A new study has found that cats use almost 300 distinct facial expressions to communicate with each other.
The study, published in the journal Behavioral Processes, analyzed video footage of 53 adult domestic shorthair cats interacting with each other at a cat cafe in Los Angeles.
The researchers identified 276 expressions made up of a combination of 26 facial movements, including ear position, blinks, nose licks, and whisker and mouth movements.
Of these expressions, 45% were categorized as friendly, 37% were aggressive, and 18% were ambiguous.
The study sheds new light on cat emotions and behaviors, and could help pet owners better understand their feline companions.
The researchers hope to expand their sample size in future studies to include cats living in multi-cat homes and feral colonies.
Related Topics
