pubmed
Meows encode less individual information than purrs and show greater variability in domestic than in wild cats.
Russo D; Schild AB; Knörnschild M
Domesticated cats have special ways of communicating with humans through meows and purrs. The study found that both sounds can show who the cat is, but purrs are better for this because they are more consistent. Meows are more flexible, probably because they are meant for humans, and have changed more compared to the wild relatives of domestic cats.
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