Cats are so cute for real scientific reasons. Humans have had cats as pets for thousands of years. By constantly selecting and breeding the ones they thought looked the cutest they created really cute cats. Also, humans have a tendency to think big eyes and little heads are cute because these are the same facial features as babies! Cats also learned to meow like babies to increase their cuteness factor.
Why Cats Are So Cute According to Science
There’s actually science behind why many people find cats to be so cute. Their little heads, big eyes and furry bodies are irresistible to humans. And this is not a coincidence!
1. Cats Are So Cute Because They Look Like Babies
Humans have a tendency to think big eyes and small faces are cute. In other words, the facial features of babies. This phenomenon is called “baby schema”, and is what makes people think babies are so cute.
Cats and dogs, especially kittens and puppies, share a lot of the same cute facial features as babies, making them seem cute to people.
2. Cats Are So Cute Because Humans Made Them That Way
How in the world could humans “make” cats so cute? Well, cats have been domesticated for over 10,000 years. Over time, humans have preferred certain cats with certain characteristics more than others. As such, people would keep the cats they liked and breed them. And this selection process created really cute cats.
So in essence, people actually modified cats’ looks over time by their preferences and selection process. The cutest cats would usually win out. As a result, your cat might not be suited for the wild anymore, but they sure are cute!
3. Cats Are Cute to Get What They Want
Did you know that cats don’t meow to communicate with other cats? Cats learned to meow to communicate with humans!
We know this because wild, undomesticated cats don’t really meow at each other. But domesticated cats sure are vocal to their owners!
Cats learned that meowing, especially in a really cute way, gets humans to give them what they want. This includes food, housing and neck scratches. Scientists think the reason why humans like cat meows so much is because they sound kind of like babies. And cats have figured out how to make the absolute cutest sounds possible, mimicking human babies.
4. Cats Are Cute Because of Their Furry Bodies
Why do people like the soft, furry bodies of cats? It’s most likely because of an ancient behavior of human’s primate ancestors. Primates will run their hands through each others’ hair to pick out bugs and other particles. Grooming each other was a way they stayed clean.
As a result, people like the feeling of running their hands through a cat’s soft hair. Likewise, cats evolved to like being pet because humans liked it so much, thereby making them more likable to humans.
What Makes Cats Look So Cute?
People find certain characteristics to be cuter than others in cats. For instance, squished faces are adorable to people. This explains the popularity of flat-faced breeds like the British Shorthair, Burmese Himalayan, Persian and Scottish Fold.
As mentioned earlier, cats’ big eyes and small heads make them really cute as well. Proportion, in general, is a big part of why people think cats are so cute. Their heads are large in relation to their body size. And their paws are large in relation to their legs. Again, these characteristics are similar to that of a baby.
Not only that, but their soft, furry bodies and baby-like meows are absolutely adorable. We like the warmth of a cat’s cuddles.
While everyone has some differences in what they think is cute, most people find cats in general to be really, really cute.
Why Cats Are So Cute To Some People But Not Others
What makes people think some things are cute vs. others is a very complex process. In many cases it has to do with past experiences. People that have been attacked or hissed at by an angry cat may not find them so cute. Similarly, people that grew up with cats and bonded with cats may be more inclined to find them cute.
The reality is every person is different. Cuteness preferences can be hard-wired at the genetic level or be set by life experiences. Social pressure also plays a role in determining what people find cute. Some cultures don’t really see cats as pets, so people are less likely to find them cute.
Why Cute Cats Cause “Cuteness Aggression”
You probably know exactly what we mean by “cuteness aggression”. This is the tendency of people to suddenly become overwhelmed with emotion when they see something extremely cute. Cuteness aggression causes people to suddenly need to pick up, hold or pet an adorable cat.
Believe it or not, this behavior has scientific reasons behind it. Cuteness aggression is a type of protective behavior where you suddenly feel an aggressive need to protect the cute animal or baby. The burst of energy and focus on the cute cat in question makes you better able to defend it.
Do Cats Know They’re So Cute?
It’s unlikely cats actually understand how cute they are. In fact, they probably don’t even understand the concept of cuteness in general.
Instead, cats have learned over time how to behave to get what they want. Whether or not humans find it cute is irrelevant to them; they just keep doing what seems to work. And somehow, this innocence makes them even more cute.
