Can We Recognise Stress in Our Cats? What Science Reveals

Your cat is still. They are not meowing, trying to escape or making an obvious fuss. They seem to be watching what is happening. Are they comfortable?

Perhaps. But that scene alone cannot give us a reliable answer.

Understanding a cat takes more than matching a posture to an emotion. Context, combinations of signals and changes from their usual behaviour all matter. A study published in Scientific Reports in March 2026 offers a useful starting point for discussing that difficulty without blaming caregivers or treating cats as impossible to understand.

The helpful question is not “Do I understand my cat perfectly?” It is “What can I observe before deciding what to do?”

What did the study investigate?

d’Ingeo and colleagues investigated how people recognised three feline behavioural states from visual information: relaxed, tense and fearful. Initially, 1,950 people aged 6 to 83 took part. They classified 12 silent videos, four per category, each lasting three seconds. [1]

Two veterinary behaviourists selected the clips using visible indicators such as body posture, facial expression and tail position. The reference categories were based on that behavioural assessment, not a direct measurement of each cat’s subjective feelings.

Seventeen records were excluded because demographic information was incomplete, leaving 1,933 participants. The final statistical model included 1,922. The 11 participants who identified as non-binary were not included in the inferential analysis because that small number did not allow reliable estimation of gender-related effects.

54% accuracy, but in what task?

Overall accuracy was reported as 54%. With three response options, the chance-level reference was approximately 33%.

Descriptive accuracy was 67% for clips categorised as relaxed and 49% for both tense and fearful clips.

An important qualification: the adjusted model did not find a statistically significant main effect of behavioural category on accuracy. Those descriptive percentages should therefore not be presented as proof that people are better at recognising relaxation than fear.

The finding does not mean that we understand only 54% of our cats’ emotions. It describes performance in one specific task: classifying brief, silent clips into three predefined categories. It does not measure how well you understand your own cat during everyday life. [1]

Experience was associated with accuracy, not guaranteed understanding

Previous cat ownership was associated with a higher probability of a correct answer. The model also found associations with reported gender and age: participants identifying as female had higher accuracy than those identifying as male, and accuracy decreased slightly with age.

These are associations within this sample and task. They do not establish their causes, determine an individual’s ability or justify stereotypes. Nor do they show that living with cats automatically teaches us to interpret every signal correctly. [1]

What are the limits?

Twelve clips cannot represent every cat, situation or form of communication. Watching three silent seconds is different from living with an animal whose usual behaviour you know.

Participation was voluntary, with recruitment through social media and an outreach event. The authors note possible self-selection: people with a particular interest in cats may have been more likely to participate.

Viewing conditions were not those of a controlled laboratory. The authors suggest future research into factors such as screen size and viewing distance.

The reasonable conclusion is that this visual classification task was challenging. It is not that people are incapable of understanding cats. [1]

Observing body language without an emotion dictionary

The practical guidance in this section draws on AAFP/ISFM professional guidelines, not on the 2026 experiment.

The 2022 interaction guidelines emphasise observing the cat’s response and adapting handling to the individual. They replace the 2011 handling guidelines. The environmental needs guidelines also highlight familiarity, predictability and a sense of control over interactions. [2] [3]

For everyday observation, we suggest this editorial sequence:

1. Look at the whole picture. Observe posture, face, ears, eyes, tail and movement together. One isolated signal is not enough to assign a definite emotion.
2. Consider the situation. Ask what is happening nearby and what has changed: an approaching person, a noise, handling or an unfamiliar setting.
3. Compare with their usual behaviour. Describe what your cat is doing differently without turning that change into a diagnosis.
4. Adjust your interaction. If your cat tries to move away, do not insist on contact. Where safe, give them space and an opportunity to withdraw.
5. Keep observing. Responses can change during an interaction. Accepting initial contact does not mean wanting it to continue.

