The Language of Cats: How to Recognize When Your Pet Needs Your Help? 0 24

Domestic cats are traditionally perceived as solitary creatures. However, in recent years, there has been an increasing number of studies indicating that cats are socially adaptive beings that can exist both alone and in groups.

Since cats are capable of living in groups, this implies that they possess certain communication skills (of course, this is not about language). This is confirmed by an experiment conducted by scientists from the United States, the results of which were published in the journal Animal Cognition.

In the experiment, domestic cats were tasked with retrieving treats placed in a box, but the lid was not fully closed. The pets quickly accomplished this task by pushing the lid aside and eating the treat.

However, if the lid of the container was tightly closed, but the aroma of the treat was still enticing, the cats always sought help from humans! The scientists also noted that if a person was watching the cat closely in the first case, the animal would also ask for help.

When a person was watching the cat, the cats would look at them more often to attract attention and approach the treat, rubbing against the edge of the box. If the owner was far away, the cat would open the box by itself.

Separate studies have already shown that cats are capable of “reading” signals from human gaze. This has long been known in relation to dogs; however, cats do not always use this “method” of communication.

The scientists emphasize that unlike dogs, not all cats understand why they need your help. Some cats are more sociable, while others are less so. Moreover, communication can occur in such a way that you may not even realize it. For example, a cat may rub against the sofa or armchair next to you while purring. It is important to observe the cat's behavior closely to possibly establish “contact” with it.