GabyDogs have a unique ability to express their emotions, from wagging their tails to whining and giving that puppy-dog look. Cats, on the other hand, are often known for their aloofness, and as many pet owners point out, deciphering feline emotions can be quite a challenge.
According to researchers who surveyed 438 pet owners, dogs are generally perceived as more emotional than cats. The survey included 22 different emotions, ranging from joy and sadness to frustration. Compared to cat owners, dog owners believe they can recognize a significantly wider array of emotions in their pets. On average, 65% of dog owners feel their pets can express certain emotions, compared to just 58% of cat owners. Dogs seem to convey subtle feelings more often, such as empathy and guilt.
While cats may appear to be an enigma, they do express certain emotions quite well. For instance, around 85% of cat owners reported that their pets showed anger, compared to less than 60% of dog owners who noted the same in their dogs.
The study’s authors suggest that “semi-solitary” cats can be puzzling. This is largely because these animals have not historically needed to communicate with humans as much as dogs, which were bred for hunting and herding. Cats also tend to make eye contact with their owners less frequently than dogs, making it harder to understand what they might be thinking. However, if people want to avoid getting scratched, they can try to read their cats’ thoughts. One of the study’s authors, Professor Daniel Mills, notes that when cats scratch their owners, it’s often because the owners have missed subtle signs indicating it’s time to stop petting them. This highlights the importance of understanding our pets.
Yet, according to Professor Mills in an interview with the Daily Mail, the study’s findings suggest that people do not communicate as effectively with cats as they do with dogs. This may be due to the fact that dogs have more expressive faces than cats.
Unfortunately, the researcher also points out that we still don’t know whether pets genuinely express different emotions or if people simply project more emotions onto dogs than onto cats. Historically, the bond between humans and dogs has been closer, leading to better communication than with cats. The study involved participants who had lived with their pets for at least two years, allowing them to truly know their animals. They were asked whether they had observed six primary animal emotions in their pets—anger, disgust, fear, joy, sadness, and surprise—and how these emotions were expressed, such as through facial expressions, head posture, and eye contact. Participants were then asked if they had ever noticed 16 less distinct emotions, including anxiety, boredom, confusion, frustration, feelings of guilt or shame, pain, and positive anticipation, which were more noticeable in dogs than in cats.
Interestingly, among a subgroup of 68 participants who owned both dogs and cats, about one-third reported recognizing guilt or shame in their dogs. However, none of this group believed their cat ever looked guilty. It’s worth noting that the group of owners with both types of pets reported observing more emotions in their dogs. Yet, the study’s authors suggest that people might simply convince themselves they understand what dogs or cats are thinking in certain situations.
Previous data indicates that cat owners are less likely to view their pets as family members compared to dog owners. This could mean there are fewer emotional connections, leading to a belief that they cannot read a cat’s emotions as well. Nevertheless, cats are not indifferent; the proportion of owners of both cats and dogs who claim their pets express love and affection is not significantly different.
