Facial expressions

Most all cats have very sweet faces and beautiful eyes, but they
generally don't seem to have facial expressions the way hoomins do.

Cats seem to have better control of the snout and ears than we do, but
less fine control around the eyes and mouth.

Still, I think I've seen Betty smile and frown. I've seen her express
other emotions too, like contentment, surprise, curiosity, and
especially love. When she rests her chin on something, she can look a
bit resigned. When she opens her eyes wide, she can either look very
earnest, or very surprised.

What do cat facial expressions mean? How do they communicate their
feelings and moods to us? I wish I knew. I just know that they're
very beautiful and charming.

Takayuki wrote:
Most all cats have very sweet faces and beautiful eyes, but they
generally don't seem to have facial expressions the way hoomins do.


I can pretty much tell my cats' moods or what they want by their facial
expressions. I love the eyebrows.

-L.

I think there's a lot going on in the angle their eyelids take on. The
expression in a cat's eyes will tell you a lot. They're roughly
analagous to ours.

Takayuki wrote:
Most all cats have very sweet faces and beautiful eyes, but they
generally don't seem to have facial expressions the way hoomins do.

Cats seem to have better control of the snout and ears than we do, but
less fine control around the eyes and mouth.

Still, I think I've seen Betty smile and frown. I've seen her express
other emotions too, like contentment, surprise, curiosity, and
especially love. When she rests her chin on something, she can look a
bit resigned. When she opens her eyes wide, she can either look very
earnest, or very surprised.

What do cat facial expressions mean? How do they communicate their
feelings and moods to us? I wish I knew. I just know that they're
very beautiful and charming.

On Wed, 16 Mar 2005 00:58:37 -0500, Takayuki wrote:

Most all cats have very sweet faces and beautiful eyes, but they
generally don't seem to have facial expressions the way hoomins do.

Cats seem to have better control of the snout and ears than we do, but
less fine control around the eyes and mouth.

Still, I think I've seen Betty smile and frown. I've seen her express
other emotions too, like contentment, surprise, curiosity, and
especially love. When she rests her chin on something, she can look a
bit resigned. When she opens her eyes wide, she can either look very
earnest, or very surprised.

What do cat facial expressions mean? How do they communicate their
feelings and moods to us? I wish I knew. I just know that they're
very beautiful and charming.



I have always thought that kitten faces look like pansies. MLB

mlbriggs wrote:
I have always thought that kitten faces look like pansies. MLB

LOL... they do!

great anology!

-L.

"mlbriggs" wrote in message
news


I have always thought that kitten faces look like pansies. MLB

What a pretty comparison...you're right, they do!

I can pretty much tell what Willow is thinking by her eyelids, whiskers,
pupil dilation, and ears. Have you all seen that greeting card with 16
identical pictures of a cartoon cat? I think each has a different emotion
under it. It cracks me up everytime I see it...astute cat slaves would be
able to discern the different expressions.

Takayuki wrote:
Cats seem to have better control of the snout and ears than we do, but
less fine control around the eyes and mouth.

True, but I've found it varies from cat to cat. Basho and Issa are very
good at facial expressions. One look into their eyes and you know
exactly what they're planning on doing. Xoxo is the least expressive of
our bunch, perhaps because he grew up outside, without constant human
contact.

--
Victor M. Martinez
Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM)
Send your spam he
Email me he

Takayuki wrote:
Most all cats have very sweet faces and beautiful eyes, but they
generally don't seem to have facial expressions the way hoomins do.

Cats seem to have better control of the snout and ears than we do,
but
less fine control around the eyes and mouth.

Still, I think I've seen Betty smile and frown. I've seen her
express
other emotions too, like contentment, surprise, curiosity, and
especially love. When she rests her chin on something, she can look
a
bit resigned. When she opens her eyes wide, she can either look very
earnest, or very surprised.

What do cat facial expressions mean? How do they communicate their
feelings and moods to us? I wish I knew. I just know that they're
very beautiful and charming.

The whiskers & ears tell it all. I kinda wish I could put my ears back
sometimes.
Betty's coloring/marking gives her a lot of character too. The little
snow-white paws make her look like so dainty, like a little lady.
The eyes are very telling, too, I agree with you. Bootsie has a very
distinct "wide eyed" look, her eyes get really round, when one of
theother cats is doing something that gets on her nerves.

Sherry

Sherry

On Wed, 16 Mar 2005 00:58:37 -0500, Takayuki
yodeled:

Most all cats have very sweet faces and beautiful eyes, but they
generally don't seem to have facial expressions the way hoomins do.

Cats seem to have better control of the snout and ears than we do, but
less fine control around the eyes and mouth.

Still, I think I've seen Betty smile and frown. I've seen her express
other emotions too, like contentment, surprise, curiosity, and
especially love. When she rests her chin on something, she can look a
bit resigned. When she opens her eyes wide, she can either look very
earnest, or very surprised.

What do cat facial expressions mean? How do they communicate their
feelings and moods to us? I wish I knew. I just know that they're
very beautiful and charming.


I find them *very* expressive. Not just with their faces, but with
their whole bodies.




Theresa
Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh
My Blog: http://www.humanitas.blogspot.com

On Wed, 16 Mar 2005 12:03:50 +0000 (UTC), Cheryl Perkins
yodeled:

Takayuki wrote:
snip
What do cat facial expressions mean? How do they communicate their
feelings and moods to us? I wish I knew. I just know that they're
very beautiful and charming.

I can get a lot from their ear positions and how wide or focussed their
eyes are. But with cats, I think communication involves their whole body,
including the tail. When they're really intent on a bird or toy they sit
differently than when they are relaxed or afraid or angry at another
animal.

They do so many things that crack me up. I love it when Stinky is
comfy and doesn't want to move, but doesn't want to miss something.
It's like he instantly grows a giraffe neck.



Theresa
Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh
My Blog: http://www.humanitas.blogspot.com