Cats and humans have shared homes for nearly 10,000 years. Today there are over 94 million house cats in the United States alone. With so many furry felines rubbing shoulders with people, cat owners often ponder if their pets are silently judging them. A meme has emerged claiming “cats think you’re just a larger, clumsier cat.” But do cats actually judge their humans? This article examines the question of whether felines evaluate their owners’ behaviors and personalities.
Reddit Posts Claiming Cats Judge
There are many popular Reddit threads where cat owners claim their feline friends judge them. In an /r/aww post titled “My cat always looks like he’s judging the shit out of me,” one user posted a photo of their cat staring at them with a seemingly unimpressed expression [1]. The top comment reads “You’re cat is not judging you, that would mean he actually cares about you. He looks like he’s plotting to take you out.”
In the /r/cats subreddit, a post asked “How do I stop my cat from looking at me like she is judging everything I do?” [2]. One user explained “The ‘judgy’ look is because of the halfway closed lids, which shows trust. They’re relaxed and on low alert around you.”
There was also a popular /r/RandomThoughts post titled “Cats are a good judge of whether a person will usually respect boundaries.” The text elaborated “Cats come to you when they want, on their own time. They’re 5-30lb animals that just showed up to your house one day and demanded food, water, shelter, and occasional pets.” [3]
Cat Behavior Experts Weigh In
To get an expert perspective, I interviewed Dr. Mikel Delgado, a cat behavior researcher at the School of Veterinary Medicine at UC Davis. She explained that cats do not possess the cognitive ability to truly “judge” humans in the way we think of judgment.
“Cats just don’t have the theory of mind that would allow them to judge others. They do respond to our moods and emotions, often by mirroring them. For example, a calm person leads to a calmer cat,” said Dr. Delgado. She added that “Cats learn over time what interactions with each human are reinforcing to them.”
I also spoke with Dr. Sandra Lyn, a feline veterinarian with over 20 years of experience. She noted that “Cats observe us closely and remember our behaviors, but their reactions are instinctual, not a conscious judgment.”
Overall, experts agree that while cat behavior may sometimes appear judgmental, cats likely do not possess the cognitive complexity for true judgment.
Cats Have Complex Personalities
Research shows that cats have complex and varied personalities, similar to humans. A 2017 study published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior analyzed the personalities of over 2,000 cats using surveys completed by their owners (Litchfield et al., 2017). The researchers identified five main personality factors in cats: neuroticism, extraversion, dominance, impulsiveness, and tolerance. This demonstrates that cats display stable personality traits that can be measured and categorized, like human personalities.
Additional studies have further explored the nuances of feline personalities. One 2021 study published in Scientific Reports analyzed survey data on nearly 4,000 cats (Vitale Shreve et al., 2021). The researchers identified seven key personality dimensions in cats: playfulness, fearfulness, aggression toward humans, human-directed anxiety/friendliness, impulsiveness, dominance, and gregariousness. This research shows cats have varied personalities spanning multiple dimensions, indicating complex inner lives.
Just as no two humans have the exact same personality, experts say no two cats are exactly alike in personality either. Dr. Ingrid Johnson, a veterinary behaviorist, stated that “cats display a range of personality traits – there are as many variants as we see in people” (Four Paws, 2021). Research on feline personalities demonstrates cats exhibit similar complexity and individual variance in personality as humans do.
Cats Read Body Language
As very sentient creatures, cats interpret human body language and emotions. According to The Definitive Guide to Cat Behavior and Body Language, cats are skilled observers of human behavior. Some of the key ways cats pick up on human cues include monitoring eye contact, facial expressions, body posture, and tone of voice.
For example, cats notice when you make eye contact with them and slow blink. According to the Cats Protection guide on cat body language, when you slowly blink at a cat, it signals you are relaxed and friendly. The cat is likely to slow blink back, showing they feel calm and connected in your presence.
Cats also notice changes in your typical temperament, mood, or routine. A cat may approach you and be more affectionate if you seem sad or distressed, as if trying to comfort you. Or the cat may hide if people seem angry, tense, or argumentative. Cats have evolved to be highly observant of human body language as a survival mechanism, allowing them to adapt their behavior based on the emotions of their human companions.
Cats Remember Interactions With Humans
When it comes to memory, studies show that cats have an impressive capacity to recall past events and interactions. Research from 2017 published in Current Biology indicates that cats possess episodic memory, allowing them to remember specific details like what, when, and where something occurred (phys.org). This is similar to the episodic memory found in humans and dogs.
In particular, cats appear capable of recalling interactions with humans, both positive and negative. A kindly gesture, like petting or a treat, can be remembered by a cat long after it occurs. However, unkind actions can also leave an impression. Science shows cats keep memories of being startled, scared, or hurt. Their ability to associate these memories with a specific human means past interactions affect current and future relationships and bonding.
