MeowTalk is the app that lets you translate what your cat says – SCREENSHOT Media

MeowTalk is the app that lets you translate what your cat says

By Harriet Piercy

Published Jan 18, 2021 at 04:59 PM

Reading time: 2 minutes

Alright alright, Dr Dolittle may have seriously been onto something—we’re this close to being able to speak with cats. And who knows, maybe one day we’ll even get to truly converse with our pets? How, and who is behind the technology that will make one of our wildest childhood dreams come true?

Former Amazon Alexa engineer Javier Sanches recently bought a Siamese cat called Mochi. Little does Mochi know, she is to be the founding test pilot of Sanches’ new experimental app, MeowTalk. You can guess what it’s due to be; a translation app for cats. After all this time being spent ununderstood, we will soon find out just how much our furry friends have to say. How does MeowTalk work exactly?

@darynsdiary

This is incredible #meowtalk #catsoftiktok #meow #cat

♬ original sound - Daryn

The app started out as a bit of a ‘frivolous’ project, however Sanches fully intends to work on it full time from now on. His aim is to one day create an electronic cat collar that will automatically translate what cats say as they meow around the home. Imagine an Alexa or Siri-ish voice chatting to you all day long, probably demanding more snacks or attention. Owners will be able to choose the translator’s voice too, as well as its accent.

Apparently, cats “have a very unusual voice,” Sanchez told the Telegraph. “I’ve been told that the app was not working as well with breeds that have high pitched or low pitched voices so I wanted to see for myself.” There are nine categories that MeowTalk has been programmed into recognising, which will allow users to know if their cat is “being defensive,” or giving a “mating call.” All the cat owner has to do is record and upload their cat’s ‘meow’ and the app then combines the technology behind Amazon’s Alexa and Google’s voice assistant, as well as years of cat communication research to translate it into intelligible information.

Don’t get too excited just yet though, because the app’s production is dependent on cat owners already knowing what a cat is looking for, which means its accuracy will be determined by the owners correcting where the app goes wrong. For example, if MeowTalk says your cat has just said good morning, but really you know it’s got its nose pressed on the door and asking for it to be opened, then owners need to tell the app what’s really going on.

MeowTalk currently counts only 13 phrases in its vocabulary including, basics like: “Feed me!”, “I’m angry!” and “Leave me alone!” The app is available in beta for free on both Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store.

That’s what MeowTalk has to offer you so far, but unsurprisingly, it’s not the only one in the race to hablar woof woof. Interspecies I/O is an organisation founded by Vint Cerf, who previously helped to design the TCP/IP architecture that underpins the internet—no big deal—and who is now also working on advancing the understanding and appreciation of the mental lives and intelligence of the diverse species with which we share our planet.

MeowTalk has not reached complete accuracy just yet, and although some cat behaviourists say that we will probably never be able to convert a cat’s meow into human words, the app remains one of the funnest things to try with your pets (especially when locked inside your house due to yet another lockdown).

So, what are you waiting for? Time to have a heart-to-heart with your furry friend!

Keep On Reading

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Watch these amazing videos from the men teaching TikTok how to sew

By Charlie Sawyer

Former Apple employee reveals insider scoops on 2023 event new products

By Charlie Sawyer

Meet Vivek Ramaswamy, a Trump 2.0 and the first millennial Republican presidential candidate

By Alma Fabiani

Watch viral video of woman in blackface terrorising Target and Starbucks employees

By Jennifer Raymont

The internet is convinced that the Obama sisters are this decade’s Olsen twins and we’re here for it

By SCREENSHOT

Weekly roundup: The Kardashians season 3 drops and Neuralink brain implant approved for human trials

By Alma Fabiani

The Summer I Turned Pretty season 2 finale: Is a bonus episode or part 2 on the way?

By Jennifer Raymont

15 jorts you’ll need to channel your inner Adam Sandler this summer

By Alma Fabiani

Watch this video of Ryan Gosling rehearsing for I’m Just Ken dance in Barbie movie

By Jennifer Raymont

We predict Tom Holland’s break from acting will lead to more matching outfits with Zendaya

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Outrage as Spanish football president kisses team member after Women’s World Cup final

By Mason Berlinka

Heartstopper star Kit Connor says he is more secure in his bisexuality despite being forced to come out online

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Viral TikTok attenzione pickpocket lady Monica Poli’s political allegiance exposed

By Charlie Sawyer

My chat with stand-up comedian Stef Dag, the Hot & Single host getting people laid in NYC

By Jennifer Raymont

Like mother, like daughter: Is Blue Ivy already leading the next generation of it girls?

By Monica Athnasious

The Kardashians’ damaging impact on body image, from BBLs to the popular new drug Apetamin

By Alma Fabiani

Real Madrid players arrested for sharing explicit video involving a minor

By Jennifer Raymont

From Gwyneth Paltrow to HBO’s Succession, quiet luxury is getting louder than ever

By Charlie Sawyer

Elon Musk shares intimate picture of Amber Heard after his brother called her toxic and a nightmare

By Mason Berlinka

Sam Smith cancels Manchester gig midway after only four songs due to serious voice issues