Ever found yourself lost in thought, wondering what your feline companion is really thinking? You’re not alone. A quick dive into my own search history reveals a recurring theme: a quest to understand the enigmatic minds of my cats. Like many cat owners, I’ve turned to the internet for answers, typing queries like “does my cat actually like me?” and “is my furry friend content?” countless times. It seems I’m not the only one fascinated by the secret world of cats, as evidenced by my accidental subscription to cat-related updates from a knowledge platform, delivering daily feline insights directly to my inbox.
[Cats track their owners’ movements, research finds
Read more](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/nov/10/cats-track-their-owners-movements-research-finds)
My own attempts to decipher my cats are a constant source of amusement and affection. The precise, almost mechanical snap of my three-year-old cat, Larry, as he observes me with a cool detachment is a sound I genuinely cherish. Then there’s Kedi, my six-month-old kitten, whose varied meows are a running commentary on his daily needs and desires. High-pitched squeaks clearly signal hunger, while softer chirps are an invitation to play. The comforting weight of Larry on my feet as I sleep and the sandpaper-like affection of Kedi’s tongue on my eyelid each morning are uniquely cat-like expressions of connection that I’ve come to adore.
But these are just observations. How can we truly understand what goes on behind those captivating feline eyes? While online articles with whimsical fonts might offer comforting words, they’re unlikely to provide scientifically sound answers. To truly understand the feline psyche, we need to turn to the experts who are delving into the science of cats.
A woman, Sirin Kale, is pictured holding her tabby cat, Larry, in her arms. She is smiling gently at the camera, while Larry looks calmly to the side. The background appears to be a domestic indoor setting.
Despite their popularity as pets – cats outnumber dogs in UK households – our understanding of them remains surprisingly limited. Dr. Carlo Siracusa, from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, points out that this knowledge gap is partly due to practical challenges in studying cats.
Dogs, known for their adaptability, can be readily studied in laboratory settings. However, cats are deeply territorial. “A cat’s behavior is so influenced by its environment that moving it to a lab distorts its normal behavior,” explains Siracusa. The controlled lab setting, therefore, fails to reflect a cat’s true nature.
Adding to the challenge is a historical bias against cats. Throughout history, cats have been unfairly stigmatized. In the Middle Ages, they were linked to witchcraft, facing persecution and even being burned. Philosopher John Gray, author of “Feline Philosophy: Cats and the Meaning of Life,” notes, “They have been stigmatized as evil because they are thought to be amoral.” In essence, cats are often misunderstood simply because they prioritize their own instincts and nature.
Our current understanding of domestic cat behavior largely comes from studies conducted in their home environments. Interestingly, many of the scientists leading this research are, unsurprisingly, cat lovers themselves. Dr. Saho Takagi of Kyoto University, who co-authored a study on cat spatial awareness, admits, “Of course I am a cat lover.” She adds, “When I started raising cats, I was attracted by their mysteriousness. What are these cats thinking? How do they perceive the world? These are the questions that motivate me in my research.”
A close-up shot shows a young boy with fair skin and light brown hair gently stroking a ginger cat. The boy’s hand is on the cat’s back, and the cat is looking slightly to the left, with a relaxed posture. The background is softly blurred, suggesting an indoor setting with natural light.
Dr. Takagi’s research, published last month, revealed that cats create a mental map of their owner’s location based on auditory cues, even when out of sight. In her experiment, cats reacted most strongly when their owner’s voice seemed to “teleport” to a new location, indicating an awareness of expected spatial consistency. “These findings suggest that cats are quite concerned about their owners,” Takagi concludes. “They may be watching their owner’s every action carefully, thinking about what will happen next.” This challenges the common perception of cats as aloof and indifferent.
One frequent criticism of cats is that they merely exploit humans for comfort and food. However, Dr. Siracusa refutes this, stating, “Cats do get attached to people. They get attached to other animals too.” He explains that cats often express affection through proximity, choosing to be near their owners or other preferred companions. More affectionate cats might sleep alongside their owners or even other cats. “Cats who have grown up together are more likely to be preferred associates,” he notes, highlighting the social bonds cats can form, especially amongst themselves – a glimpse into the world of Cats On Cats interactions. However, he also points out, “as a general rule cats do not like to be picked up, hugged and kissed. The great majority of cats don’t like this.”
A woman with long brown hair is sitting on a couch, facing towards the left, and cradling a fluffy grey cat in her arms. She is gently holding the cat and looking down at it with a soft expression. The cat appears relaxed and is looking slightly upwards towards the woman’s face. The setting is a warmly lit living room.
The misconception that cats are uncaring stems from comparing them to humans or dogs. “Cats are not people,” Siracusa sighs, “and they are not dogs.” He elaborates, “Humans hug and kiss. Dogs become very excited and jump around. Cats don’t do anything like that. They are much more elegant. They approach us. They bump their heads. Then they have some contact with us and walk away.” This refined interaction style is rooted in their ancestry.
Cats evolved from the African wildcat, a solitary animal. “Cats are not social,” states clinical veterinarian Karen Hiestand of the University of Sussex. “They do not need friends.” Despite this solitary nature, in multi-cat households, cats can develop affectionate behaviors, most notably allogrooming – licking each other. Observing Larry and Kedi groom each other is a daily highlight, showcasing the subtle social dynamics within even seemingly independent felines, a gentle cats on cats affection.
A medium shot captures two cats closely interacting. One cat, a tabby with orange and white fur, is facing right and licking the head of another cat, which appears to be mostly grey with tabby markings. The grey cat is facing left, eyes partially closed, seemingly enjoying the grooming. They are positioned closely together, indicating a bond between them. The background is softly out of focus.
