Cats are among the most popular pets in every household. In fact, most cat owners consider them as part of the family. They are great company and with good instincts and can cheer your mood instantly.
Do Cats Know They Are Cute?
You may have noticed some expressions from your cat. Maybe it was the big and expressive eyes looking at you in a kind way or the laid-back ears.
Or perhaps it was all those expressions tied together that made you pet it, give it a treat or stop reprimanding it. This is what most people call acting cute. It often happens if the cat knows it has done something wrong or wants you to give it something.
However, does a cat know it is cute? For many years, cats and humans have coexisted, and it is believed that cats self-domesticate as a survival means to get food instead of hunting. Even to date, cats still rely on humans for survival, with most of them adding cute facial expressions to work in their favor.
Do Cats Manipulate People?
A study found that expressions cats make were more common when a human was paying attention to a cat. This study was done to measure whether a cat gets affected by food or its owners’ emotional state and attention. The result showed that as much as food elicited excitement from the cat, there were also fewer facial expressions compared to when a human was paying attention to them.
Although research is yet to prove whether the cat knows this, some people believe that those expressions may be your cat’s attempt to manipulate you.
Another thing noted is that some cat facial expressions like raising eyebrows result in a higher chance of a cat being adopted in cat shelters.
What Do Cat Expressions Mean?
Some of the expressions we consider cute may have more logical meanings behind them. Since cats use body language to communicate their needs, some of the expressions we assume are signs of affection may mean something else to the cat. These expressions include raised eyebrows, smiling, and quizzical head tilts.
When a cat scrunches its nose, showing its front teeth, humans consider it a “smile.” This explains why the expression may be common when you are scolding a cat, or it wants a treat. Another expression humans consider cute is the head tilt.
The cat will twist its neck so that the head tilts on one side with an ear pointed to the sky. You may have noticed this when you ask the cat whether it wants to go for a walk. While humans assume the cat is trying to understand what you are asking, the cat could actually be trying to hear you better.
Why Are Cats Cute?
With their big eyes, large round heads, floppy ears, and soft fur, it is hard not to find a cat cute. They simply appeal to humans. Also, their behavior is endearing, especially the nuzzling noses, clumsy movement, and wagging tails.
If you look at these behaviors, they are cute, and you will find them in babies, apart from the wagging tail, of course.
And often, babies can make you feel mushy inside. In fact, if you look at photos of a kitten and pictures of babies, your brain will respond the exact way by filling your body with feel-good chemicals.
This explains why most people search for cat images online. That is because these chemicals put you in a good mood and make you feel loving and protective.
Why Do We Find Our Cats The Cutest?
In general, people consider all cats cute. Naturally, humans will consider the cats they own the cutest, since they become part of the family after getting them. You name it, wash it often, feed it, celebrate its birthdays, and even take photos like any proud parent would.
All these things help you develop a strong bond with your pet, and that is why you will find it cuter than other cats out there. As much as cats have been looking attractive for a long time, humans are also deliberately breeding them to look even more enchanting.
Today, breeds like Exotic Shorthair, Ragdoll, and Siberian cats are some of the breeds considered cute with their teddy bear appearance.
Are Kittens Cuter Than Adult Cats?
Some traits in kittens like big eyes, big heads that are disproportionate to the body, and big ears and feet make kittens look attractive. From around seven to eight weeks is when a kittens starts looking all cute and fluffy.
Conveniently enough, this is when the kittens’ mother starts getting tired of breastfeeding them and taking care of them and is about to kick them out of the den. This works in favor of the cats, considering how most people prefer adopting cats when they are still kittens.
Should You Adopt/ Get a Kitten or An Older Cat
When getting or adopting a cat, most people often wonder which one to go for. Outlined below are the pros and cons of both that will make it easy for you to decide.
Pros of getting an older cat
- They have already gone through the messy kitten phase.
- Has already been trained to know commands
- Save the first year of veterinary costs associated with having a kitten
- Learn about a cat’s health history before getting it and decide if you still want it.
