Some people who surf the internet search for an answer to the question “why are cats so cute?”
The question is probably incorrect. The question should be “why are kittens so cute?” Even as a person who loves cats and all animals I cannot agree that adult cats are in general cute. For me, a better description would be “impressive” or “attractive”. Cuteness is the domain of the kitten because they are universally cute. Why?
It is mostly about appearance. People are fascinated with appearance from homes to cars to refrigerators. For the majority of people, the appearance of something is more important than its function. For me, incidentally, function is more important than form.
The kitten is very small and very vulnerable. She has big round eyes of blue that stare at you and ask for comfort and protection. Then she wobbles about the place making you feel even more protective. Finally she opens her mouth and squeaks. Cute overload.
The kitten is cute for the same reason the baby is cute. Although not all babies are cute! Although, babies are precious and kittens are always dainty when very young but soon move out of the dainty phase into the destructive phase.
I would say that kitten cuteness comes from 80% appearance, 10% behavior, 10% vocalisations. You may well disagree with that.
Some cats keep their cute appearance all their lives. The sort of cat breeds that are more likely to maintain a high cuteness factor are:
- Traditional Persians (it is impossible to call the flat-faced Persian “cute” more “odd”).
- Devon Rex – little elfin face.
- Dwarf cats particularly the Munchkin.
- Australian Tiffanie – pretty as a picture all the time.
There are others, of course, including individual random bred cats. If an adult cat retains the cuteness factor it is down to facial appearance. A round face with large eyes combined with an expression that says, “I need your love” is guaranteed to push the human mothering button. And it is that button, the parenting and caring instinct in humans that needs to be pushed for a cat to be cute.
You will find that cat breeders often breed for large round eyes. Is this creating cuteness and therefore attractiveness leading to sales? I don’t know if cat breeders are that thoughtful about the process. Can a breeder comment on that?
Dangers?
There are a couple of dangers in finding kittens cute:
- Kittens become cats and as I said cats aren’t necessarily cute – more beautiful, amusing and impressive. If a person adopts a kitten because she is cute will the person keep the kitten for the life of the cat? It’s a danger.
- People can tend to anthropomorphize kittens to babies. This is not good in my opinion. People should see cats as cats, respect their innate abilities and lifestyle. There is a real danger in seeing cats as babies. One of them is that it encourages declawing. There are others.
Because we are superficial idiots 😉 – the human race I mean. Present company definitely excepted.
I think it sounds like a silly thing too – unless its for the mother cat to remain attracted to her kittens or something along those lines. Cute is a human concept but really it is the view of love. Calling it cute is one of many ways you can call it. If you love an older cat or person or thing even it may look cute to you if thats the description you choose. You might also call it ‘perfect’. So then what is love? Why do we love kittens without any effort yet older cats not?
Well said. I love all cats of all types and all ages absolutely equally. If I have a glimmer of favoritism it is for the least popular, the most unwanted and least desirable cat.
I love cats of all ages and cannot understand why people want rid of them when they grow up, my 13 year old is unwell and on medication which is very hard to get down her neck but she is still sweet and I’m dreading her end,even though I have 3 younger ones. Now i have what is like a small lion which i always wanted lol.I call him my runaway siberian cat as thats what he looks like. they are so suited to humans as pets I love em !!
Point made. “Cute” is a personal concept. What I find cute might not be what you find cute.
Are you saying that the person said that nature has designed the kitten to be cute to protect the kitten and make survival easier? Not sure that is correct because “cute” is a human concept only. I don’t think a kitten’s survival is entirely dependent on people.