Cats are also capable of experiencing emotional distress, although Hiestand cautions against directly equating feline emotions with human “depression”. “There are issues around using mental health terminology on non-human species,” she explains. However, she adds pragmatically, “I have my own views: if it looks like a horse and sounds like a horse, then call it a horse.” The challenge lies in recognizing feline unhappiness, as “cat behavior is incredibly subtle.” A miserable cat is more likely to withdraw and become inactive rather than display overt signs of distress like hissing or fighting. Changes in routine or environment can trigger stress in cats. Siracusa recounts how his cat, Elsa, became unsettled when he began working from home. He also notes that probiotics surprisingly improved Elsa’s mood, highlighting the gut-brain connection in feline behavior.
A close-up portrait of a tabby cat with green eyes. The cat is looking directly at the camera with a slightly melancholic or neutral expression. Its fur is detailed, showing a mix of brown and black stripes. The background is blurred, putting full focus on the cat’s face and eyes.
Cats possess impressive memories, particularly those linked to emotions. My own cat, Larry, developed a lasting aversion to the kitchen counter after burning his paw on the stove, demonstrating a clear association between the location and a painful experience. Siracusa confirms that “memories related to emotions, and memories that cause a negative feeling are particularly good for our survival. Cats learn from experience and retain information that will keep them away from trouble or help them to get an advantage.”
Their memory extends beyond negative experiences. Dr. Takagi’s experiments show cats possess episodic memory, similar to humans. Cats could remember which bowls they had previously checked for their favorite food, even recalling the specific bowl and the type of food it contained. “This showed that it was a one-time experience that could be used and retrieved later,” Takagi explains, emphasizing the complexity of feline cognition.
Cats even seem to dream. Hiestand notes observing physical signs of dreaming in cats under anesthesia, such as paw movements as if running. She believes feline dreams likely mirror human dreams, involving “going over the day’s events and storing things in their memory banks.”
A wide shot of a living room bathed in warm sunlight streaming through a window. A ginger cat is lying stretched out on a cream-colored sofa, occupying the center of the frame. The room is otherwise empty, with a glimpse of a window and curtain in the background. The scene conveys a sense of peaceful solitude.
However, feline cognitive abilities have limits. Cats lack the developed frontal lobes needed for long-term planning. Siracusa clarifies, “Cats can’t make long-term plans.” Therefore, destructive behaviors like a cat soiling the couch are not premeditated acts of revenge. Kedi knocking over the laundry rack is not a deliberate attempt to annoy; cats simply don’t conceptualize future consequences in that way.
So, what occupies the feline mind? “That’s a difficult question,” Siracusa admits. He speculates, “I think most of their thoughts are about how to stay safe. Stay away from predators. Do cool stuff, such as eat a juicy mouse. Because they live in a human world, they most likely have thoughts related to us.” He humorously adds, projecting his own thoughts onto his cat, “That new tumble dryer we bought makes a terrible noise. But most of their thoughts are related to staying safe, and happy.”
Driven by my research, I became even more attuned to my cats’ well-being. I scrutinized their expressions, seeking hints of their inner states. I even consulted cat behaviorist Anita Kelsey, author of “Let’s Talk About Cats,” sending videos for her expert opinion. Her interpretations offered glimpses into their immediate feelings, confirming Kedi’s morning exuberance was linked to the anticipation of food.
A high-angle, full shot shows a child lying on their back on a light-colored carpet, with a fluffy white cat lying on top of their stomach. The child is wearing a blue long-sleeve shirt and has their hands gently placed on the cat’s side, appearing to pet it. The cat is relaxed, facing towards the child’s head. The setting is brightly lit, possibly in a living room.
Yet, direct observation only reveals so much. The mystery of their lives when I’m not present remained. To solve this, I turned to technology, using motion-activated security cameras. The footage revealed their independent existence: playful attacks on pens, chair-scratching antics, and casual water-glass drinking. They existed, seemingly unconcerned by my absence.
Cats, in their essence, are self-directed creatures. They are unlikely to pine for absent owners or conform to human expectations like fetching or veganism. As John Gray observes, “Cats are a window outside the human world. They are themselves, and they stay themselves. They adapt to human ways. But they don’t adopt human ways.”
Perhaps, instead of trying to humanize cats, we should appreciate their unique nature. Gray suggests, “I think the question should really be, can we learn anything from them that is beneficial to us? I think we can. By looking at something so different to us, that lives alongside us, we can shake the more harmful habits that go with being human. Such as worrying about the future and not living enough in the present, or being content with the life we have.” And, perhaps, embracing the art of the nap.
A close-up shot focuses on a tabby cat curled up asleep on a grey blanket. Only the cat’s head and upper body are visible. The cat’s eyes are closed, and its body is relaxed. The lighting is soft, emphasizing the peacefulness of the sleeping cat.
Reflecting on the self-possessed nature of cats, Gray points to the ancient Egyptians who worshipped them, associating them with the goddess Mut. “It’s because they are so self-possessed and imperious,” he explains. “They do what they want to do. And live the way they want to live.” Perhaps a more fulfilling human-cat relationship involves embracing this ancient perspective: you don’t need to fully understand a cat to appreciate, even revere, it.
My week of feline soul-searching concluded with disconnecting the cameras, returning Larry and Kedi to their private world. But before switching them off, I reviewed the final footage. A kitten’s paw reached towards the camera lens – a poignant reminder of the constant, often humorous, attempts to bridge the gap between our worlds, and the quiet contentment cats seem to achieve so effortlessly.
