In a recent study, almost 300 different facial expressions were observed in cats. But what the animal wants to communicate to the other with them remained unclear.
A recent American study shows how many different ways cats express themselves when communicating with each other. The research team managed to record 276 unique expressions from the cats.
So if you think a cat’s grin resembles a human’s, you’ve interpreted correctly. Scientists discovered that cats have some of the same facial expressions as humans. This is no accident: cats have learned facial expressions from humans after living with us for thousands of years.
The study was carried out at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Among other things, they reported on the topic BBC mixed Science.
Cats’ messages remain partly a mystery
About 45 percent of the cats’ facial expressions were interpreted as friendly, while 37 percent were interpreted as slightly aggressive or angry. The remaining 18 percent of expressions were a mixture of the two.
Some of the friendly expressions of cats resembled the playful expressions of humans, dogs and, for example, monkeys. In such an expression, the cat’s mouth pulls back and the jaw opens into a smile or even a laugh.
However, it is not yet known what the cats are trying to communicate to each other with their expressions. However, the researchers hope that their research can help pet owners and, for example, rescue zoos to better understand the relationship between cats and other cats.
Research can also help owners interpret what the cat is trying to tell them. A biologist blinks Georgia Mason there is also the possibility that in the future the owner could see from the phone application what the cat wants to communicate with its expression.
– This can really strengthen the bond between a person and a cat, Mason says in the Science publication.
Unique facial movements create a look
The cats were photographed for the study in a Californian cat cafe for about 194 minutes. Particular attention was paid to the expressions shown to other cats.
Investigator Lauren Scott analyzed the material by an evolutionary psychologist by Brittany Florkiewicz with.
It turned out that cats’ expressions were made up of 4-26 unique facial movements. These movements included keeping the mouth open, dilating or shrinking the pupils, blinking the eyes, licking the nose, moving the whiskers and different positions of the ears.
For comparison: humans have about forty different facial movements, dogs have an estimated 27.