2y ago

How did you get in there??

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iirc there was a study. The smarter animals can't process the images on a screen.
- The smarter animals can't process the images on a screen.
  wut
  Anyone having a cat and putting videos like this on their TV could tell you that's wrong
  Mine will actively try to catch the birds on this and go around the TV when the birds go out of frame looking for them, confused because the bird isn't behind it
  
  I've had cats all my life and none of them have ever paid any attention to the screen
  
  Try those youtube cat vids, in fullscreen; I was surprised too the first time but mine is obsessed with them, sometimes for like 20 minutes
- I think that you are referring to the fact that many animals can't cope / process their own reflection in the mirror and fail to identify themselves, as discussed here and there in more detail.
  
  My budgie is BFFs with his reflection, as you'd expect. He loves me, but shows no reaction to my reflection. He is usually happy enough to make friends with other people, and he can tell me apart from others.
  But he never shows any reaction to my reflection, only his own. If we both stand by the mirror, he'll tell his mirror friend about his day, he'll tell my actual hand or nose, but it's like he can't even see the reflection of my hand. It's weird.
  
  My previous dog would sometimes startle himself for a second, like, "SHIT!! DOG IN THE HOUSE- oh, that's right..."
  My new dog figured out the mirror almost immediately and uses it to watch me without having to get up. He'll turn around or come over if I signal for him through the reflection, knowing exactly what's going on. He also likes being held up to see us both in the reflection and will turn and lick me, then turn back to keep looking at us. I think it's like seeing a portrait of us together and he admires it.
  He doesn't usually look at himself for long, but I've seen him clean morning goop from his eye after standing next to it and looking at himself.
  It's definitely a tool he uses.
  
  long time cat owner. None of mine ever look at the screen.
  
  Mine definitely does, for instance when I look a documentary with other animals, so 🤷‍♀️

20 comments