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Vocal, Visual, and Tactile Signals in Cat–Human Communication : A Pilot Study

Hirsch, Elin LU ; van de Weijer, Joost LU orcid and Schötz, Susanne LU orcid (2024) 4th Intl. Workshop on Vocal interactivity in-and-between Humans, Animals and Robots p.60-64
Abstract
To investigate multimodal signals in cat–human communication we recorded 36 cat–owner interactions in everyday situations that were judged by the owners for valence (negative, mixed or positive). We then coded the videos for behaviour using an ethogram including vocal, visual and tactile (multimodal) signals. Vocalisations were segmented and acoustic measures of duration and F0 obtained. In cats, common behaviours were tail up/halfway up and ears forward, while vocal signals were more common in owners. The distribution of all behaviours was compared across the three levels of valence. In negatively judged interactions, cat tail position was frequently vertical. In interactions judged as mixed, cats remained passive to their owners trying... (More)
To investigate multimodal signals in cat–human communication we recorded 36 cat–owner interactions in everyday situations that were judged by the owners for valence (negative, mixed or positive). We then coded the videos for behaviour using an ethogram including vocal, visual and tactile (multimodal) signals. Vocalisations were segmented and acoustic measures of duration and F0 obtained. In cats, common behaviours were tail up/halfway up and ears forward, while vocal signals were more common in owners. The distribution of all behaviours was compared across the three levels of valence. In negatively judged interactions, cat tail position was frequently vertical. In interactions judged as mixed, cats remained passive to their owners trying to interact with them. Frequent cat behaviours in positively judged interactions were sniff/lick, rub, and soft gaze. The acoustic variables did not show clear variation that could be attributed to judged valence. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
cat–human interactions, interspecific communication, multimodal signals, cat-human interactions, interspecific communication, multimodal signals
host publication
Proceedings of the 4th International Workshop on Vocal Interactivity in-and-between Humans, Animals and Robots
editor
Miron, Marius and Marxer, Ricard
article number
60
pages
5 pages
publisher
Ricard Marxer
conference name
4th Intl. Workshop on Vocal interactivity in-and-between Humans, Animals and Robots
conference location
the city of Kos, Greece
conference dates
2024-09-06 - 2024-10-09
ISBN
978-2-9562029-3-6
project
Cat-human communication: vocal, visual and tactile signals
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Copyright © 2024 of each article is held by its respective authors. All rights reserved.
id
0a533f99-d914-4aa5-be40-e2e3c35aef68
alternative location
http://vihar-2024.vihar.org/assets/VIHAR_2024_proceedings.pdf
date added to LUP
2024-10-07 15:39:04
date last changed
2025-04-04 14:05:46
@inproceedings{0a533f99-d914-4aa5-be40-e2e3c35aef68,
  abstract     = {{To investigate multimodal signals in cat–human communication we recorded 36 cat–owner interactions in everyday situations that were judged by the owners for valence (negative, mixed or positive). We then coded the videos for behaviour using an ethogram including vocal, visual and tactile (multimodal) signals. Vocalisations were segmented and acoustic measures of duration and F0 obtained. In cats, common behaviours were tail up/halfway up and ears forward, while vocal signals were more common in owners. The distribution of all behaviours was compared across the three levels of valence. In negatively judged interactions, cat tail position was frequently vertical. In interactions judged as mixed, cats remained passive to their owners trying to interact with them. Frequent cat behaviours in positively judged interactions were sniff/lick, rub, and soft gaze. The acoustic variables did not show clear variation that could be attributed to judged valence.}},
  author       = {{Hirsch, Elin and van de Weijer, Joost and Schötz, Susanne}},
  booktitle    = {{Proceedings of the 4th International Workshop on Vocal Interactivity in-and-between Humans, Animals and Robots}},
  editor       = {{Miron, Marius and Marxer, Ricard}},
  isbn         = {{978-2-9562029-3-6}},
  keywords     = {{cat–human interactions; interspecific  communication; multimodal signals; cat-human interactions; interspecific communication; multimodal signals}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{60--64}},
  publisher    = {{Ricard Marxer}},
  title        = {{Vocal, Visual, and Tactile Signals in Cat–Human Communication : A Pilot Study}},
  url          = {{http://vihar-2024.vihar.org/assets/VIHAR_2024_proceedings.pdf}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}