A new study of cats facial expressions confirms that cats are extremely expressive and not as aloof as stereotypes have long suggested. On the contrary cat communication is socially articulate affectionate rapidly changing and subtle. The study found cats make at least 276 facial expressions with most related to friendly feelings. But many expressions had no clear explanation.
Mazikeen the kitty. Image via Facebook/Cole and Marmalade
“The look you get when dinner is 5 mins late…” via Facebook/Jugg and Zig Zag
When the fridge makes a weird noise Mazikeen the cats facial expressions Cole and Marmalade Mazikeen the kitty. Image via FacebookCole and Marmalade To determine a cats facial expressions the researchers analyzed hours of video footage taken of 53 adoptable cats from the CatCafé Lounge in Los Angeles. The café hosts yoga with cats but the research focused on how the cats interacted with each other not people. They filmed for over a year and analyzed the footage over four months using a coding system designed for cats.
Of the 276 feline facial expressions 45 percent were friendly expressions 37 percent indicated aggression 18 percent were ambiguous The remaining 18 werelike the Cheshire Cats smileso ambiguous that they fell into both categories Science stated. Zig Zag the cat cats facial expressions Jugg and Zig Zag Cole and Marmalade The look you get when dinner is 5 mins late via FacebookJugg and Zig Zag
Image via Facebook/Cole and Marmalade
We love interpreting what Marmalades facial expressions mean and were pretty sure he has way more than 300. When you realize its Monday again tomorrow cats facial expressions Exhibit A Marmalade Image via FacebookCole and Marmalade A Combination of Four Unique Facial Movements Each expression is made up of four combinations of a total of 26 unique feline facial movements. In comparison people have 44 and
” via Facebook/Jugg and Zig Zag
dogs have 27 unique facial movements. However the total number of facial expressions a dog or person can make isnt yet known. Such unique movements can be things like wrinkling the nose tilting their ears moving their whiskers licking their lips or constricting the pupils of their eyes.
Marmalade via Facebook/Cole and Marmalade
Juggs fuming about something! via FacebookJugg and Zig Zag Jugg making a funny facial expression Cole and Marmalade What Do the Facial Expressions All Mean? While the research found a vast array of expressions what they all mean is still debatable. But generally cats tend to move their ears and
Bond and Calypso via Facebook/Cole and Marmalade
whiskers toward other cats if theyre feeling friendly. The reverse is true if they are not so friendly which makes sense. Cats may anticipate a swat and want to protect their ears and whiskers. Similarly if a cat licks their lips or constricts their pupils relations might be a little sour! Marmalade cats
