Cats are known for their sensitive hearing, and it turns out they pay closer attention when their owners use a high-pitched, 'baby voice'. This behavior, often seen as a natural way to interact with pets, has been confirmed by research.
Many pet owners consider their animals as family, often talking to them in a manner similar to how they would speak to a baby. This 'pet-directed speech' (PDS) shares characteristics with infant-directed speech, including a higher pitch and greater modulation.
Researchers at Université Paris Nanterre in France compared adult-directed speech (ADS) with cat-directed speech (CDS). They found that both male and female participants used a higher tone (average fundamental frequency or F0 average) when speaking to cats. This distinct sound frequency in CDS is what captures the cats' attention.