If there’s a cat in your life, you’ve probably wondered how they perceive you. Do they think of you as a parent? Another cat? Do they know you’re a different class? Despite many expert opinions, from cat behaviorists to anthrozoologists, there is really no consensus on how cats perceive people, let alone the people they live with. Why is this? Simple. Because no one thought to ask the cats.
Of course, most people don’t know how to ask cats anything. But it’s simpler than you think. You just need to understand a little about how cats see the world around them, and then add humans to that view.
How Cats View Humans, and the Rest of the World
We cats use different senses to see the world than humans. Humans are very visual creatures, while we rely more on our sense of smell and hearing. We are indeed dim, and a large form like a man is quite dim! We see that you are bigger than us, and we recognize (or don’t recognize) you by your scent, the sound of your voice, and how you feel and respond to us.
We also have a strong sense of territory. It comes from our uneducated past, when resources were often scarce. Adding more creatures means less resources. When someone (human or animal) enters our territory, our instincts see it as a threat. And since we are both predator and prey, that adds an extra element of fear and aggression.
So Where Does That Leave You in the Cat World?
It depends on many different factors. Are you a known entity of cats? What is your relationship with them? Are you seen as a provider of resources or a potential taker? Could you be a predator or other threat of some kind?
Notice that in none of these does the cat wonder if you are a cat. Because the truth is that it’s not as important as you think! There are many other priorities that cats will think about before they care if you are a member of their species.
So basically, your cat doesn’t care if you’re another cat. Every living thing a cat comes into contact with will fall into one of these categories:
- Friend or foe
- Family member or non-family member
That’s it. Cats don’t think in terms of species, like, “Oh, here’s another cat. We’re the same and that means something.” Your cat just wants to know if they’re friend or foe, and if another creature is going to take resources they used to get freely. If two cats live together for a period of time and adapt to each other, they will likely learn to consider each other family members, including the people in their lives. If they don’t, it means there’s always a part of them that sees other cats as a threat to their resources, whether that means food, love, or shelter.
But Does My Cat Know They’re Cats?
Sort of, the same way you know you’re human. But unlike humans, we don’t label it. Our minds don’t work that way. And it probably means less to your cat than it does to you. If your cat has thumbs and a phone, they probably won’t click on this post. But you did.
Here is the best way to simplify things. When you meet another person, do you immediately consider them part of your extended family? Of course not! At best, you may feel like a kindred spirit. At worst, their presence rubs you the wrong way. Most of the time, you are indifferent. They’re just someone you see at the store, nod to in line at the DMV, or pass on the street. You didn’t even think they were human.
But what if it’s someone you bump into in a dark alley? Or someone in front of you in line at the coffee shop who paid for your drink? Then your response is more personal. But you still haven’t thought, “Here’s someone who’s threatening/kind to me.” You can only imagine what they did or could do. So why not be like a cat?
So does your cat think you are a cat? Of course not, more than you think your cat is someone else. And really, do you care that your cat isn’t human? You might even prefer they weren’t!
The Right Question to Ask
What you should know is, does your cat consider you a member of the family, and vice versa? Because that is more important than your species. If your cat considers you family, they don’t care what kind of creature you are. You provide for them, consider them when making big life decisions, and spend quality time with them every day. That’s where true companionship lies. As you already know, love transcends species. And love is not a cat thing, or a human thing. Love is love, and that’s what matters.
