Study Reveals Cats Display 276 Distinct Facial Expressions
Cats possess a fascinating repertoire of 276 distinct facial expressions, according to a recent study From flattened ears to constricted pupils and a subtle lick of the lips, these intricate facial cues reveal a rich language through which feline friends communicate when they gather together
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Flattened ears, narrowed pupils, a quick lick of the lips. Have you ever pondered if the furry faces of your feline companions were communicating something when they gathered? It's quite likely they were indeed.
A recent study published in the journal Behavioural Processes revealed that domesticated cats exhibit a whopping 276 distinct facial expressions during their interactions with fellow felines. Co-author Brittany Florkiewicz, an evolutionary psychologist from Lyon College in Arkansas, stated that this research challenges previous assumptions by highlighting the complexity of cat communication. Furthermore, the study suggests that the process of domestication has a notable influence on the evolution of facial signaling in these animals.
Cats feeling friendly show closed eyes and forward-facing ears.
Florkiewicz clarified that domesticated cats are generally more socially tolerant than wildcat counterparts due to their close proximity to humans. Therefore, the researchers anticipated observing expressions in both positive and negative situations. However, they were amazed to discover a total of 276 facial expressions that were morphologically distinct.
According to Florkiewicz and lead author Lauren Scott, a medical student from the University of Kansas Medical Center with a personal interest in cats, domestication enables increased social interactions among cats, which is why the pair expected to observe a greater expression.
Your cat might also be secretly signaling their affection in the way they look at you, writes Emily Blackwell.
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To determine if cats have affection for their owners, Scott conducted a study at a cat café based in the University of California, Los Angeles. Filming 53 cats over a period of ten months, Scott captured 186 instances of feline interactions from a total of 194 minutes of footage. The cats observed in the study were adult domestic shorthairs, with both males and females, all of whom had been neutered or spayed.
Both researchers evaluated the variances in expression using a cat-specific coding system known as the cat Facial Action Coding System. They examined the quantity and categories of facial muscle movements, excluding those related to biological functions like breathing and yawning.
A cat showing aggression will have constricted pupils and ears flattened against its head.
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Florkiewicz and Scott discovered that 45.7% of the coded expressions observed were categorized as friendly, whereas 37% were classified as aggressive. The research paper provided a description of friendly expressions, which involved the forward movement of ears and whiskers accompanied by closed eyes. On the other hand, an aggressive cat displayed constricted pupils, ears flattened against the head, and a tongue-swipe of the lip.
"We aim to broaden our sample size by including cats from various locations. This involves observing the facial expressions of cats residing in multi-cat homes, feral colonies, and other contexts," stated Florkiewicz.
Furthermore, there is a future objective of conducting a subsequent study to unravel the additional implications behind these expressions, she added.
