Why does a cat yawn when looking at its master

The theory is that we take shallower breaths when we don't get enough sleep, so we take deep breaths at a time to compensate. This logic can be applied to cats, but there is no conclusive evidence yet.

Why does a cat yawn when it sees its owner?

Yawning is a common involuntary behavior. Scientists have not yet figured out the exact reason why cats yawn, despite how common it is. Some theories as to why your cat yawns when he sees you are worth considering.

A cat will yawn when it sees you because it feels satisfied and comfortable. It is a way of showing that your pet is completely relaxed in your presence. Yawning is the cat's way of getting more oxygen and waking up because she wants to restore energy and is willing to spend time with you. Of course, some cats just want to sleep.

Some experts suggest that cats yawn as a unique form of communication. Yawning works as body language to get your attention, except for a real meow. In most situations, the occasional yawn means the cat is relaxed.

Your cat needs more air.

Sometimes cats open their mouths wide and yawn to take a deep breath. This may indicate that your cat is having trouble breathing.

If you notice your cat yawning a lot, it's probably a good idea to take her to the vet as soon as possible. While it may not be dangerous, it's worth reassuring yourself just in case.

Many people yawn when they stretch, which is perfectly normal. However, it is their way of getting more oxygen. This is usually not something you should worry about, unless it is accompanied by some abnormal behavior.

Is your cat making strange noises? Check what they mean.

Everyone knows that cats purr and meow. We learn about it in early childhood. However, the auditory signals given by a cat are much more varied and complex. A cat growls, grunts, snorts, hisses, and howls. Even a simple meow takes different forms depending on the emotion the animal is feeling at the time. But we should not think that cat sounds are just a reflection of our pets' moods. They also have another important function: to communicate. So if you know what they mean, it will be much easier to talk to your cat.

Meow, purr and other "normal" cat sounds.

You may encounter the statement that cats meow only to humans. This is not true, as pets also make this sound when interacting with other cats. However, when dealing with people, they meow in a certain way. In this case, the cat sounds take on a slightly whiny and pleading tone. A crying cat is no surprise, because that's how animals want to get your attention and get something. Besides meowing, the most famous cat sound is purring. However, contrary to stereotypes, cats do not only purr when they are happy. The sound is thought to simply indicate the need for close contact. Feline speech also consists of growling, buzzing, and screaming that accompanies aggressive behavior. Animals also hiss and snort. A cat's snorting is an attempt to scare off a stronger enemy. 3. The cat makes strange noises. Frankly, the terms "normal cat noises" and "weird cat noises" are arbitrary. They are all perfectly normal to our pets. However, to the human ear, some of them may indeed sound surprising. Especially if you haven't had much experience with cats yet. What are cat noises and what do they mean? Of all their variety, there are a few specific ones to choose from. The ones that might surprise you. Then let's get to know them.

Barking is probably the strangest feline sound that owners hear, and perhaps the least understood. Some call it a chattering or clicking sound, and fluffy ones most often make it when they are sitting on a window sill, looking through the glass at birds bouncing outside the window.

The barking occurs when our purring friend moves his jaws rhythmically and rapidly. And it does sound a bit like dogs barking, but it can also be associated with clattering teeth.

This amazing feline sound is interpreted as an expression of excitement caused by the sight of potential prey – their eyes are eager to hunt birds. At the same time, it can also be considered a sign of frustration, as potential prey is out of the fluffy's reach.

8 reasons why a cat yawns when it sees its owner

Cats, like humans, can yawn. A purr-fect yawn means that the animal is comfortable and happy with what's going on around it. Yawning is a unique form of communication with humans. In this article, you will learn the reasons why a pet yawns when he sees his owner.

A pet can get bored if the owner doesn't give the purrfect cat enough attention and play with it. By yawning, the cat is hinting to the person that it's time for her to get busy. Take the time to play with your pet.

It is a fact that people yawn after each other. Likewise, a purrfect cat, seeing a yawning owner, will yawn with him.

If a purr-fly does not get enough sleep, it will take a shallow breath. This will temporarily compensate for sleep by yawning.

If breathing is difficult, the purr will yawn frequently, filling the lungs with oxygen. This may be a cause for concern, so show your pet to the vet.

By yawning and opening its mouth wide, the purr relieves stress. The oxygen coming in will relax the animal for a while.

Suddenly awakened, the purr yawns. She is annoyed that her sleep has been interrupted.

Many cats yawn because they are uncomfortable. It can be a toothache or joint pain. If the cat is drooling at the same time, it's time to show her to the vet.

By sucking in air while yawning, an active pet cools the body after playing.

8 theories why cats yawn looking at their owners

Pure coincidence

The fact that a cat yawns at the sight of its owner could just be a coincidence. You just happened to bump into him at that moment. If you're home all the time, the cat may just love being with you. And sooner or later you may notice that the cat yawns when you pet it, walk up to it, or just lie down next to it.

They feel relaxed.

Scientists have suggested that yawning is an evolutionary signaling mechanism for communicating with humans, monkeys and the like. Maybe your cat's yawning is communicating with you and saying, "Hey, I'm relaxed and you should be too. It's time for a little rest."

That's boring

Continuing the same theme, maybe when the cat yawns at the sight of the owner, he's saying that you're unbearably boring.

Or maybe the whole situation around you is just tiresome. Think of how you struggle to suppress a yawn while listening to someone's tedious rambling… Maybe that's what happens when your cat yawns, stretches, and then walks away…

A non-aggressive warning.

