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The role of cat eye narrowing movements in cat–human communication (2020)

nature.com

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Re: The role of cat eye narrowing movements in cat–human communication (2020)

#81

Post by sph »

gavinmckenzie wrote: post #71
interlinked wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Literature says cats can't understand it when you point at something. That's because they don't have fingers. You can point at things using your eyes and they understand. One day I was eating some fruits and a stray cat came to me and started meowing. I gave it a piece which it rejected and started meowing again. I stared for a couple seconds at my plate and then at the piece on the ground and the cat looked like it…

This is interesting. I've had both cats and dogs, and with the theory "they don't have fingers" I wonder why do dogs understand human pointing? Dogs of course communicate with a direct gaze (looks at empty food bowl, looks at human, looks back at empty food bowl) and can understand us communicating back with a directed gaze, but at the same time my dog definitely understands me pointing at something.

Dogs are not wolves. They have evolved to read and somehow become more like us. I bet a wolf can't understand a pointed finger, just like they can't read sadness on your face. A dog can do both quite easily.

What's more fascinating to me, is that the relationship is not one-sided: we might have learned something from wolves as well. They have changed us, just like we turned aloof wolves into empathetic dogs. Maybe they have made our society more social, and less isolated? Wolves know there is strength in numbers.

Re: The role of cat eye narrowing movements in cat–human communication (2020)

#82

Post by solarmist »

xattt wrote: post #63
bravura wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For maximum results, lie sideways on the ground and start blinking slowly and petting yourself gently and meowing softly. Your friends will think you're crazy, but cats will love you.

While I understand this comment is made in jest, I do wonder whether cats are able to “map out” or recognize body parts of humans as parts equivalent on the cat body plan.

My understanding is, in general, yes. At least major body parts and face parts. Even ones that differ (eg. our ears vs their ears).

Think about it this way how can you kill successfully if you don't have a basic understanding of the anatomy of what you're trying to kill?

I think a general body map is hardwired into more vertebrates. Heads always have eyes, ears and move around. Arms are on the upper torso and legs are at the end of the torso, tails are common.

Beyond that level, your guess is as good as mine though.

Re: The role of cat eye narrowing movements in cat–human communication (2020)

#83

Post by supertofu »

xattt wrote: post #63
bravura wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For maximum results, lie sideways on the ground and start blinking slowly and petting yourself gently and meowing softly. Your friends will think you're crazy, but cats will love you.

While I understand this comment is made in jest, I do wonder whether cats are able to “map out” or recognize body parts of humans as parts equivalent on the cat body plan.

Anecdotal answer from a cat person: yes. My cat gives me "hugs". He stands on his hind legs on my lap so our hearts are touching and his cheek is against my cheek. It's quite touching. He seems to know what my heart is and what my cheek is, and puts his own versions against mine.

It's precious.

Re: The role of cat eye narrowing movements in cat–human communication (2020)

#84

Post by avgcorrection »

Sharlin wrote: post #55
avgcorrection wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It seems as easy to fake a smile with the eyes as with the mouth, though?

Genuine → eyes famously does not imply eyes → genuine. But it does imply that ¬eyes → ¬genuine.

woah okay.

Re: The role of cat eye narrowing movements in cat–human communication (2020)

#85

Post by Doxin »

fransje26 wrote: post #31
yard2010 wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I use this trick for years, in my experience yawning theatrically gets the same result

The yawning also helps calming down the guard dogs protecting sheep herds in the mountains.

This is a generic dog "non-agression" signal as far as I understand. Licking your nose (or at least pretending to do so) works similarly.

Re: The role of cat eye narrowing movements in cat–human communication (2020)

#87

Post by Marrand »

DFHippie wrote: post #72
tim_hutton wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did you know, cats are believed to be the only mammals that don't taste sweetness! To unsubscribe at any time, reply STOP to this message.

I have heard (and perhaps misremembered) that the only taste receptor remaining to whales detects saltiness, which seems a bizarre outcome given that their mouths are constantly filled with brine.

Maybe because it is useful for the whale to know if it suddenly entered freshwater? Idk

Re: The role of cat eye narrowing movements in cat–human communication (2020)

#88

Post by DonHopkins »

Twisol wrote: post #14

> Cat’s eye movements were coded using actions defined in CatFACS, an anatomically based system designed to objectively measure facial actions based on their underlying muscle movements. Whoever named this system was clearly aware of the meme. I'd like to remain subscribed to CatFACS, please!

https://animalfacs.com/catfacs_new (cats)

https://animalfacs.com/dogfacs_new (dogs)

https://animalfacs.com/equifacs_new (horses)

https://animalfacs.com/chimpfacs_new (chimpanzees)

https://animalfacs.com/maqfacs_new (rhesus macaques)

https://animalfacs.com/gibbonfacs_new (hylobatids / lar gibbons)

https://animalfacs.com/orangfacs_new (orangutans)

https://animalfacs.com/callifacs (marmosets)

I'm looking forward to more funny looking facs:

probofacs (proboscis monkey)

axolotlfacs (mexican walking fish)

alpacafacs (alpaca)

starfacs (star-nosed mole)

batfacs (bat)

blobfacs (blobfish)

frillfacs (frilled lizard)

Re: The role of cat eye narrowing movements in cat–human communication (2020)

#89

Post by jancsika »

winrid wrote: post #28
RetroHippyNimby wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This appears to be a reference to Mario's "P-Speed", which indicates that raccoon Mario is running fast enough to fly. Mario, when running at full speed, has a little trill audio.

Thanks, I would have never figured that out :D

I have to say I do like the idea of trying this out literally as I wrote it and testing what happens. :)

I mean it's catnip after all, so the cat may indeed attempt to levitate like Mario in order to collect it.

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