Quick Take
- A cat labeled as 'playing' may actually be sending distress signals most viewers are trained to ignore. See how cues get missed →
- Australian researchers found a striking pattern in how people justify what they see in cat videos, though the explanation turns out to be something other than simple cruelty or indifference. Explore the research findings →
- Viral cat content may be quietly shifting what millions of pet owners consider normal, and the consequences for cat welfare could be real. See the welfare consequences →
Cats are elegant, mercurial creatures. They are affectionate and loyal, but can quickly become distant or aloof when their environment changes. Cats can be enigmatic, but their behavior is not completely mysterious. A new study found that online videos of cats feature comments that routinely dismiss or downplay distress from these furry creatures.
Even under conditions classified as play, cat videos online often feature signs of distress from cats. These include hissing, biting, attempting to escape, or even visibly injuring humans. Yet the comments on these videos often treat these moments as cute. To better understand cat welfare, a team of Australian researchers analyzed over a thousand comments to identify contradictions between people’s perceptions of cat distress and the cats’ actual behavior.
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Misread Cues
Many cat videos posted online with the label cute or funny show signs of clear harm and cat distress.
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Misconceptions surrounding cat behavior, particularly in moments of distress, can have profound consequences for cat welfare. Nowhere is this more apparent than in cat videos shared online. Even many of these videos titled or labeled as cute show concerning signs of cat distress. Yet, viewers either don’t realize or don’t care.
To understand the chasm between perception and reality when it comes to cat distress, researchers from Adelaide University’s School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences analyzed 1,100 comments on 11 online videos depicting cat “play.” Despite this disarming label, most of these videos featured undeniable signs of cat distress. These included moments of hissing, biting, attempts to escape, and even attacking. Even worse, some videos contained footage of cats being visibly harmed.
The study found that 75-93% of all comments on these 11 videos were positive, despite clear indicators of cat distress. If the cats in the videos didn’t leave or attack outright, viewers treated the footage as positive. Furthermore, despite signs of distress like biting or scratching, commenters brushed them aside and emphasized humor or cuteness.
Published in the journal Anthrozoös, the Australian researchers identified several themes of interpretation and justification from commenters. These themes range from misinterpretation to rationalization, and speak to broader processes at work. People seemed to engage in cognitive dissonance or coping mechanisms when confronted with distress or outright harm.
Feline Implications
The study also found that positive comments on videos featuring distressing interactions between humans and cats were not always caused by a lack of empathy. Sometimes, distress was mistaken as humorous. Other times, concerning behaviors were overlooked for the sake of cuteness or lightheartedness.
While cat experts promote play as an effective tool for bonding between cats and owners, the proliferation of distressing online videos can warp perceptions. The researchers believe that cat welfare can suffer if people develop inaccurate ideas about what constitutes appropriate interaction. If the comments on cat videos are any indication, harmful interactions and signs of distress are becoming increasingly normalized.
For the sake of cats everywhere, take a closer look at the next “funny” cat video and see if you can spot any signs of harm or distress. This simple act can help shift perceptions and ultimately improve cat welfare.
