Journal of Veterinary Science

The Korean Society of Veterinary Science (대한수의학회)
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Feline vocal communication

  • Tavernier, Chloe (Universite de Rennes 1) ;
  • Ahmed, Sohail (Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul Wildlife Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University) ;
  • Houpt, Katherine Albro (Animal Behavior Clinic, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine) ;
  • Yeon, Seong Chan (Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences and Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul Wildlife Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University)
  • Received : 2019.07.01
  • Accepted : 2019.12.16
  • Published : 2020.01.31
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Abstract

Cat vocalizes to communicate with another and express their internal states. The vocal repertoire of the cat is wide and up to 21 different vocalizations have been described in the literatures. But it is more than probable that the repertoire contains more types of vocalizations. An ethogram was created in this paper describing the actual known vocalisations of the domestic cat based on an auditory classification. However, the audiogram allows also a visual classification which can increase the accuracy of vocalization differentiation. The classification can be risky as it is sometimes unclear if different types of vocalizations are produced in different environments or if a unique type of vocalization is used with variation in the acoustic parameters. As an example, isolation calls produced by kittens differ depending on the context. The environment has an important impact on the vocal behaviour and thus feral cats and pet cats vocalize differently. Pet cats are thus able to create an efficient communication with humans thanks to the flexibility of vocalisation behaviours. This review allowed us to create a simple model of the cat vocal repertory.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the Research Resettlement Fund for the new faculty of Seoul National University. This work also came to an end thanks to three persons that took their time to read and comment previous draft of the manuscript. Mang Dana and Niemi Calle for their review as general readers (non-specialists) and for their comment on the manuscript general comprehension. Niemi Calle for his insight about some English subtleties. And Pupier Rene for his comments of the sonograms.

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