Following the relaxed and bored cat comes the gently hardcore cat who shows his teeth. Your cat may be a little anxious and unwittingly warn you that she may hurt herself with her teeth if the current alarm you're causing doesn't end.

Often such a signal is seen in the case of a cat yawning when you pet it.

The intrusion into personal space, while welcome and somewhat pleasant, can unleash an instinctive and involuntary protective warning deep inside not to go too far.

The cat is tired.

Another reason why a cat yawns at the sight of its owner could be simple fatigue. Some scientists suggest that yawning may be a natural way to get a bigger dose of oxygen. This in turn gives you more vigor and energy, which will keep you awake for a second or two. Maybe your cat has it the same way.

Conclusions

As you believe there is still no scientifically proven answer to the question "Why do cats yawn when they look at their owner?" There are only a few theories, and some of them may seem silly and some may be reasonable. It's up to you to decide. Tell us your guesses in the comments.

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Why don't cats respond to everything we say?

There is a psychological term known as habituation. It means that your cat gets used to ignoring cues that are not good or bad for him, and reacts to cues that will affect him in some way. This is why cats respond to their names. They have learned that after they hear a certain word, their name, something has to happen.

Do cats understand human language?

Although cats can recognize the sound of their name and their owners' voices, they do not understand human language. Nothing you say to your cat is perceived as meaningful except when it hears its name. Again, they only respond to their name because it usually means that something must happen that directly affects them. Since other words rarely have a direct effect on your cat, they simply ignore the rest.

Cats can understand certain words, but their understanding comes from the association of the words or sounds with what happens after they say them. Scientists say that cats can associate vocalizations of 25 to 40 words with certain objects, actions and people.

Cat wants attention

Most cat yawns are a natural part of body functioning or an attempt to communicate. As with any behavior, if something happens too often and doesn't play an adaptive role, it could mean a health problem. There are three possible explanations for an overly yawning cat:

• Dental problems. When a cat yawns frequently-she may feel a toothache. Additional symptoms include salivation, bad breath, red gums and feeding problems. Intervention by a feline dentist will be necessary.
• Shortness of breath.When your cat is breathing at an accelerated rate, breathing heavily, making strange noises while breathing, don't delay your visit to the vet
• Hypercapnia. This is a condition in which there is too much carbon dioxide in the body. The still yawning cat is trying to remove the CO2 and replace it with oxygen. Urgent treatment may be needed.

✅ The cat relaxes and trusts.

When cats trust someone, they not only show their belly and relax, but they also yawn. When a cat yawns in front of its owner, it is a sign of trust. "My master, I feel so good and cozy right now" It's a good time to caress your tail a little.

The above points are true for cats when they yawn defiantly, in front of you, while looking you in the eye. And if the cat just yawns, lies by itself and is relaxed, it means that the cat is just getting ready to sleep.

Sometimes a yawn is just a yawn.

Maybe you're being overly mistrustful and it's just a coincidence that the cat yawned just when you looked at it? On the other hand, why do cats yawn so much when they see their owner? Scientists have found several explanations for that, too.

No matter how much they say that cats live on their own, the owners of these fluffy creatures know – cats still love and respect them, even if they behave like real pouty. Cats express their loyalty in different ways, too – and one of those manifestations may be yawning when meeting their human.

Cats feel relaxed and safe

Scientists have suggested that a cat, by yawning, seems to be saying, "I'm relaxed and you could use one, too."

If a cat yawns and prepares to attack you, and he has anger and contempt in his eyes, that's it, run out of town – the cat is stressed. Or treat him to his favorite treat – this always makes cats happy.

Natural and involuntary yawning

Yawning is an involuntary action. A cat has no control over this process. It yawns when the body needs to enrich the brain with oxygen.

The reason for yawning is a lack of oxygen. It is necessary to understand why the pet yawns, and whether it is a sign of disease.

Natural causes

There are a number of reasons, natural causes, why four-legged animals yawn. These include.:

1. Yawning after sleeping (discussed above).
2. Stressful situations. During stress, adrenaline and hormones are released into the bloodstream, causing the body to go on high alert. More energy is expended and oxygen needs to be replenished in order to keep the brain working. The animal yawns. This situation can be observed when the cat is, for example, at the vet or in the car.
3. Yawning after a meal. Food that has entered the body begins to be digested, and nutrients enter the bloodstream and are distributed throughout the body, nourishing tissues and organs. The same oxygen is required to increase the rate of blood flow, and the cat begins to yawn.
4. It has been noticed that sometimes the cat yawns by looking at its owner when the latter yawns. It is a copycat reflex, when everybody around starts yawning.

Psychological and physiological reasons

Cat yawning is an uncontrollable process during which a deep inhale and a quick exhale are drawn. Hyperventilation of the lungs increases the oxygen content in the body and stimulates brain function. Normally, blood enrichment is necessary for a number of reasons:

1. "Body Loading. Immediately upon awakening, an immediate activation of all the processes in the body that were significantly slowed down during sleep is required. A deep yawn allows you to quickly raise blood oxygen levels and get rid of excess carbon dioxide.
2. Tactical move. A strange, it would seem, phenomenon can be observed during the hunt. With all the concentration, kittens suddenly begin to yawn. This occurs to dramatically raise the oxygen level in the blood before the subsequent spurt.
3. Readiness for nighttime adventures. Cats yawn in the evening, not because they are drowsy, but to conserve extra energy. Therefore, yawning is just preparation for nighttime activities.

Also, by yawning, animals demonstrate their superiority and dominance in the occupied territory. This is how most members of the feline family behave.