This sequence is not a validated stress scale. It is an editorial way of organising observation around the guidelines’ principles. The interaction guidelines mainly concern veterinary settings; this application to home life is an adaptation, not a tested protocol. [2, 3]

Being still does not prove comfort

The 2011 handling guidelines warn that silence and lack of movement do not rule out anxiety or pain. The 2022 guidelines also discuss inhibition and freezing as possible responses to fear. [4] [2]

This does not mean every motionless cat is frightened. It means that an absence of protest is not enough to conclude that a cat is comfortable. Look at the rest of the body, the context and their response to what you are doing.

Before exploring, learn to observe

At GAT, we believe curiosity is not an obligation to go further.

For first steps outdoors, our editorial principle is simple: do not treat a lack of resistance as proof that a cat is ready. Observing, pausing and respecting an attempt to withdraw makes more sense than chasing a set distance or duration.

This application to exploration is our editorial interpretation of professional principles. The 2026 study did not investigate walks, harness training or readiness to go outside.

A shorter experience is not a failure. Choosing to stay indoors is not a failure either.

When to ask your vet

A behavioural change alone cannot distinguish stress from pain, illness or other causes. If changes persist, recur or raise concerns about pain or illness, speak to your vet. You do not need to wait for an intense reaction before discussing a concern. [2, 3]

Describe what you observed, when it began and what was happening around your cat. If you already have a video captured without provoking or prolonging the situation, ask whether it could help the assessment.

Better understanding starts with fewer assumptions

The study does not give us a grade as caregivers. It reminds us that interpreting brief visual signals can be difficult.

Professional guidance offers a more useful response than searching for instant certainty: pay attention, adapt the interaction and respect the individual.

At GAT, that is the foundation of any adventure. Before deciding where to go, learn to observe the cat beside you.

Continue with Understanding Your Cat in the Explorer’s Hub, or browse the research collection in What Science Says.

Preparing for the next step

If you are considering outdoor experiences, start with observation rather than equipment. Our guide Is My Cat Ready To Explore Outside? 7 Signs to Look For offers questions to consider, not a diagnostic test or a guarantee of readiness.

For a gradual introduction to wearing a harness, continue with How to Harness Train a Cat Without Stress. When choosing equipment, you can browse our Cat Harnesses and Cat Carriers collections and review the specifications of each option.

A harness or carrier does not replace preparation, observation or veterinary advice. The study discussed here did not test any GAT product or establish that equipment reduces stress. Staying indoors remains a valid choice.

Frequently asked questions

Does the study show that we understand only 54% of cats’ emotions?

No. That percentage refers to classifying 12 brief, silent videos into three categories. It does not measure general understanding of cats or a caregiver’s relationship with their cat.

Does owning cats guarantee that you recognise stress?

No. Previous ownership was associated with higher accuracy in this task, but the study does not show that living with cats guarantees correct interpretation.

Is a still cat relaxed?

Not necessarily. Stillness can also occur as part of inhibition. Consider the whole picture and context; equally, not all stillness indicates fear.

Can I identify stress from ears or tail position alone?

Not with certainty. These signals can provide information, but should not be interpreted in isolation or used as a diagnosis.

Can this study tell me whether my cat is ready to go outside?

No. It did not investigate readiness for walks. The application to first outdoor steps is editorial, not an experimental finding.

Sources and references

1. d’Ingeo, S., Nolè, M., Straziota, V., Lavopa, A., Quaranta, A. and Siniscalchi, M. (2026). Human recognition of feline stress-related behavioral states from visual cues depends on observer characteristics. Scientific Reports, 16, 14891. DOI and original publication. PubMed record.
2. Rodan, I., Dowgray, N. and colleagues (2022). 2022 AAFP/ISFM Cat Friendly Veterinary Interaction Guidelines: Approach and Handling Techniques. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 24(11), 1093–1132. Full text.
3. Ellis, S. L. H. and colleagues (2013). AAFP and ISFM Feline Environmental Needs Guidelines. Full text.
4. Rodan, I. and colleagues (2011). AAFP and ISFM Feline-Friendly Handling Guidelines. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 13(5), 364–375. Cited as background; replaced by the 2022 interaction guidelines. Full text.

Educational content, not a substitute for veterinary assessment. All images, including the cover, are AI-generated illustrations. They are not study footage and cannot establish a cat’s emotional state.