Cats Make Nearly 300 Different Facial Expressions to Communicate Feelings

Quick Smiles:

• Researchers found that cats have at least as many facial expressions as dogs.
• They discovered 276 expressions made up of a combination of 26 facial movements.
• Most of the expressions were sociable, meant to communicate with other cats or humans in a calm manner.

Cats are often seen as aloof, solitary creatures, but a new study reveals that they’re actually quite expressive and socially active. Researchers Lauren Scott and Brittany Florkiewicz studied the 53 feline residents of a Los Angeles cat cafe and found that cats have at least as many facial expressions as dogs.

To truly understand what your cat is trying to say, it’s essential to pay attention to their ears, nose, and whiskers, not just their eyes and mouth. Scott and Florkiewicz discovered that cats have 276 different expressions, made up of 26 unique facial movements. In comparison, dogs use 27 movements and humans use 44.

The majority of these expressions were sociable, meant to communicate with other cats or humans in a cooperative and calm manner. Florkiewicz told Live Science, “It was surprising to see them play-fighting, and then things escalated into an aggressive encounter. You can see a change in their facial expressions.”

Interestingly, domestic cats share similar aspects of the “common play face” observed in other mammals like monkeys, humans, and dogs. This expression is characterized by the corners of the mouth drawn back and the jaw dropped, resembling a playful laugh.

The researchers hope that their findings can help humane societies, shelters, and other cat housing facilities better understand the emotions and needs of their feline residents. So, next time you’re trying to decipher your cat’s mood, remember to look at their entire face and not just their eyes!

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