We will also discuss the different types of smiles that are seen in cats and what causes them.
Smile: A Cat’s Way Of Communicating
The first thing you need to know about a cat’s smile is that it is used for communication. This means that it is not just something that happens on its own.
It has meaning and purpose behind it. For example, when a cat grins, it may be trying to get your attention or to show affection.
When a cat shows teeth, it may be warning you away from an area where it feels threatened.
And when a cat yawns, it may be telling you to stop talking or to go to sleep.
So, when a cat smiles, there must be some sort of reason why it is doing it.
If you think back to all the times that you have seen a cat smile, you should remember that there was always a reason for it.
The same goes for any other behavior that a cat does. There is always a reason for it, and it could mean something completely different from what you might expect.
Types Of Smiles
There are several ways that a cat can smile.
The most common one is called a “puppy dog grin” which is characterized by showing teeth and then closing the mouth.
Another type of smile is called a “cat grin” which involves only opening the mouth and exposing the teeth.
Finally, there is another type of smile called a “play face” which involves making eye contact with someone while grinning.
Why Do Cats Smile?
There are many theories as to why cats smile. Some people believe that it is because they are happy. Others say that it is because they want to look cute.
Still others think that it is because they like being around humans. However, none of these ideas seem very convincing.
If you ask yourself why a cat would want to make itself appear more attractive to us, you will realize that it doesn’t make sense.
Why would a cat care about looking good? After all, it already looks great! So, it seems unlikely that a cat would try to improve its appearance.
Another theory says that a cat smiles because it wants to let us know that it is friendly.
While this makes sense, it still doesn’t explain why a cat would want us to know that it is friendly toward us.
Finally, there is the idea that a cat smiles because he/she likes being near us.
Once again, this makes sense, but it doesn’t explain the fact that cats don’t usually approach us unless we approach them first.
They certainly wouldn’t want to be near us if we were going to attack them.
So What Does Cause Cats To Smile?
Cats smile for various reasons. One of the main ones is because they feel safe.
A cat who is feeling safe will often smile in order to reassure himself/herself that everything is okay.
In addition, a cat who is feeling secure will also smile at things that it considers to be positive. These include:
Food
People
Other animals
Things that move
When a cat feels that it is in danger, it will sometimes display a “fear grimace” instead of smiling. This is similar to what dogs do when they are scared.
When a cat is afraid, it will start to shake its head and ears. It will also close its eyes and furrow its brow.
All of these actions indicate that the cat is feeling anxious.
A cat who is feeling threatened will also growl or hiss. He/she may even bite in an attempt to scare away whatever is threatening him/her.
The main difference between a fear grimace and a smile is that a cat who is smiling may be trying to reassure himself/herself that nothing bad is happening.
On the other hand, a cat who is displaying a fear grimace is actually trying to get rid of something that is frightening him/her.
How Can I Tell If My Cat Is Smiling?
It is possible for your cat to smile without you knowing that it is doing so.
For example, if you have a cat who lives alone, it might smile whenever it hears you coming home from work.
Or, it could smile every time that you enter the room where it is sleeping.
However, if you notice that your cat is grinning broadly while it is sitting on your lap, then you can be sure that it is smiling at you.
You should also be able to tell if your cat has been smiling by watching its facial expressions.
You should also be able to recognize a smile when you see one. Your cat will most likely keep its mouth closed while it is smiling.
If you notice that your cat isn’t making any sounds while it is smiling, then you can be pretty certain that it is happy.
If you think that your cat is smiling, then you should take some time to observe what is happening around it.
Are there any other animals nearby? Does it look as though it is enjoying itself? Do you notice anything unusual about your cat?
If you are having trouble figuring out whether your cat is smiling, try asking yourself the following questions:
Does my cat seem happier than usual today?
Is my cat looking more relaxed than usual?
Has my cat seemed more playful than usual?
Does my cat appear to be enjoying itself more than usual?
If your answers to all of these questions are “yes”, then you can probably assume that your cat is smiling.
Conclusion
To conclude, cats do smile. They smile for many reasons. Some of them are obvious, while others are not.
The best way to determine if your cat is smiling is to watch its facial expressions closely.
I’m Courtney Trent and I hope that I can answer some burning questions that you have about cats, as well as some questions that you’d never have thought to ask before.
I am aiming to shed new light on these amazing pets and hopefully change some people’s opinions on them. Also, let’s talk about wild cats - they’re just as awesome as domestic cats!
So, stay a while and learn more about domestic and wild cats from Windhaven Ocicats.
