In the animal kingdom, each species has its own unique way of expressing its emotions. However, when it comes to felines, the question always arises whether cats can cry. The answer to this curiosity is no, at least not in the sense of shedding tears like we humans do.
There is no evidence that cats have tear glands that can produce tears of sadness. However, there are clear signs and behavioral changes that can indicate a feeling of sadness in a cat. For example, a cat may lose his appetite, become less active, or withdraw from others. It is important to remain attentive to the signals that our feline friend sends us and try to understand his emotional needs.
Cats, however, do not have this ability to shed tears. However, they can show obvious signs of sadness. When a cat is unhappy or depressed, they may show a change in their behavior. They may become more isolated, sleep more, or lose interest in activities they usually enjoy. They may also act more lethargic or demonstrate reduced energy. Some cats may also stop eating properly or have health problems associated with stress. So, while they may not cry like humans, cats can still show signs of sadness and discomfort.
Cats have tear ducts similar to ours, but they are only used to lubricate and protect their eyes. If a cat seems to be secreting tears, it is most likely due to irritation in their eyes, rather than a feeling of sadness. This could be due to allergies, a foreign object stuck in their eye, an injury, or even an illness.
"Cats don't cry out of sadness like humans do.”, says Dr Joanna Woodnutt, a veterinarian and graduate of the University of Nottingham. “They are not 'crying' in the human sense of the word, but this is an important symptom that should not be ignored.“, adds Dr. Instead of tears, unusual and frequent vocalizations from a domestic feline can be a sign that they are not happy.
Adult cats don't meow often at each other, and in fact, they use it primarily to communicate with humans. Research has suggested that these creatures have fine-tuned their meows to sound similar to a human baby's cry, making them hard for us to ignore (and therefore get way too much cuddles!).
Article published on 30 June 2023 - 15:55
