(NEWSER) – If you saw the world through the eyes of your pet, you'd very likely be seeing a lot more than you currently do. That according to new research that has found that cats, dogs, and select other animals may be able to see things that are invisible to the human eye.
Cats See What We Can't
According to an article by Live Science, cats and other sensitive animals, like dogs or deer, can see certain kinds of light, such as ultraviolet (UV) light that we humans simply can't see. That may explain some unusual behavior in our cats.
Your cat may be staring at something you can't see, such as a small insect. She may be looking in the direction of a sound or a smell. Cats sometimes stare fixedly as a result of vision loss or neurological issues.
A cat's sense of smell is the primary way he identifies people and objects. Cats have more than 200 million odor sensors in their noses; humans have just 5 million. Their sense of smell is 14 times better than that of humans.
A cat's vision is similar to a human who is color blind. They can see shades of blue and green, but reds and pinks can be confusing. These may appear more green, while purple can look like another shade of blue. Cats also don't see the same richness of hues and saturation of colors that we can.
While some cats are not bothered by the small screen, others will watch intently, particularly programmes featuring other animals. Some studies have indicated that cats are able to identify imagery on TV, as we know that they can distinguish between outlines, patterns and textures.
To summarise, cats don't think about their day or how they feel. But they do think about previous situations they have encountered. For example, when your cat is chilling out, it's not thinking about anything in particular.
Can Cats Sense Anxiety and Anxiety Attacks? Research has demonstrated that cats can sense anxiety and anxiety attacks as well.
Your cat might not understand human crying, but she'll gather as many clues as she can and use them to adjust her behavior. Researchers know that reinforcement plays a big role in how your cat decides to react.
Cats have the power to sense their owner's emotions. So, cats have the ability to feel whenever their owner is sad. Beyond sadness, domestic cats are also able to feel whenever their owner has switched moods and emotions.
Direct eye contact
Cats can find direct eye contact quite threatening. They wouldn't look another cat straight in the face unless they were fixing for a fight. When your cat's relaxed, they might look at you with a peaceful gaze or half closed eyes.
They don't rely on their vision as much as we do. Instead, they depend on their sense of smell to identify objects, other felines, and even us – their parents. They simply don't recognise their reflection because it doesn't smell like them!
Your cat stares at you as a way to communicate with you. Your cat may be telling you it's hungry, scared or simply observing you. The best thing you can do is take in your cat's body language as a whole instead of just the staring.
As well as being a method of communication, staring is also a sign of a close bond between you and your cat, as they are unlikely to hold eye contact with someone they don't like or trust.
Staring at the wall for long periods could be a sign that your cat is trying to figure out what's going on with a small movement it sees or a sound it is hearing. If they have discovered a small spider or mouse in the wall, they will focus on their prey and stalk it patiently, sometimes for hours.
Cats, like other animals, have the so-called psychedelic vision, the ability to see stripes on the petals of flowers or tiny patterns on the wings of birds that are invisible to the human eye. The secret behind this "supervision" is ultraviolet light.
Most cats don't understand that kisses from humans are a sign of affection. A cat will surely let you know if they enjoy being kissed or not. The best ways to show your cat that you love them are to give them toys, treats, and plenty of one-on-one time.
Overall, cat cognition research suggests cats do form emotional bonds with their humans. Cats seem to experience separation anxiety, are more responsive to their owners' voices than to strangers' and look for reassurance from their owners in scary situations.
The author writes, “Although a cat may not care (as that word is generally used) about human morals, cats can and do distinguish between good and bad people, and are excellent judges of human character and emotion.
All in all, even the most aloof and brooding cat will be able to pick up on your warmth and devotion. Whether they choose to admit it or not, they can sense when a person loves them (and hates them). So always make sure you're emitting good, kitty-positive vibes, and your cat will be sure to indulge in the lovefest.
According to a study1 published in 2019 in the journal Scientific Reports, cats do, in fact, recognize their own names. The lead author of the study is a behavioral scientist named Atsuko Saito from Sophia University in Tokyo, whose prior research2 demonstrated that cats can recognize their owners' voices.
Like humans, cats, dogs and other animals have the ability to sense energy shifts in people. Speaking or acting out in fear, anger or stress are obvious sources of negative energy, but our pets may even pick up on silent fretting.
They are lonely
This is the case for a large number of kitties left alone, whether the separation is just a few hours or even several days. Incredibly social creatures, cats do not like being away from their family – they feel protective over their humans much in the way dogs do.
Cats love to roam, especially at night. This is because they are creatures whose instinct is to hunt when it is dark outside, especially at dawn and dusk. Those are the times of day that a cat is most active.
Your Cat Stares at You to Show Affection
And when a loving stare is coupled with cat "eye kisses," which is when a cat stares with half-closed eyelids and offers a few slow blinks, it means your kitty is showing some serious adoration for you.