Can a cat see itself in a mirror?
This cute video proves that cats cannot see themselves in a mirror. They see another cat.
Does this mean that cats are unable to be self aware? This cute Siamese type cat (probably a Balinese) has great fun looking at his reflection in the large mirror but he is not seeing himself in my opinion. If you disagree please tell me.
I can tell this because he is treating the cat in the mirror as another cat by adopting a defensive position with an arched back and prancing around sideways on to look bigger. This is classic kitten play. This is how kittens play with other cats and dogs. I suppose it is self-training for the time when he or she will genuinely have to take up a defensively aggressive stance when confronting and invading, alien cat.
For me this proves that cats are not self aware or self-conscious. I think you’ll find that cat experts agree. This is not to say all animals are unable to be self aware. Dr John Bradshaw, BA PhD a well-known cat expert and the author of Cat Sense says:
“So far, science has yet to reveal any evidence for self-awareness in cats, or even dogs..”