In a surprising discovery, a recent study has unveiled that domestic cats possess an extensive range of up to 276 distinct facial expressions when communicating with each other. This revelation challenges conventional beliefs about the social behaviours of cats and sheds new light on their complexity.
THE EXPRESSIVE FELINE FACES
When researchers in the US analyzed the footage from a cat cafe in Los Angeles, they were astonished to find that domestic shorthair cats exhibited an impressive array of facial expressions during interactions. These expressions include both friendly and aggressive cues, with 45 percent classified as ‘distinctly friendly’ and 37 percent as ‘distinctly aggressive.’ Friendly expressions include closed eyes, forward-pointing ears, and whiskers, while aggressive expressions involve constricted pupils, flattened ears, and a swift tongue wipe.
IMPLICATIONS OF SOCIAL COMPLEXITY
This newfound understanding of the richness of feline expressions challenges the notion that cats are solitary and less social than primates or dogs. The study suggests that domestication over 10,000 years may have influenced how cats evolved to communicate with each other, emphasizing their ability to be more social and cooperative than previously believed.
THE CALL FOR FURTHER RESEARCH
While the study provides a glimpse into the expressive world of cats, more research is needed to explore the link between the complexity of facial signals in cat groups and the dynamics of conflict, competition, and cooperation within these groups. The research reminds us that cats may be far more socially intricate creatures than we have given them credit for.