Cons of an older cat
- Spend a significant amount of money on the cat’s health, especially on dental care
- You may miss the window to bond with the cat
- You may not have many years with the cat, depending on its age.
- There is a possibility it may not be well trained, and you will have to spend time training it again.
Pros of getting a kitten
- They are cute, cuddly, and fluffy.
- You can raise them as you want.
- It makes good practice when prepping to get kids
Cons of getting a kitten
- They are messy, biting and swallowing everything in their path.
- Pay little attention to your voice unless it is sharp and distinct.
- They can hardly control their bladder, especially during the day.
In the end, the choice is yours of which age to adopt, but the fact stands, the cuteness of a cat hardly fades.
Does My Cat Act Cute on Purpose?
A study found that domesticated cats use various facial expressions on their owners. That is even when it is not feeding time, which is often accompanied by excitement. Those expressions made by cats depend on the attention they get from their owners.
It is more than the cat being excited. Your cat is intentionally responding to your gaze. You may also notice that it lits up when it catches your scent.
Do Cats Give Kitten Eyes on Purpose?
The kitty cat eyes expression used by humans as a sad expression may actually not be what your cat is trying to tell you. It is a clever tactic for a cat to get affection and attention. The raised brows and enlargening of the eyes work wonders in getting the attention of any cat owner.
A cat is sensitive to attention from its owner, and those expressions are an attempt to communicate rather than a display of involuntary emotion.
Do Cats Find Humans Cute?
Cats do many actions to humans, including occupying your laps, taking your blankets, and smacking their legs, making them appear adorable and playful. However, as they do these acts, what are they really thinking?
Are these actions cute because we believe so, or are there other reasons? It can be hard to tell what is going on inside the head of your cat. But thanks to neuroimaging research, understanding your pet may not be so hard after all.
What Cats Think of Their Human Friends
Compared to other cat species, your cat depends on you for things like food, love, and security. You can therefore be sure that your cat loves you back. Apart from that, they are dedicated to humans. If a cat is lying somewhere and the owner passes by, you will notice it responds by lifting its head.
That is because it depends majorly on its sense of smell. Catching a whiff of the owner’s scents, therefore, elicits some excitement from it.
Do Cats Know You are Human?
There is a good chance you have wondered whether your cat can point out the differences between you two. Your cat knows that you are not a cat, which is majorly because of how you smell. A cat has a much better sense of smell than a human.
Its sense of smell can be about 100,000 times better than yours.
Have you noticed how a cat can meet another cat in the park and start sniffing it? This is not to say hi, but it is a way of sniffing out information. Therefore, by scent alone, your cat knows that it is interacting with a different species. However, even with that, it still considers you family.
Do Cats Know They are Loved?
One thing that all cat lovers enjoy is showering their pets with treats, snuggles, and toys. As it turns out, your cat can feel this affection and can tell you care about it. When you look at your cat, both your oxytocin levels are likely to go up, which warms both of you.
How To Show a Cat You Love Them?
You can show your cat you love it by:
- Leaning on them
- Rubbing their years
- Gazing into their eyes gently
- Having fun together
- snuggling
Can Cats Feel When You Kiss Them?
Kisses are a way to show affection among humans. However, cat owners love kissing their cats as well. And yes, your cat can feel the kiss. That is why it will jump up and down and try to lick you after you kiss it. They can tell that it is a good sign.
At times, a cat may look you in the eye as you kiss it. This is a sign that they trust you as they receive this form of affection.
When you kiss a kitty, there may not be any signs of recognizing what the kiss means. That is because they are yet to associate kisses with affection. However, as they grow, they pick up signs of affection and react by either jumping up and down or licking your back. Some cats will nuzzle up to you as well.
Signs Your Cats Like Kisses
- Head Tilting
- Tail wagging
- Alert
- Licking
Can Cats Pick a Favorite Person?
Cats can pick a favorite family member based on things like socialization, attention, affection, association. If a cat feels that one person gives them more affection or associates them with treats, they will probably like them more.
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