What Your Cat Thinks About You
We tend to think of our pets as family members, but what do they really think about us? Do cats try to read our minds? Do they think of humans as equals, or are we just food providers for them? It turns out that scientists from all over the world are interested in the answers to these questions.
5-Minute Crafts would like to tell you about what your cat thinks about you by using a scientific approach.
How cats think
There are many things that indicate that cats are smart enough to have their own thoughts. Structurally, the brains of cats and humans are very similar — their regions are connected and transmit information in a similar way. Additionally, cats receive and process information from their 5 senses, just like humans. We can assume that they think the same way as we do.
If cats see us as human or bigger cats
It’s believed that cats perceive people as larger cats or as larger versions of themselves. However, there is no scientific evidence for this. This legend has spread thanks to the work of John Bradshaw, a cat-behavior expert at the University of Bristol. He claims that cats often treat humans the same way they treat other members of the feline family. Modern research shows that cats’ attachment to their caregivers is more like the attachment of a human baby to their parents.
If cats can understand human emotions
Studies show that cats are sensitive to human emotions, although to a lesser extent than dogs are. However, they react to their owners’ moods. For example, cats are more likely to engage with depressed humans.
If you can read a cat’s mind by its behavior
The way your cat reacts to your actions can tell you a lot about what it thinks of you. Hissing or narrowing of the eyes clearly indicates that you are doing something wrong. If you pet your cat, it may close its eyes with pleasure and purr softly. Reading your pet’s mind by its behavior may seem like a simple task, but don’t be fooled. Purring can sometimes not mean feelings of pleasure but a state of anxiety. In a stressful situation, cats may purr to calm themselves.