Talking with your cat

If you are having communication problems with your cat the Japanese have got the answer. On sale this week is the Meow Lingual Cat Translator from Takara, a device that turns all those miaows into human speech.

Compatible with over fourteen different breeds of cats it works via a separate mîcrophone that attaches to the cat’s collars. When the cat miaows it sends a signal to handheld device, which then translates the cat’s noises and tells you what your moggy is trying to say.

It might sound bonkers, but a similar device for use with dogs (the Bow Lingual) has been an enormous seller in the US since its launch in the summer and has recently gone on sale in the UK (click here). Both products sell for around £100. No news yet on a UK launch for the cat device yet.