When you are observing a cat, it often feels like their mind is pacing at a hundred miles an hour! There is a sense of curiosity associated with all of their moves and it becomes doubly important to find out what a cat things about during the day. You may even ask, do cats think in meows?
Yes, cats do think in meows as it is a part of their subconscious. They will have made specific connections to certain types of “meows” to relay their thoughts. This can include fear, wanting food, and/or discomfort.
It is the brain’s way of using communication patterns to build connections with real-world actions. This applies to both humans and cats in their unique ways.
Key factors include:
- General Communication
- Thought Processes
- Learned Behavior
It’s important to remember cats don’t meow to each other. This is not their form of communication. Instead, it is only reserved for humans and that is why it is such a fascinating subject to dig into.
When asking “Do cats think in meows?” you have to realize there are only human-based interactions that are based on the idea of meowing. This means it could be asking to be petted or looking for a meal.
Whatever the reason may be, it is often to get a human’s attention.
This is why when asking “Do cats think in meows?” you will have to understand it is a part of their communication language with humans. Here is a look at the question and why a cat thinks in meows.
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Reasons For Why A Cat Thinks In Meows
1. Way of Communication
Cats think in meows because it is a way of communication.
When you communicate in a specific way whether it’s speaking a language for humans or meowing for cats, this type of sound is then relayed in the mind too.
It is just the way a cat operates.
They will know specific meows mean specific things. It is this information that is then going to be processed in their minds as they are walking around from place to place or looking for something.
While cats may not have the same brain power as a human, they are capable of thinking in meows. It comes naturally to them, which is then seen through how they communicate with a human.

2. Connection With Real-Life Actions
When asking “Do cats think in meows?” you will also want to look at the cat’s real-life actions.
For example, when a cat asks for food, there will be a specific type of meow that is used. The same goes for a cat that wants to be petted.
You will know these differences especially with a cat of your own.
However, how do you think these sounds come about? They come about by a cat understanding how to communicate with you through these sounds. It might not always be perfect but it tends to correlate with their actions.
This is why anyone wondering “Do cats think in meows?” will have to focus on the cat’s actions.
This is when you will start to see them think about what they want and then meow. It comes naturally to them around humans.

3. Learned Behavior
There is a learned aspect to this.
Cats from a young age will know this is the best way to communicate with humans. It is their way of letting humans know what works best for them in that situation.
It is something they learn more and more as time goes on.
Due to this, when asking “Do cats think in meows?” you will realize this is something they will have learned over time from a young age.
As a result, they are also going to think in meows.
Related Questions
1. What Language Do Cats Think In?
Cats tend to think using a series of cues including sounds, body language, and general vocalization. This cannot be compared to a human thinking in English or any other spoken language.
2. Do Cats Think About The Past?
Cats do not have the same understanding of time as humans. The average cat will only recognize the difference between now and a few seconds in the past. Anything beyond this is difficult for their brain to grasp. This means cats don’t think about the past like a human would.
Final Thoughts
“Do cats think in meows?”
Cats can think in meows when around humans as a way to communicate with them.
Here is more on cats – cats that meow when held, mating actions by female cats, cats with a lot of fangs, and stopping cats from hopping over pet gates.