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At last! A cat collar that translates meows into human speech

Technically Incorrect: The Catterbox sounds wonderful. You might ask, however, how the collar knows what the cat is saying.

Chris Matyszczyk
2 min read

Technically Incorrect offers a slightly twisted take on the tech that's taken over our lives.


Guess what he's saying? He's saying, "this collar looks stupid."

Temptations; YouTube screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET

Cats and humans have often had a difficult, sometimes even twisted relationship.

Cats cuddle up to you when they want something. But when you want something from them, they can show a tinge of divaesque reluctance.

What about when they meow?

Have you truly any idea what they're trying to communicate?

Welcome, then, the Catterbox. This extraordinary collar claims to translate cats' meows into human speech.

The Catterbox uses a digital sensor to detect a meow; then, thanks to a special program, it translates the mew into human language for all to hear.

I sense that strange sound you're making conveys skepticism.

Please let me add to it. The Catterbox was created by an English ad agency. It must be horrifically authentic, then.

Moreover, it was created on behalf of Temptations cat treats, which happens to have a Temptations Lab.

Some might translate this highfalutin name as "fluff and nonsense created to sell cat food."

I confess that I found some of the human voices emitted by the cats far more disturbing than, say, Siri's. One sounds like a snooty actor from a British farce in which breast-jokes are supposed to be funny.

This isn't even the first time someone has claimed to translate cat into human. In 2007, a Japanese company launched the Meowlingual Cat Translation Device. I fear it didn't translate to the wider world.

I'm sure, though, that many cat owners will enjoy endless hoots of amusement at having cat's meows articulated for them by the Catterbox.

I feel less sure the cats will feel the same way.