Debate: Do cats actually know when they did something wrong or do we just imagine it?

Last Tuesday my cat knocked my coffee mug off the kitchen counter at 6am, right onto tile floor, and it shattered everywhere. She just sat there staring at me with those big eyes while I cleaned up. But here's the thing - my sister swears her cat hides under the bed after she breaks stuff because she knows she's in trouble. I think cats don't feel guilt at all, they just read our angry vibes and react. What do you all think?

2 comments

2 Comments

emerymoore27d ago

@the_barbara nailed it with that "they just know when we're mad" thing. My cat once knocked a full glass of water off the nightstand at 3am and did the same slow blink and walk off like it was part of her plan. I've seen her hide after I yelled, but if I don't react she'll just sit there cleaning her paw like nothing happened. That whole "guilty look" is just them picking up on us being angry and trying to act calm. Cats are basically tiny furry opportunists who don't feel bad about anything.

the_barbara27d ago

Got a friend whose cat knocked a whole potted plant off the windowsill while she was in the shower. When she came out the cat was just sitting next to the dirt pile staring at her like "what?" No hiding no nothing. She scolded it and it just blinked slowly and walked off. I'm team cats don't feel guilt they just know when we're mad and act accordingly.