The answer to a cat's loud meow might be buried in its genes

Have you ever noticed how some cats are very quiet, while others meow loudly and often? Scientists now believe that the reason for these differences might be found in the cat's genes. If you have more than one cat, you probably know that each one has its own unique personality. One cat might be very friendly, meowing for food, purring on your lap, and greeting visitors at the door. Another cat might be more reserved, preferring to watch from a distance. So, what makes some cats so chatty and others so quiet? A team of researchers led by Yume Okamoto at Kyoto University in Japan wanted to find out. They asked cat owners from all over Japan to fill out a survey about their cats' behavior. The owners also took a cheek swab from their cats to provide a DNA sample. The survey included questions about how often the cats purred, meowed, or made other sounds directed at people. The scientists focused on a gene called AR, which is found on the X chromosome. This gene helps control how the body responds to hormones like testosterone. The AR gene has a section where a DNA sequence is repeated several times. The number of repeats can change how sensitive the gene is. Shorter repeats make the gene more sensitive to hormones. In other animals, like humans and monkeys, shorter repeats in the AR gene have been linked to more active and sometimes more aggressive behavior. The researchers studied 280 cats that had been spayed or neutered. They found that cats with the short version of the AR gene purred more often. Male cats with this gene also meowed more to get attention, like asking for food or to be let outside. Female cats with the same gene were more aggressive toward strangers. On the other hand, cats with the longer version of the AR gene were quieter. This longer gene was more common in pedigree breeds, which are usually bred to be calm and gentle. This suggests that genes play a big role in how cats behave. However, living close to humans does not always make animals more gentle. For example, seagulls that live in cities are often bolder and more aggressive than those in the countryside. In cities, food is harder to find, so gulls have to be more assertive to get what they need. This is similar to cats. Sometimes, being more vocal or assertive helps cats get attention or food from people. The study shows that the story of how cats became pets is not simple. Some wild traits, like aggression, can still be useful for cats, especially if they live in a place where resources are limited. Not all animals that live near humans become more gentle. Sometimes, being a little pushy helps them survive. The researchers believe that having a variety of personalities in cats is important. If all cats acted the same, they might not be able to adapt to changes in their environment. So, there is no single perfect cat personality. Each cat is different, and this diversity helps them live in many different kinds of homes. From cats to seagulls, living with humans does not always make animals softer. Sometimes, being bold and assertive is the best way to get by.