Mmmm... Yeah. It checks out.

I think my cat is a big stupid cat so we are even.

I don't buy this because cats will react totally differently to cats than people. Regardless of posture. If my cat sees someone walking down the street she doesn't get angry. If my cat sees a cat outside she's already on the defense.

I think people are leaving out purring and kneading as behavior. Both are kitten behaviors. Suggesting to humans they click into "kitten mode"

I've been wondering if that actually holds any water - or is it just some outdated, poor-quality study (or Sunday newspaper article) that was quoted so many times that everybody believes it now?

If it were the case, how would one prove it or even show evidence for it? And similar question for if it isn't the case, how would you disprove or show evidence against it? I'm not even sure how one would prove that cats have a concept of species.
- It should be pretty easy. See if cats act differently around humans and other cats
- Yeah it's so dumb. Cats obviously don't think the things over ten times their size that walk on a different amount of legs are the same as them.
  Further, another "fun fact" I see a lot (equally questionable) is that cats meow only to communicate with humans, not cats. But that's mutually exclusive with cats thinking humans are the same as them.
- Let me ask my cat. She just keeps saying Mao. I guess she’s a communist.

he believes cats are semi-feral and that they think we are cats too

Ok, so it's just something someone believes, it's not very scientific... They don't really provide much evidence other than belief

Probably this is yet another case of a journalist spinning yarn out of some poor researcher's paper summary, and then being quoted out of context.
Cats don't see you as cat, but also not as someone superior, they can see you as friend, but you have to gain it, if not, you are only an tin opener and food supply. They are anarchists by nature.
- They are more like little dictators.
  What the article implies is that they do not understand that we are different species. The relationship between cats and humans is a whole other area. But I don't believe cats are stupid or have somehow evolved to believe humans are the same species as them.
When I had a dog, I used to think my dog thinks he will grow just as big as me and will join my daily routine, which was a bit depressing when you think about it
Ermmm actually you "just believe" the earth is round. /s /most obvious s
tbf i don't think my cat is 100% domesticated lol

No, they have absolutely no idea about nuclear war and apparently no clear sense that we might be some other species, despite not quite having the strokably hairy torsos they enjoy.

Speak for yourself, my torso hair is luxurious.

My cat knows about nuclear war. He simply hasn't chosen to exercise the knowledge.
- True, it's common knowledge that all cats know the exact time and date when the first bombs are going to fall, leading to the fall and eventual extinction of the human race
  But they all refuse to tell us because they're silly furry goobers
- I would insist on a regular inspection protocol. Cat could have an underground relocation system for averting defensive preemptive strikes.
This will totally dox myself to anyone who might be in or know someone in an old friend group.
I'm a very furry person - I joke that I put the hair suit in hirsute - but at least it's soft! Years upon years ago, I had a one night stand with my then future partner's (now ex's) best friend. It was bad. Really, awkwardly bad. The kind of bad where I woke up the next morning and, instead of trying for another go, groaned inwardly because they were still there, a living reminder of how bad it was.
I took out my phone and hastily messaged my best friend, asking her advice on politely dealing with this. Unbeknownst to me, my guest was awake, messaging my future partner. She described being barely awake in the early morning, petting my cat. I didn't have a cat or any pets. As she became more aware, she realized she was petting my chest.
Apparently some humans think I'm a big stupid cat too.
P.s. She also thought the sex was awful.
- Thank you for sharing this story.

I've heard this a few times and doubt it. At least with my cat. He howls at other cats and tries to attack them. He loves humans.

Because you're his big bald kitten
- Oh boy. You don't know how right you are.

Can confirm, am big stupid cat. 😺

Talk for yourself

That's pretty rich given that they're the ones who are big, stupid cats. 😡🤬

Did I miss the explanation of why this person thinks such a fuckin stupid thing?

The thing I've seen is that when they show dogs an image of their owner while the dog is in a PET scan, and show the dog pictures of other animals, the same part of the brain lights up, while showing the dog pictures of other dogs lights up a different but close area of the brain. Doing the same test on cats had one area lighting up for other animals, but the same part lighting up when shown their owner and when shown other cats
- While it is scientific people should provide the context that we don't really understand brains fully yet and this doesn't mean that his belief or conclusion is correct
3 college professors (1990) suggested we read Desmond Morris' books. Don't know how the science has stood up, but he believed this. Dogs and cats think humans are weird versions of their own species, that we're basically their parents, and act accordingly. Nothing IRL has dissuaded me from that notion.
One interesting idea I got from him; When we're small we love huge animals, see them as parents. As we get older, we like small animals, see them as our children.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desmond_Morris
Again, don't know how it stands up, but The Naked Ape is damned thought provoking.
- Nothing IRL has dissuaded me from that notion.
  Cats react differently when seeing an unfamiliar cat than they do when seeing an unfamiliar human.
- Also, people should keep in mind, that kittens are born with their eyes still sealed shut for a while. So once they open their eyes and finally get to see the world, they naturally accept the creatures that have been and continue to care for them.

A dog is an herd animal and need an lider to follow, a cat (except lions) are lone hunters, they don't even have the concept of an lider, the can have anarchistic groups and friendships when they have with it advantages to obtain food.

The dog thinks, he takes care of me and feeds me, he must be a god

The cat thinks, he takes care of me and feeds me, I must be a god

Dogs don't need a leader - the whole alpha male wolf thing has long been disproven, by the original author none the less. Dogs are highly social and live in groups, yes, but there's no boss dog. Very few animals have a concept of a leader. In fact I'd argue that none do and it's a totally human idea.
I like your cat/dog thinking idea though. Cats very much think 'me me me'!
- Elephant seals definitely have a leader, though.
- This isn't quite true, wolf packs do have leaders: the pack's mom and dad.
  Most wolf packs are a breeding pair and their children, and the children will break off and form new packs over time. Every time you hear pack you should legitimately just translate it to "family"
Leader*
- *Litre
an lider
- Also an 'erd animal

stupid? nonono, I'm da giant cat that makes all of da rulez.

They only meow at humans

And they KNOW humans provide sustenance on a regular basis, and protection, so I can’t believe they think we’re just giant hairless monstrous cats. They’d have to think everything else is a cat otherwise. Look at the flying cats, mom! I’m gonna catch and eat one!
- Perhaps they think we're too stupid to realise they've grown up and could feed themselves, just so long as they pretend to be kittens by meowing
Kittens meow, but adult cats in the wild don’t. So they literally speak baby talk to us.

I'm fine with that. Better that being a tall ape descendant slash servant.

Cats are great. 😊

what if the cats were right

meowmeow

The difference between a domestic cat and a wild cat is like 90% size.

May I present to you: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rusty-spotted_cat
- I would like five and dont care what they scratch or pee on.
- very smol

I've seen people who treat their cats like they are little stupid humans.

But they are!
They can't even turn doorknobs, no matter how many months they try. But you give them a lever knob, that's a totally different story...
- I had a cat as a kid that could turn doorknobs - my parents would send him to the basement at night because he had a bad habit of trying to mark furniture as his territory, and we had to start locking the door because he figured out how to open it