Meows are aimed at humans
Meows are not natural cat language— they developed them exclusively to communicate with humans! Many cats and their human companions seem to create a pidgin language to communicate better.

Adult cats, living apart from humans, have very clear communication with one another. Cat language is spoken mainly through scent, then through facial expression, complex body language, and touch. Still no sign of the cat? That’s okay. Here, the cat is under the bed and can be seen when you look at the blankets that drop down the floor.