Cats have more understanding than we think, and their behavior is often more planned and purposeful than we realize. An interesting example of how cats can surprise us is how they seek attention.
Cat owners want their cats to meow when they crave love, rubbing on your lap, jumping on your lap, or even casually biting your kneecap are common ways cats don’t so subtly get what they want Way.
However, some clever kitties take attention to a whole new level. Thanks to anecdotal evidence, the virality of the Internet, and a small scientific study, we have evidence that cats sometimes fake injuries and illnesses.
Call it clever or manipulative, but you can’t deny that a fake limp is a genius way of getting attention and sympathy from others.
Edward’s Evidence
A viral TikTok video featuring a ginger tabby named Edward has undeniably proved cats are crafty little geniuses. In the video, poor Edward enjoys stroking his left paw as if it is injured. But when Edward’s master comes to check on him, he breaks out of character.
After a quick stretch, clever Edward seemed to have forgotten which paw should hurt. He began to limp on his right paw, and it became clear that “poor” Edward was not hurt at all.
The hilarious video has been viewed more than 10 million times, and Edward isn’t the only cat to feign a limping out of sympathy – he’s just the most famous.
a scientific study
If you’re looking for scientific evidence that cats can fake it, consider a study conducted by researchers at Ohio State University. In their report, the scientists determined that cats are able to fake illness in order to send specific messages to caregivers.
They came to this conclusion by observing the behavior of 32 cats. In this group, 20 cats were diagnosed with feline interstitial cystitis, a chronic disease that most commonly causes bladder pain in response to stress.
READ ALSO: 5 Visual Signs of a Stressed Cat and How to Help
At the beginning of the study, all cats enjoyed a stable environment and a predictable daily routine. During this time, the researchers observed their health and behavior and reported that both healthy and chronically ill cats exhibited little “sick behavior.”
Ultimately, however, the researchers wanted to understand how each group of cats responded to the changes. They start changing small details of the cat’s routine.
The researchers expected sick cats to show symptoms related to their stress, but the interesting part of the study was that even healthy cats started acting “sick.” These results led the scientists to believe that healthy cats replicated the symptoms of sick cats to communicate that they were not happy with recent changes.
Why are they doing this?
There isn’t enough scientific evidence to be sure, but ethologists believe cats fake a limp simply because they know it’s an effective way to gain sympathy and attention.
For most cats with false lameness, this behavior most likely has something to do with when they are truly unwell. If a cat is injured or ill, their favorite human will respond with more love than usual. The clever cat then links their injury with extra attention.
The next time they crave a cuddle, they might remember a time when they limp and how their person reacted. If they’re determined and quick thinking, they’ll repeat the limp, hoping for the same response.
By caring for our cats and showing more love when they are really limping, we are effectively training them to be sick and injured.
Cats have impressive memories, especially when they associate past events with strong emotions. You might think that pain should be your cat’s strongest emotion associated with an injury, but don’t underestimate the power of a good head scratch or quiet cuddle time.
If your cat likes certain aspects of an injury or illness, they may want to repeat it.
If your cat is limp, you shouldn’t take it for granted that it’s fake. You should first make sure your cat is not injured. Most injured cats will react aggressively if you try to touch their injured body part. They may also appear lethargic, hide more than usual, lose their appetite, or stop doing activities they usually enjoy.
If your cat shows any of these signs, it’s a good idea to schedule a veterinary appointment to rule out injury, arthritis, or a problem with the paw pads, such as a stuck spine. However, if your cunning kitten is otherwise healthy, exhibits other attention-seeking behaviors, or your cat decides to switch paws, you may have a cheater.
I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.