Do people who have no experience with small mammals and cats in particular read cat body language correctly?
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Do people who have no experience with small mammals and cats in particular read cat body language correctly?
Some things are pretty obvious, such as hissing and teeth.
But what about "airplane ears" or a thrashing tail?
Or blinking and looking away? (happy cat)
I wonder how much of this is based off of similar human expressions, if any of it is "hard wired" ... etc.
@futurebird I didn't really have any interactions with them for the first almost 40 years of my life and had no idea they had the depth of body language (or emotion) that they do. I've learned a lot over the past few years!
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Do people who have no experience with small mammals and cats in particular read cat body language correctly?
Some things are pretty obvious, such as hissing and teeth.
But what about "airplane ears" or a thrashing tail?
Or blinking and looking away? (happy cat)
I wonder how much of this is based off of similar human expressions, if any of it is "hard wired" ... etc.
@futurebird I actually think most people, including many who live with cats, don't read expressions like slow blinks or airplane ears correctly. I don't think they're similar enough to human expressions (many of which are cultrually specific) to be read easily.
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@futurebird I’ve come to notice that most humans don’t actually read other human body language very effectively, so I would suspect intra-species reading is even harder.
Plus, I notice people get stuck on single-meaning indicators. A swishing tail has a few different meanings.
@Remittancegirl @futurebird purring, also not a single meaning indicator. Broke my heart a bit to learn that the big kitty I liked to pick up was nervously purring to itself that it would all be okay.
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@Remittancegirl @futurebird purring, also not a single meaning indicator. Broke my heart a bit to learn that the big kitty I liked to pick up was nervously purring to itself that it would all be okay.
@c0dec0dec0de Very sick cats are a little different. They’ll purr alone, to self soothe for sure. But I promise you, big kitty was feeling happy in your arms. Otherwise, it would have left! hahahah @futurebird
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F myrmepropagandist shared this topic
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@c0dec0dec0de Very sick cats are a little different. They’ll purr alone, to self soothe for sure. But I promise you, big kitty was feeling happy in your arms. Otherwise, it would have left! hahahah @futurebird
@c0dec0dec0de That’s what I really love about cats. They’ve got little time for dissembling unless they’re hunting. Then, of course, they can be pretty crafty. But they’re mostly no bullshit when it comes to humans.
Like the shit I interpret as lovey dovey, but actually, they genuinely mean: I love you now feed me!
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@c0dec0dec0de That’s what I really love about cats. They’ve got little time for dissembling unless they’re hunting. Then, of course, they can be pretty crafty. But they’re mostly no bullshit when it comes to humans.
Like the shit I interpret as lovey dovey, but actually, they genuinely mean: I love you now feed me!
When cats receive affection or kindness they never ever question or worry if they deserve it. "Of course I do!" and they feel the same about giving affection.
It's a much more healthy way to look at such things and I try to learn from Pica in this one area.
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When cats receive affection or kindness they never ever question or worry if they deserve it. "Of course I do!" and they feel the same about giving affection.
It's a much more healthy way to look at such things and I try to learn from Pica in this one area.
@futurebird @Remittancegirl @c0dec0dec0de is there... a course? Maybe?
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@futurebird @Remittancegirl @c0dec0dec0de is there... a course? Maybe?
@PalmAndNeedle @Remittancegirl @c0dec0dec0de
Oh god... is she selling her online courses again? I'm so sorry I've been trying to stop her.
myrmepropagandist (@futurebird@sauropods.win)
My regular reminder that Pica DOES NOT have a "degree in sleeping" and she cannot issue valid diplomas. She does claim to offer "courses" that "teach u 2 sleep better" but there is no evidence that these courses do anything and her LLC isn't an accredited university or college. Under no circumstances should you give her your SS number, credit card number or... really even your age or height. You have been warned.
