Decoding the expressions of inscrutable cats

Here is a wordless look at these inscrutable furballs that are a cause of much consternation—and delight

Last Updated: Nov 17, 2023, 16:57 IST1 min

Image: Shutterstock

Are cats as aloof as we presumed them to be? No, they are not, according to a recent study by UCLA researchers who claimed to have cracked the facial code of cats. In one of the first studies to do a deep dive into how cats communicate with each other, the researchers recorded 276 distinct facial expressions used among a colony of 50 cats at a cat cafe over a year. The study found that about 46 percent of the expressions were friendly, nearly 37 percent were aggressive, and roughly 17 percent were ambiguous. A surprising find: cats may have picked up these facial cues from their human companions.

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Image: Shutterstock

First Published: Nov 17, 2023, 16:57

Joseph Prezioso UCLA

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Decoding the expressions of inscrutable cats

Here is a wordless look at these inscrutable furballs that are a cause of much consternation—and delight

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