de Weijer; Robert Eklund

Melody matters: An acoustic study of domestic cat meows in six contexts and four mental states

Susanne Schötz, Joost van de Weijer, Robert Eklund

Linköping University

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Paper in conference proceeding › peer-review

Abstract

This study investigates domestic cat vocalisations in different contexts and mental states. Measures of fundamental frequency (f0) and duration as well as f0 contours of 780 meows from 40 cats were analysed. We found significant effects of recording context and of mental state on f0 and duration. Additionally, contours in positive (affiliative) contexts and mental states were predominantly rising, while those produced in negative contexts and mental states were predominantly falling. Our results suggest that cats use paralinguistic information and biological codes to signal mental state.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proc. 2nd Intl. Workshop on Vocal interactivity in-and-between Humans, Animals and Robots (VIHAR)
Editors	Angela Dassow, Ricard Marxer, Roger K. Moore, Dan Stowell
Publisher	Ricard Marxer
Pages	29-34
ISBN (Electronic)	978-2-9562029-1-2
Publication status	Published - 2019
Event	VIHAR-2019: 2nd International Workshop on Vocal Interactivity in-and-between Humans, Animals and Robots - London, United Kingdom Duration: 2019 Aug 29 → 2019 Aug 30 http://vihar-2019.vihar.org/

Workshop

Workshop	VIHAR-2019
Country/Territory	United Kingdom
City	London
Period	2019/08/29 → 2019/08/30
Internet address	http://vihar-2019.vihar.org/

Subject classification (UKÄ)

Zoology
Comparative Language Studies and Linguistics

Access to Document

http://vihar-2019.vihar.org/assets/VIHAR_2019_proceedings.pdf

1 Article

Context Effects on Duration, Fundamental Frequency, and Intonation in Human-directed Domestic Cat Meows
Schötz, S., van de Weijer, J. & Eklund, R., 2024 Jan 3, In: Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 270, 8 p., 106146.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Open Access

1 Finished

Melody in human–cat communication
Schötz, S. (PI) & van de Weijer, J. (Researcher)
2016/07/01 → 2021/07/01
Project: Research

Lund University Humanities Lab
Gullberg, M. (Manager)
Lund University Humanities Lab
Infrastructure

5 Media participation
1 Presentation

Katters kommunikation gav ännu ett IgNobel-pris till Lund
Schötz, S. (Interviewee)
2021 Sept 10
Activity: Other › Media participation
Ig-Nobel till svensk kattforskning
Schötz, S. (Interviewee)
2021 Sept 10
Activity: Other › Media participation
Alternativt Nobelpris till Lundforskare – för studier om kattspråk
Schötz, S. (Interviewee)
2021 Sept 10
Activity: Other › Media participation

Cite this

Schötz, S., van de Weijer, J., & Eklund, R. (2019). Melody matters: An acoustic study of domestic cat meows in six contexts and four mental states. In A. Dassow, R. Marxer, R. K. Moore, & D. Stowell (Eds.), Proc. 2nd Intl. Workshop on Vocal interactivity in-and-between Humans, Animals and Robots (VIHAR) (pp. 29-34). Ricard Marxer. http://vihar-2019.vihar.org/assets/VIHAR_2019_proceedings.pdf

@inproceedings{0ecc1469518742d8b367dced06c9cf4d,

title = "Melody matters: An acoustic study of domestic cat meows in six contexts and four mental states",

abstract = "This study investigates domestic cat vocalisations in different contexts and mental states. Measures of fundamental frequency (f0) and duration as well as f0 contours of 780 meows from 40 cats were analysed. We found significant effects of recording context and of mental state on f0 and duration. Additionally, contours in positive (affiliative) contexts and mental states were predominantly rising, while those produced in negative contexts and mental states were predominantly falling. Our results suggest that cats use paralinguistic information and biological codes to signal mental state.",

author = "Susanne Sch{\"o}tz and {van de Weijer}, Joost and Robert Eklund",

year = "2019",

language = "English",

pages = "29--34",

editor = "Angela Dassow and Ricard Marxer and Moore, {Roger K.} and Dan Stowell",

booktitle = "Proc. 2nd Intl. Workshop on Vocal interactivity in-and-between Humans, Animals and Robots (VIHAR)",

publisher = "Ricard Marxer",

note = "VIHAR-2019 : 2nd International Workshop on Vocal Interactivity in-and-between Humans, Animals and Robots ; Conference date: 29-08-2019 Through 30-08-2019",

url = "http://vihar-2019.vihar.org/",

}

Schötz, S , van de Weijer, J & Eklund, R 2019, Melody matters: An acoustic study of domestic cat meows in six contexts and four mental states. in A Dassow, R Marxer, RK Moore & D Stowell (eds), Proc. 2nd Intl. Workshop on Vocal interactivity in-and-between Humans, Animals and Robots (VIHAR). Ricard Marxer, pp. 29-34, VIHAR-2019, London, United Kingdom, 2019/08/29. <http://vihar-2019.vihar.org/assets/VIHAR_2019_proceedings.pdf>

Melody matters: An acoustic study of domestic cat meows in six contexts and four mental states. / Schötz, Susanne ; van de Weijer, Joost; Eklund, Robert.
Proc. 2nd Intl. Workshop on Vocal interactivity in-and-between Humans, Animals and Robots (VIHAR). ed. / Angela Dassow; Ricard Marxer; Roger K. Moore; Dan Stowell. Ricard Marxer, 2019. p. 29-34.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Paper in conference proceeding › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Melody matters: An acoustic study of domestic cat meows in six contexts and four mental states

AU - Schötz, Susanne

AU - van de Weijer, Joost

AU - Eklund, Robert

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - This study investigates domestic cat vocalisations in different contexts and mental states. Measures of fundamental frequency (f0) and duration as well as f0 contours of 780 meows from 40 cats were analysed. We found significant effects of recording context and of mental state on f0 and duration. Additionally, contours in positive (affiliative) contexts and mental states were predominantly rising, while those produced in negative contexts and mental states were predominantly falling. Our results suggest that cats use paralinguistic information and biological codes to signal mental state.

AB - This study investigates domestic cat vocalisations in different contexts and mental states. Measures of fundamental frequency (f0) and duration as well as f0 contours of 780 meows from 40 cats were analysed. We found significant effects of recording context and of mental state on f0 and duration. Additionally, contours in positive (affiliative) contexts and mental states were predominantly rising, while those produced in negative contexts and mental states were predominantly falling. Our results suggest that cats use paralinguistic information and biological codes to signal mental state.

M3 - Paper in conference proceeding

SP - 29

EP - 34

BT - Proc. 2nd Intl. Workshop on Vocal interactivity in-and-between Humans, Animals and Robots (VIHAR)

A2 - Dassow, Angela

A2 - Marxer, Ricard

A2 - Moore, Roger K.

A2 - Stowell, Dan

PB - Ricard Marxer

T2 - VIHAR-2019

Y2 - 29 August 2019 through 30 August 2019

ER -

Melody matters: An acoustic study of domestic cat meows in six contexts and four mental states

Abstract

Workshop

Subject classification (UKÄ)

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Research output

Context Effects on Duration, Fundamental Frequency, and Intonation in Human-directed Domestic Cat Meows

Projects

Melody in human–cat communication

Equipment

Lund University Humanities Lab

Activities

Katters kommunikation gav ännu ett IgNobel-pris till Lund

Ig-Nobel till svensk kattforskning

Alternativt Nobelpris till Lundforskare – för studier om kattspråk

Cite this