Your cat meows. Your cat’s collar translates the sound and a voice of your choosing (using a smartphone app) speaks the translation in English. Sounds fascinating. It sounds damn useful. Everyone who lives with a domestic cat would love to know exactly what their cat is saying. It is a prototype launched in the US and New Zealand.
It won’t work despite the fancy video. Am I being too negative? It is more a fun gimmick than a genuine translation (and it does look like fun in the video). The device is a way to make some money by tapping into cat lovers’ desire to fully understand their cat. It also taps into the increasing trend of treating cats as family members. Cats truly are family members to most families. It is just that they don’t speak English. Voila, a device which fixes the problem.
https://youtu.be/zP_Aw9EMB-U
The truth is, though, that people who are in tune with their cat can translate cat sounds accurately. And it is not just cat sounds which are forms of communication. You translate a cat vocalisations by observing parallel cat behaviour and habits. You also know when the sounds are made and under what circumstances. These factors allow observant cat owners to translate what a cat is saying when they vocalise.
Communicating with a cat is about far more than the sound. There is body language, routines, habits and interactions with humans all of which build a picture from which it is possible to understand what your cat is “saying”.
A device like this can only work on the sound a cat makes. This is not the full picture. In addition, individual cats have their own range of sounds. A device like this can’t accommodate that variation. Quite a nice gimmick though. It is a big, stiff collar. It would only be sensible to let a cat wear it inside the home whilst being observed, I’d have thought. It could be dangerous. Although, I don’t want to be a killjoy.
What do you think?
P.S. That cat’s last meow on the video was, “Get me the hell out of here!” No mistake. Distressed.
Yes, that last sound was a distressed sound. The translation was way off the mark. I am being too serious.
I wouldn’t mind having a trial use of this device just to see how “experts” interpret my cats’ communications as opposed to my own. I believe that I am around 90% in tuned with what my cats are conveying. But, I have the advantage of knowing each cat well, hearing their vocalizations on a daily basis, and seeing their body language.
But, it would be fun to try.
Me too. It would be fun to see what they came up with. I have a feeling it will be disappointing. The translation will be more about fun than reality.
I think you’re a very smart observer of cat behavior. When I first saw it, I thought “gimmick”, but didn’t consider any of the points you’ve so wisely made.
I’m sure they’ll sell a lot of these to pet guardians who have money to burn, and enough curiosity to burn it on this gadget. I can imagine that the ego will also be very involved. Imagine the attention you might get if you were the first of your friends who could claim that your cat speaks English! And soon, many other languages! Oh brother!
I just watched the “10 Best Cat Videos” on You Tube. Since I don’t watch TV, I’ve missed out on these. Cats are finally having their moments of fame. I’m glad to see this, because I think it will contribute to cats being seen as having value to humans in all their mysterious ways. Providing humor is one of their therapeutic gifts that give us relief from the daily stress of life. Relief from stress is why people “self medicate” with alcohol and drugs. A cat can provide natural endorphins, and that’s my drug of choice.
I agree, Sandra. Watching cat videos is more of a high for me than any drug could be.
Thanks. I agree the collar will sell out of curiosity. And it is fun. It not a genuine translator though 😉