this post was submitted on 17 Dec 2023
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It really looks like he's smiling in his sleep 🥺

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[–] intensely_human@lemm.ee 12 points 2 years ago

What do you mean cat’s can’t smile. Of course they can smile.

[–] Walican132@lemmy.today 9 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I’m pretty sure cats have several facial expressions.

[–] idunnololz@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Yeah but AFAIK they don't have one that is similar to a human smile.

(In appearance not in meaning)

[–] intensely_human@lemm.ee 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

But they do? I mean, here’s an example if you’re skeptical: https://lemmy.world/post/9686610

[–] idunnololz@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I'm sure its just the lighting, his face being smooshed into the blanket and also part of his face being obstructed by the blanket.

[–] intensely_human@lemm.ee 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Could be. But that seems more elaborate than “as you’d expect, cat smiles look like human smiles and mean the same thing”

It just means smiling appeared before our common ancestor, or that we co-evolved like bees and flowers to have a working interface for emotional communication.

It’s in all organisms’ best interest to succeed in communicating with other organisms. There’s a universal selective pressure toward universal empathy. Like you can tell when a hornet’s anxious or a spider is scared.

It just so happens we’ve been next to cats for long enough we got highly specialized at reading each other.

[–] angrystego@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

I appreciate this thoughtful explanation.

[–] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 8 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

It's not that they can't smile, it's that they rarely want to. They're little murder machines because they are just full of spite under all that floof. Probably only smiling because he is dreaming about murdering something.

[–] wazzupdog@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

My cat would beg to differ, he always smiles when I grab his treat container, then he proceeds to shout at me until he gets his treats.

[–] asteriskeverything@lemmy.world 7 points 2 years ago

That's the "I know I look extremely cute" cozy content smile 😊

[–] Nominel@kbin.run 3 points 2 years ago

He looks very comfy. 🥰