I’ll put my hands up ― I straight-up didn’t believe the TikTok trend that saw cats come straight to their owner’s side as if a dog had been called by name, thanks to two short sounds. ″‘Mah-AH’ ...

Some sounds are music to your cat’s ears, like the crackle of a treat bag or the pop of a wet food can. Others? Not so much.

Meeaaaoow rises like a question mark before dawn. Anyone living with a cat knows their sounds: broken chirrups like greetings, low growls that warn, purrs stitched into sleepy conversation.