Pets are an important part of our families and our lives. Some people refer to their pets as 'fur babies," and some feel their pets are like their children. When our pets look at us or as we watch them play or go through their days, we are sometimes enchanted by their appearance or their actions.
Cats are one of the most frequent types of pets, and their owners are unanimous in proclaiming their cuteness. When they chase their tails, play with beams of light, or stare at us with their wide, imploring eyes, we fall in love with our cats a thousand times a day.
What Makes Cats Look Cute
Although the physical characteristics of cats. Including their expressive eyes, undulating tails, adorable paws, and supple fur are very appealing, and the emotions our kitties provoke are related to the feelings we feel when we see them. A cat's adorable characteristics lead us to think of them in the same ways we think of babies — and let us feel the same emotion of caretaking when we feed or care for them.
Squished-in, flat cat faces are appealing.
The facial characteristics of cats often remind us of the faces of babies. And many years of domestication have resulted in an increase in these characteristics in today's breeds of cats.
Cat facial expressions help the cats get what they want
In addition to emoting with their eyes. Our cats can also use the 180 muscles in their flexible ears and the wiggling action of their whiskers to entice us to respond to them. Studies have shown cats learn from their owners which actions are most likely to induce a response in their owners and repeat these actions.
Do Cats Think People Are Cute?
Although cats can't give us the answer to this question, studies have led researchers to believe cats do not think people are "cute." Cats appear to treat humans like they treat other cats — so they may think we are larger, hairless cats. They don't seem to be aware we are a separate species and only see us as their "owners" or parents because we feed and care for them.
Do Cats Know They Are Cute
Although cats probably don't have the ability to know they are "cute," when they live with humans, they learn to utilize the behaviors and motions that result in our response of feeding them, playing with them, or interacting with them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are cats so cute?
The physical characteristics that make a cat appear 'cute" include their big, expressive eyes in their relatively big heads; their spade-shaped ears; their rounded, soft bodies, and ungainly legs. These characteristics are like those of human babies, so our emotions are kindled by the same instinct as the ones that lead us to care for babies.
Why are cats so cute when they sleep?
When cats are sleeping, they show us they trust us. Just as a sleeping baby causes us to have strong feelings of protectiveness and belonging, a sleeping cat can evoke those same emotions.
Why are cats so cute to humans?
Another characteristic of cats that makes us think they are cute" is the softness of their fur. When we stroke their fur, it satisfies our instinct for social grooming and provides us with physical and emotional pleasure.
Why are cats so cute-the scientific basis
When we take care of our cats and touch and interact with them, our bodies release hormones that promote pleasure. Seeing a kitten or cat activates the decision-making part of your brain to compel you to care for the cute little animal. Some studies have shown that pets increase oxytocin levels, a "cuddle chemical," that increases pet owners' sense of well-being.
Summary
Cat parents love their cats, not just because they belong to us. We see our cats and kittens as "cute," — and this results in our desire to care for them. Cats have facial characteristics and actions that have been developed over time that lead humans to an emotional response that provides us with pleasure.
