Mary Allen
Scientists have wondered what cats really think of us humans. Do they think we are just cats too or do they see much more in us? The fascinating research results can be found here.
Around 16 million cats lived in German households in 2020. The cat is the most popular pet in Germany. But we have to admit that as much as we love cats, we really don’t know what they think of us. Various scholars have grappled with this question. Are we best friends, family members, or just can openers? Read the surprising results here.
Would Cats Eat Us if They Could?
Various experts have wondered whether cats would eat us if they could. Opinions on this are divided.
In an interview with BILD, the American animal psychologist Max Wachtel claimed that cats would certainly see us as prey if they were only bigger. He supports his statement with a study by the University of Edinburgh. The researchers from Scotland have found that domestic cats are very similar in character to their wild relatives. They are just as dominant, impulsive, and neurotic as snow leopards or lions. According to Wachtel, our cats are not dangerous to humans just because of their small size.
The animal psychologist Gabriele Zuske from Berlin sees it differently. She also thinks cats are stubborn and would rather do without a cat in XXL format. However, she is certain that cats would not chase their caregivers. But if we’re not potential prey for our cats, what do they see in us?
Do Cats Think Humans Are Cats Too?
John Bradshaw, a behavioral scientist at Bristol University in the UK, has been studying cat behavior for years. In an interview with National Geographic, he confirmed that cats behave towards humans in the same way as other cats. They snuggle up to us and groom us just like they do other cats. According to Bradshaw, while cats know we’re taller than them, they don’t adapt their social behavior to us. This is certainly the case with dogs, for example, who treat people very differently than they do with their own kind.
However, cats meow at people to get attention. They would never do that to cats their own age. Kittens show this behavior very well. Little kittens meow to get their mother’s attention. So it stands to reason that the relationship between humans and cats is very similar to that of kittens and cat mothers. A study by Oregon State University came to the same conclusion.
So cats could well believe that we are a bit too big conspecifics and see us as a kind of cat parents. But it is certain that they consider us to be much more clumsy.
Humans are Clumsy to Cats
Behavioral scientist John Bradshaw explains that cats think of us as clumsy members of their own species. After all, a cat rarely trips over a human, but we trip over our own cat all the time.
But Bradshaw says we don’t look stupid to cats. They wouldn’t caress us so much if they felt superior to us. No cat rubs against a fellow cat that it considers weaker.
However, what cats really think about us cannot yet be determined by research. According to Bradshaw, this topic has not received enough scientific attention and needs further study.