Can cats cry: how to recognise when an animal is upset

Despite the fact that there are a lot of memes with crying cats on the Internet, these animals are not capable of crying in the human sense. Tearfulness in a cat is a reason to visit the vet, not a sign that the animal is sad. However, this does not mean that purrs are never sad. But how do you know if your pet is in a bad mood for some reason?

According to IFL Science, only humans can cry tears of emotional or physical pain. No other biological species is capable of this. The reason for the emergence of this mechanism has not yet been established. Some researchers argue that it evolved to transmit signals about our emotional state to a wider social group.

What do cat tears mean?

Meanwhile, cats have tear ducts similar to ours, but they are only used to lubricate and protect their eyes. If your cat sheds tears, it means that his eyes are irritated for some reason - due to a foreign object, injury, or infection. Other symptoms may include moisture and hair loss around the eyes or tears accumulating and "souring" in the corners of the eyes. This symptom should not be ignored - you should take your pet to the vet.

How do you know if a cat is sad?

Cats express sadness in a slightly different way. Instead of tears, for example, they make frequent vocalisations. Adult cats don't usually meow at each other very often, and they communicate with humans more often with sounds. They have even developed a pitch that resembles a baby's cry so that we cannot ignore them.

So if a cat meows and howls excessively, it is trying to express something. Nine times out of ten, it will be hunger. But it can also be a sign that the animal needs help or attention.

If your cat meows loudly and continuously, it may be a sign of pain or discomfort, including severe anxiety. In older cats, this mental disorder occurs, in particular, as a sign of cognitive dysfunction syndrome, a kind of feline dementia.

We usually know the typical behaviour of our pets who live with us. Therefore, experts advise us to pay attention to the slightest changes - they will indicate that something is wrong with the animal. In this case, you should immediately consult a veterinarian.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL told how to determine the mood of a cat by the position of its tail.

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