This subject fascinates me sometimes. Cats, or the two cats I used to have before natural causes intervened. Definitely had their own autonomy. My black cat used to growl like a dog if there was a knock at the door lol. He was extremely affectionate whereas my ginger one had lazy moments and bizarre bursts of energy and playfulness. Im certain he was ADHD!
My current lovely dog has got me through so much. Puts her head on my lap if I’m overwhelmed with tmi. They just know our moods don’t they? They also are good at figuring out other dogs intentions, too. Careless owners let their dogs cause havoc when other owners have theirs on a lead, is a gripe of mine. Guess that’s for another thread all together.
Boris decided he wanted to be one of these long legged cats called greyhounds when he was a kitten! He absolutely loved them, even to the point of using Monty or Dogglet's willies as pillows, everytime when they were laying about, and he came over, they'd cross thier legs!
Cats have been found to be far more attached to their humans than previously thought and get real seperation anxiety, it's just they don't have eyebrow muscles in the way we and dogs do so we don't see it.
Some research has shown that dogs see us as 'not dogs' but still as 'pack leaders', they interpret human facial expressions and understand some words and are keen on communicating with us and pleasing us. Cats, however, see us as 'large strange-looking cats' and 'mother substitutes', the meow is a modification of the sounds kittens make to their mothers. Cats can also understand some words, and tones of voice, but have much less incentive to please, even if they understand a human attempt to induce them to do, or not do, something.
I am unsure about that specific situation. But an article from today describes a study showing they may distinguish human happiness, sadness, anger and fear:
I heard of crying with laughter, but not being able to really see what the expression is its hard to tell.
I'm amazed that so many autistic people use emoji's seeing as so many of us have problems knowing what facial expressions mean. I mostly can't tell the difference between emoji's, whether they're supposed to be happy or sad
Good one! My pup was so happy to see me for the first time in 11 or so days this morning, my older one excited but less so and my (absolutely beautiful ginger Tom) cat totally non-plussed!
'Hadn't noticed you'd been away mate' was my imagined communication... Think he enjoyed the peace!
