What do you think your pet thinks when they see a mirror?
By guss2000
@guss2000 (2232)
United States
July 5, 2007 1:37pm CST
I'm wondering how other's cats or even dogs react when they look in a mirror. My cats don't really pay attention to mirrors, and I'm wondering if they even notice it? Does your cat or dog do anything particular when looking in a mirror? If my cats can see their reflection, do they know it's themselves they are looking at? My mother in law's dog, barks at the mirror or when she sees her reflection in the glass door. After seeing her dog's reaction, it go me curious about animals and wondering what they might think when they see a mirror.
Thanks for your opinions!
2 people like this
16 responses
@ggggdddd (37)
• United States
5 Jul 07
every cat,and dog behavier is differant, my cat just looks and walked away but, my dog thinks it's another dog he can play with, it's kind alike when she keep chasing her tail, she thinks its something to play with.
@guss2000 (2232)
• United States
6 Jul 07
I have 3 cats, and out of the 3 my one cat Jasmine is the only one that really 'looks' in the mirror. She will stand there and sniff the mirror and sometimes I think she just likes to look at herself. I honestly think she knows that it's her in the mirror, but just likes to 'primp', so to speak.
1 person likes this
@Nykkee (2522)
• Canada
6 Jul 07
When I was young my famil;y had a cat named Gooch. He was black and white, one day we put a red bandana on him, he hated it until we showed him himself in the mirror. He was very impressed and admired himself for a few minutes, he then wore the bandana proudly for 2 weeks until he came home one day without it (he was a cat that went outdoors regularly) abd obviously sad about the lose of it.
1 person likes this
@xenpen (90)
• United States
6 Jul 07
My dogs won't stare at the mirrors long enough to actually see a reflection of themselves and flip out or whatever. But turn the vacuum on, and it's a real laugh riot! They both either freak out, or my husky will start howling if she can't get away. I don't tease them on purpose, but if they don't budge the first time I tell them to move, *VVVVRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOM* *HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWLLLLL*!!!!!
1 person likes this
@jemuelfernandez (53)
• Philippines
6 Jul 07
I think a cat/dog's knowledge evolves just like us. when they see a mirror for the first time, they might think it's another animal, and bark at it. but after some time they might observe the mirror and realize that it's their own reflection. don't underestimate cats / dogs. they can be smart too.
1 person likes this
@guss2000 (2232)
• United States
6 Jul 07
My 3 cats hate the vacuum as well! As soon as I go to use it, they go run and hide. You'd think by now they would know that it's not going to hurt them. I've never tried to suck them up or anything. My one cat will also hide when it's storming out. I never seen a cat do this before, only dogs. Sometimes I wonder if she thinks she is a dog. lol
@xenpen (90)
• United States
6 Jul 07
I don't underestimate any animal. I don't know what gave you that implication. The best part about having a pet is watching them grow and learn, but pets can learn neurotic behaviors just like humans. My husky is very intelligent, but she's not going to like a something that disturbs her with loud noise such as the vacuum. Everyone has likes and dislikes and they don't have to be logical.
1 person likes this
@vicki2876 (5636)
• Canada
5 Jul 07
I just thought of this but my kitty's were just like my childern. When they were babies they would look at the reflection in awe and amazement. They would be puzzled to see someone move the way they did. But as they got older they just look at it without much thought. As so do my cats. They used to react to it but now that they are older they don't seem to care all that much.
1 person likes this
@brianna888 (11)
• United States
5 Jul 07
Some of our cats start batting there paws at there reflection like it is someone else.
It is sooo cute.
I like when they sit on the TV and try to play with the animals on a TV show.
Our cats respond to the sound and motion.
They seem to be confused becasue they cannot get into the TV and the animals do not come out. Another cute thing they do is they get very curious when they hear our voices on a cell phone or phone. They cannot figure out how we fit in the phone is what I think they are thinking.
1 person likes this
@meljessxena (2315)
• Australia
6 Jul 07
my dog is quiet funny when comes to the mirror in my car, the revision mirror, she stands there in middle looking out through the wind screen and she looks up and see this thing looking back at her and she ducks down really quickly and the slowly stands back up to have a look again to see if its still there, in one day she stood there for like 5 minutes doing it. my partner and i were just laughing it was so cute, she still a pup just turning one. but my other dog is 2 and half and he doesnt worry about the mirror just ignores it.
@scribe1 (1203)
• United States
5 Jul 07
I think that a cat can see its reflection in a mirror, but doesn't really care. A few months ago, I held up a mirror in front of Columbus and he just turned his head away. He could have cared less. And if I recall correctly, my poor Tabitha may have shown a slight interest. She was more interested in the light that appeared on the wall when the mirror was held to the light.
1 person likes this
@nicolec (2671)
• United States
5 Jul 07
I really think it depends on the cat, just like it does with a human. My cats aren't very intersted in mirrors either. I've tried, but they just walk away. Isn't that like some humans? There are some who could stand in front of a mirror for hours and others who just look and walk away.
@surveygrrl (1270)
• United States
5 Jul 07
I think my cat sees "another" cat in the mirror. Sometimes I see her attack her reflection in the sliding glass door. It is so funny to watch. Sometimes it is a bug and sometimes she sees her reflection.
So funny that you posted this. I never thought about it before.
We should put up videos of our cats in front of a mirror.
1 person likes this
@guss2000 (2232)
• United States
6 Jul 07
I could take pictures of Jasmine in my mirror on my dresser, but the other 2 hardly ever get up there. I do have a mirror that sits on the floor, but I don't think any of the three have noticed that one or not.
I'm not sure if they've noticed their reflection in the glass or not.
@hinge_me_down (56)
• India
6 Jul 07
all i can think of when the animals look at themselves in the mirror must be "what the f@#k!! ... that was freaky !!"
@minijumbuk (514)
• Australia
6 Jul 07
animals are actually not as dumb as people like to think they are.... My pets usually just ignore the mirror, they know it is only their own reflection and maybe they will look at it for a second or two then look away and continue to do what they were doing before. But sometimes they do have mixed reactions when they see the mirror. for example, when they are high, e.g. chasing the tennis ball or something like that, they will "play " with their reflection, jumping left and right to see their own reflection move, but when they are down and are tired, they tend to just ignor it. It is very different when they see another dog though, they get all excited and start barking and jumping around, wanting to "play attack" on the other dog.....
impossible to control them sometimes =.=
@lean_rose (262)
• Philippines
6 Jul 07
when i saw my dog watching their reflection in a mirror I can't help but to laugh...i think they are asking theirselves who's in the mirror...hehehe
