this post was submitted on 01 Dec 2023
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Do you think your cat watches you change clothes assuming you shed skin regularly?

My cat tries cleaning my shirt sleeves along with my actual arms.

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[–] dandroid@dandroid.app 45 points 11 months ago (3 children)

I honestly don't think my cat thinks at all. If she does, she's not very good at it.

[–] JoShmoe@ani.social 5 points 11 months ago

If only she knew what you thought of her.

[–] TheBest@midwest.social 2 points 11 months ago
[–] Ziglin@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago

I know someone like that...

[–] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 25 points 11 months ago

Nah, I think they usually understand clothes.

Think about it, they'll gladly crawl under blankets and such for extra warmth/comfort. They understand the basic idea that things that are like fabric keep you warmer.

I think them watching us is more about the entertaining motions we make more than any kind of confusion about what we're doing it.

Besides, I've had cats that would find a recently "shed" skin and drag it into their bed and curl up with it. Dogs too, but that's a different subject. That points to them knowing that the fabric is a separate thing from us. They don't typically go and drag snake skins over themselves to get extra insulation. Nor loose feathers.

But you're right, they'll treat clothes as being worthy of cleaning when on us, so I also doubt they fully understand exactly what the deal is. It's just that I doubt they think they're part of our body.

[–] Rocketpoweredgorilla@lemmy.ca 21 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

One of my cats keeps trying to eat the buttons off my shirts, so... I hope not?

[–] JoShmoe@ani.social 11 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Maybe they think they’re doing you a favor

[–] EmergMemeHologram@startrek.website 15 points 11 months ago

Oh god, oh fuck, human lost a nipple again, hide the evidence

[–] ryannathans@aussie.zone 13 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Mine understands no claws or teeth on skin, but on thick clothing is not a problem. Never get scratched, never tries to lick my clothing. So no I don't think so

[–] CaptnNMorgan@reddthat.com 8 points 11 months ago

Different cats probably think differently about this, sounds like you have a smart cat

[–] Boozilla@lemmy.world 13 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Are you saying we are Snake People?

Because looking around, I believe it.

[–] JoShmoe@ani.social 8 points 11 months ago

No. However its possible that cats gossip that we are.

[–] ExfilBravo@lemmy.world 10 points 11 months ago (1 children)
[–] JoShmoe@ani.social 3 points 11 months ago
[–] Granixo@feddit.cl 9 points 11 months ago

Yes hooman. 🐱

[–] livus@kbin.social 9 points 11 months ago

I don't think so.

  • both skin and clothes should be regularly washed

  • grooming fulfils a social function so the important part is carried out even if the grooming itself is ineffectual

  • cats happily appropriate discarded clothing and sleep on it

[–] skip0110@lemm.ee 5 points 11 months ago

I have no idea what cats think, but when talking to them I refer to clothes as “fur,” so I guess I’m assuming they don’t know the difference.