Ethology

4. Ethology

When I tried to find research on the domesticated cat, I found that cats are particularly difficult to conduct research on. However, I found a couple studies indicating that cats are intelligent and do possess emotion. The first study I found is particularly intriguing because it studied how the domesticated cat is able to manipulate their owners into feeding them by purring/crying in a certain way ("a purr mixed with a high-pitched cry"). In the study, the researcher, Karen McComb, collected recordings from cat owners of their cats crying when they wanted food and when they didn't. She then played the recordings back for 50 human participants (both cat-owners and non-cat-owners). She found that they judged the food-cries more urgent than the non-food cries. McComb explains that "previous research has shown similarities between cat cries and human infant cries," which is why humans might respond more to this specific kind of purr-cry. The conclusion of the study suggests that cats have learned how to "exaggerate [the cry] when it proves effective in generating a response from humans." This ability, of course, is beneficial to the animals' survival because it gets them more food.

The second study I found tested whether or not cats recognized a special relationship with their owners. Japanese researchers observed cats while they played recordings of their owner's voice and recordings of strangers' voices. They found that the cats responded more when they heard their owner's voice and voices that were familiar; they moved their heads and ears towards the voice, their pupils dilated, "which can signal emotions such as excitement." Cats do not really have big outward displays of emotion though, because in their wild ancestors this was a survival strategy. By concealing their vulnerability (such as when they are sick), the animal avoids attracting unwanted attention to itself.

In my personal experience, I recently have moved to a new neighborhood. My boyfriend, who lives around the corner from me, lives next door to his landlady who owns two cats that are free to roam outside. We have "made friends" with these friendly cats, and now every time they see us, they seem eager for us to pet them, running up to us, purring and rubbing themselves on our legs. One day, one of them spent several minutes licking my knee. Just a couple nights ago, one of them followed me back to my house, meowing the entire way. I think he sounded very sad to see me leave. I think these are the most obvious displays of affection.

Loki, our adorable "adopted" cat

Resources
1. http://www.livescience.com/5556-cats-control-humans-study-finds.html
2. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2349770/Cats-really-CAN-understand-owners-voices--just-act-aloof-form-survival.html