Want to test your cat language skills? That "tail wagging" might not mean happiness — A "Cat Quiz" created by scientists

1. The Belief That "Cats Are Hard to Understand" Was a Misconception

Do you believe that cats are enigmatic creatures? Contrary to this belief, recent reviews and observational studies indicate that cats are actually excellent communicators, utilizing body language, scent, and vocalizations. Adult cats living with humans often increase their use of **"meow"**, which is not commonly used among cats, and may even develop "dialects" that are easier for each owner to understand. The issue lies in the human side often misinterpreting these signals. Live Science

2. What Is the "Cat Quiz" Created by Scientists?

The quiz, featured on Live Science on November 7 (reposted from The Conversation), involves watching videos of people playing with cats and determining whether the cat is in a positive or negative state. The original study involved 368 Australian participants who made judgments while watching short clips. Some participants were also shown a 2.5-minute educational video to assess changes in their judgment skills. Live Science

Key Findings

• Accuracy in identifying subtle negative signs was 48.7% (almost like a coin toss).

• Even with obvious negative signs (threatening, fleeing, etc.), 25% were misclassified.

• Even when negative signs were correctly recognized, there remained a tendency to choose actions that could further stress the cat, such as belly rubbing or playing with hands.

• The short educational video slightly improved overall accuracy, but the identification of subtle negatives actually worsened. Frontiers

The research team pointed out that short educational materials make it difficult to learn "subtle discomfort signals." They concluded that more **systematic and comparative (play vs. defense)** materials are needed. Frontiers

3. Why Misunderstandings Occur: The Human "Cute" Bias

Why do we make mistakes? We are easily swayed by anthropomorphism and positive interpretations. For example, we might apply the dog image of "showing the belly = trust" to cats or interpret big tail movements as "joy." However, a cat's tail is also a meter indicating the intensity of emotions, and it needs to be read in conjunction with context and whole-body movements. Live Science

4. Picking Up "Early Warning Signs"

Live Science's explanation emphasizes the importance of stopping before it becomes noticeable. If you see changes like the following, **step back and give the cat options (stop/leave)**.

• Turning away/avoiding/blocking

• Startling, body suddenly becoming tense

• Ears fixed to the side/back

• Licking lips/nose (sign of tension)

• Tail amplitude increases/becomes faster/curls

• And growling, hissing, yowling are clear no-go signals. Live Science

5. The Right Way to Touch and Play: Three Principles for Balancing Safety and Bonding

1. The basic areas to touch are "head and neck area".Avoid the belly, legs, and base of the tail.

2. Do not play with hands. Hands are not "toys" but "safe tools." If playing, use rods (teasers) or toys that allow distance.

3. Wait for the cat to re-approach. Do not press; stop shortly when the cat returns. The initiative to resume always lies with the cat. Live Science

Moreover, stress increases the health risks of conditions like feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) and leads to behavioral problems (aggression, inappropriate elimination). For humans, there are real dangers like bite wound infections (30-50% result in rapid infection), so not missing early signs is directly related to the safety of both parties. Live Science

6. Reactions on Social Media: The Growing "Self-Check" Movement

The quiz was shared on social media immediately after its release, with reports of "I tried it" and self-reflection following The Conversation (Australia)'s official X post and on Reddit's r/cats/r/Pets. Notable reactions include:

• Self-correction that "tail wagging = fun" was a misconception.

• Warnings against the temptation of "belly rubbing" and a reevaluation of teasers.

• Reposts for awareness by rescue organizations and veterinary accounts.

• Pointing out the limitations of short educational materials and calls for comparative learning materials (play punch vs. defensive cat punch).
  These align with the research findings that **"subtle negatives are difficult"** as felt by the community. X (formerly Twitter)　Reddit

7. How to "Master" the Quiz

• Formulate a hypothesis before doing it: Take notes on the four points of "ears," "tail," "body tension," and "distance."

• After getting the answer, perform a "counterfactual": Verbalize the reason for the miss and look for clues in different frames of the same video (start 1 second, end).

• Practice with contrasting examples: Watch playful cat punches and defensive foreleg strikes, excited tails and irritated tails in sets.

• Transfer to the field: Check the same four points with your cat at home and share "signs to stop" with your family.

8. On-Site Safety Protocol (Mini Home Version)

• Always keep human hands behind tools (recommend rods over 30cm).

• Keep sessions short (1-2 minutes).End when it gets exciting and move on to the next opportunity.

• Ensure free access to high places/hiding spots.

• Do not follow the cat if it leaves. Wait until it returns.

• **For children, enforce "pet only the head, 3-second rule."**

9. The "Next Steps" Taught by Research

In the aforementioned randomized controlled trial, short educational videos actually worsened the recognition of subtle negatives. As a countermeasure,

• longer, more gradual educational materials (basics→subtle signs→case studies).

• Comparative learning (juxtaposing play vs. stress with similar movements).

• Increase options for cats by combining with the CAT method (Choice/Attention/Touch-limited).
  Such designs could be a shortcut to breaking the cycle of misreading→accidents→distrust. Frontiers

10. Conclusion: The Quiz Is a "Mirror," Not a "Translation App"

The value of this quiz lies in being a mirror that reflects where you are likely to make mistakes. Ears, tail, body, distance—do not miss small changes and respect the signs to stop. Just this can quietly change a cat's everyday life. The risk of bite wounds, the quality of bonds. Start with a single video. And once "it gets exciting, stop." That's the