Vocal, Visual, and Tactile Signals in Cat–Human Communication: A Pilot Study

To investigate multimodal signals in cat–human communication we recorded 36 cat–owner interactions in everyday situations that were judged by the owners for valence (negative, mixed or positive). We then coded the videos for behaviour using an ethogram including vocal, visual and tactile (multimodal) signals. Vocalisations were segmented and acoustic measures of duration and F0 obtained. In cats, common behaviours were tail up/halfway up and ears forward, while vocal signals were more common in owners. The distribution of all behaviours was compared across the three levels of valence. In negatively judged interactions, cat tail position was frequently vertical. In interactions judged as mixed, cats remained passive to their owners trying to interact with them. Frequent cat behaviours in positively judged interactions were sniff/lick, rub, and soft gaze. The acoustic variables did not show clear variation that could be attributed to judged valence.