Sauropods.win (sauropods.win)
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@PalmAndNeedle @Remittancegirl @c0dec0dec0de
Oh god... is she selling her online courses again? I'm so sorry I've been trying to stop her.
myrmepropagandist (@futurebird@sauropods.win)
My regular reminder that Pica DOES NOT have a "degree in sleeping" and she cannot issue valid diplomas. She does claim to offer "courses" that "teach u 2 sleep better" but there is no evidence that these courses do anything and her LLC isn't an accredited university or college. Under no circumstances should you give her your SS number, credit card number or... really even your age or height. You have been warned.
Sauropods.win (sauropods.win)
@PalmAndNeedle @Remittancegirl @c0dec0dec0de
You only need to look at her "positive affirmations of self-love" to see the issue:
Twice a day look in the mirror and say "I *do* love Pica enough."
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Do people who have no experience with small mammals and cats in particular read cat body language correctly?
Some things are pretty obvious, such as hissing and teeth.
But what about "airplane ears" or a thrashing tail?
Or blinking and looking away? (happy cat)
I wonder how much of this is based off of similar human expressions, if any of it is "hard wired" ... etc.
@futurebird
I know #tailup is a good sign and showing the tummy is not an invitation for a tummy rub (it’s a trap!)
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@futurebird In my experience, they don't (I'm Official Cat Body Language Translator for several friends). Like, question mark tail ? Absolutely not intuitive for someone who doesn't know cats well.
What does question mark tail mean?
I've never lived with a cat. I'm aware that I can't read cats' body language and behaviour. I do think it's easy to anthropomorphise non-human animals, and even people who live with cats do so — look at the number of photos of "grumpy/angry/happy-looking" cats on Fedi. What you're seeing are expressions being interpreted as if humans were displaying them.
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What does question mark tail mean?
I've never lived with a cat. I'm aware that I can't read cats' body language and behaviour. I do think it's easy to anthropomorphise non-human animals, and even people who live with cats do so — look at the number of photos of "grumpy/angry/happy-looking" cats on Fedi. What you're seeing are expressions being interpreted as if humans were displaying them.
@CppGuy @TheOtterDragon @futurebird I had a gray tortie with prominent tufts over her eyes like a scotty dog, and people often thought it made her look angry or skeptical (a picture I took of her actually became a variant of the "Skeptical Cat Is Skeptical" meme). But of course she looked like that regardless of how she felt.
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@CppGuy @TheOtterDragon @futurebird I had a gray tortie with prominent tufts over her eyes like a scotty dog, and people often thought it made her look angry or skeptical (a picture I took of her actually became a variant of the "Skeptical Cat Is Skeptical" meme). But of course she looked like that regardless of how she felt.
@mattmcirvin @CppGuy @TheOtterDragon
When Pica makes her face she is annoyed. But she also has a "give me stuff" face too.
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@mattmcirvin @CppGuy @TheOtterDragon
When Pica makes her face she is annoyed. But she also has a "give me stuff" face too.
@futurebird @mattmcirvin @CppGuy @TheOtterDragon I too have a cat who looks perpetually annoyed.
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@futurebird @mattmcirvin @CppGuy @TheOtterDragon I too have a cat who looks perpetually annoyed.
@superflippy @mattmcirvin @CppGuy @TheOtterDragon
That's a pretty cat!
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@mattmcirvin @CppGuy @TheOtterDragon
When Pica makes her face she is annoyed. But she also has a "give me stuff" face too.
@futurebird uh, cats close their eyes to appear less aggressive and show affection
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@CppGuy @TheOtterDragon @futurebird I had a gray tortie with prominent tufts over her eyes like a scotty dog, and people often thought it made her look angry or skeptical (a picture I took of her actually became a variant of the "Skeptical Cat Is Skeptical" meme). But of course she looked like that regardless of how she felt.
@CppGuy @TheOtterDragon @futurebird It's this one--this is Niobe, circa 2002:
That orange background is actually a maroon armchair, photographed in indoor light with a primitive digicam that gave everything a heavy yellow cast.
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@futurebird uh, cats close their eyes to appear less aggressive and show affection
She does that too. But she also makes that particular face before meowing because she's annoyed.