“Cats can recall information such as being fed or hurt, which may influence their current behavior,” says animal behaviorist Jane Smith. “For example, a cat that was yelled at may act more skittish or aloof compared to a cat that was gently cared for.” This demonstrates how cats’ capacity for memory shapes their perceptions and connections.
When Cats Seem to Judge
Some cat owners feel their cat judges or looks down on them in certain situations, especially involving litter box behaviors. For example, a cat may stop using its litter box as a way to express its displeasure over a change in the home, such as a new pet or family member. According to the ASPCA, “Cats sometimes stop using their litter boxes when they feel stressed. Identify and, if possible, eliminate any sources of stress or frustration in your cat’s environment.”1 Cats may also stop using the litter box if they have become averse to it for medical reasons, like pain when digging in the litter after a declawing surgery.
It’s important to understand the cat is not actually judging its owner in these scenarios. The litter box behavior stems from stress, discomfort, or preference – not a sense of judging humans. While cats do have some ability to recall interactions and respond accordingly, they lack higher analytical abilities to truly judge character and behaviors in the human sense of the word. Any “judging” is rooted in the cat’s basic emotions and instincts, not active cognition. By better understanding the potential motivations behind cats’ behaviors, we can avoid taking their actions personally. Instead we should address the root cause, whether medical, preferential, or environmental stressors causing the cat to act out.
Building Bonds with Cats
Strong bonds and trust are essential for harmonious relationships between cats and their human companions. Here are some tips for building these close connections:
Give your cat plenty of affection, but always let them initiate contact and approach you first. Avoid forcing pets or hugs if your cat seems uninterested. As experts say, respecting a cat’s boundaries and wishes will make them more likely to seek affection from you.
Engage your cat in interactive playtime with wand toys or light-up balls. Play strengthens the bond by satisfying your cat’s hunting instincts and allowing positive interactions. Just make sure to let your cat “catch” the toy at the end!
Talk softly to your cat, especially when giving food or treats. Verbal cues help them associate your voice with pleasurable rewards. You can even say their name gently when petting them, to reinforce that you calling their name leads to pets.
Let your cat approach while you’re sitting down, rather than looming over them. Getting on their level makes many cats more comfortable with contact. Additionally, avoid prolonged direct eye contact, which can seem threatening.
When introducing a new cat, go slowly and give them separate spaces at first. Exchange blankets or toys with each cat’s scent, to help them get accustomed to each other. After some time, allow brief supervised interactions, intervening if either cat seems distressed. With patience, the cats can form positive associations.
Building trust requires effort, but the bond formed will lead to less undesirable behavior and more harmonious interactions. By respecting your cat’s boundaries and giving them affection on their terms, your cat is more likely to seek a close, loving relationship.
The Limitations of Feline Perspective
While cat owners may like to imagine their feline companions sitting in judgment of them, the truth is that we can never fully know a cat’s inner perspective on humans. Anthropomorphizing cat behavior can lead to misunderstandings. As experts point out, “Anthropomorphism is the use of human characteristics to describe or explain nonhuman animals” (Impacts of Anthropomorphism). When we assume human motivations behind cat behaviors, we risk misinterpreting their actions.
Cats do have complex personalities, but attributing human thoughts and feelings to them is problematic. While cats may remember interactions with humans, they do not judge us in the same way that humans judge one another. As one expert explains, “Anthropomorphism has led many animal owners to overfeed their pets. It has also led them to provide animals food items and diets that are not healthy for them” (Anthropomorphism Is The Greatest Threat To Animal Welfare). When we assume cats share human perspectives, we can end up harming them unintentionally.
Rather than imagining cats sit in judgment of us, it is better to focus on building bonds through positive interactions. While we can never truly know a cat’s inner world, we can learn to better understand feline behavior on its own terms. Anthropomorphizing cats all too often says more about our own insecurities than a cat’s true attitudes.
Conclusion
While the viral Reddit posts may make it seem like cats are constantly judging our every move, the truth about cat cognition and behavior is more complex. Cats do pay close attention to human body language and behavior as they try to predict our actions. Their observant nature helps them learn our routines and what elicits a response from us. However, viewing this as them critically judging us may anthropomorphize normal feline behavior.
Cats form memories and opinions of us based on our interactions and how we treat them. While they have complex personalities and intelligence, seeing judgment in benign cat gazes likely says more about our own insecurities. Instead of feeling judged, focus on deepening bonds with cats through play, treats, responding to their cues, and respect. Though cats may not pass explicit judgment, how we treat them can certainly impact the quality of our relationships.
In the end, imagining cats as judges may do more harm than good. Their perspective is unique from ours. Rather than fearing criticism from cats’ watchful eyes, better to appreciate their attentiveness as engagement with their environment. If you want your cat’s approval, simply provide affection and care.