What's That You're Saying?

Cats meow only to people, not to other cats, and one meow can be as different from another as a raised eyebrow is from a pout. The question is whether your translation skills are up to the task. After documenting 100 different cat vocalizations, Cornell University researchers found that urgent meows last longer than friendly ones, and they tend to be lower-pitched. A chirpy little "m'yow" is what a cat will utter when she's passing you on the stairs. But come morning, a throaty "me-o-o-o-o-w" is likely to mean, "Come on, get up, it's breakfast time. NOW."