Play-fighting or just fighting? New study suggests a rethink on how we play with cats
What many people think of as ‘play’ may not be play at all. In fact, these interactions could cause cats stress.
Recent research challenges the notion that online videos portraying "play" sessions with cats actually reflect enjoyable interactions for feline companions. Contrary to popular belief, these activities may cause cats distress rather than happiness. The study analyzed 1,100 social media comments from YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook videos depicting harmful play sessions with cats.
Although 75-93% of comments were positive, the researchers found that these interactions often resulted in signs of cat distress, such as hissing, biting, attempting to escape, visible human injuries, and even physical harm to the cats themselves.
The study reveals that viewers frequently misinterpreted cat behavior, leading to misguided beliefs about feline communication. Many comments normalised rough handling and reframed signs of stress as excitement or affection. This consensus may stem from cognitive dissonance, where people discard evidence that contradicts their preexisting beliefs.
For example, viewers often believed that if a cat "truly" disliked an interaction, it would leave or cause more serious injury, even though cats often remain in stressful situations as a "freeze" response.
Another common misinterpretation was the idea that rough play is a sign of a cat's enjoyment. In reality, rough play is often overstimulating, causing cats to become defensive rather than playful. The study also found that many viewers believed that cats could distinguish between play and violence, even when the video depicted a baby being injured. However, even socialized cats can become overstimulated quickly and become stressed during interactions, leading to defensive injuries.
The findings suggest that regular interactive play, when done correctly, is beneficial for cats' physical health, reduces stress, and strengthens the human–cat bond. However, when play sessions turn harmful, they can damage trust between cats and their owners. Therefore, it is essential to recognize and respect cats' stress signals to ensure their well-being during playtime.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
