Can cats be jealous and plan a revolution? In the past, there was a lot of resistance to the idea that animals have emotions. However, MRI machines that track changes in the brain as we think and feel have revealed they do.
Scientists are still exploring exactly how emotions work because it’s a complex puzzle. There are disagreements on how to define emotions, how they work in terms of brain chemistry and whether there is such a thing as universal emotions for humans.
We know that brain chemicals are important. For example, dopamine is linked to excitement and reward-seeking in humans. Studies show that cats', dogs', rats' and other animals' brains work the same way too.
Cat lovers have known for centuries that careful selective breeding produced sweet, pampered Persians and clever Siamese, but now studies are honing in on the actual genes that shape character.
Decades of research also show that animals share complex emotions. Cats, rats, dogs, crows, elephants and other animals often help each other out, displaying altruism.
Chimpanzees, elephants, lions and other animals kill for political gain.
But studying it remains a challenge. Just think: is your human boss yelling because he’s angry or afraid or frustrated?
Similarly, is your cat tearing up your toilet roll because she thinks it’s fun or because she’s bored? Or both? Or neither?
Also, there is no one way to express any one emotion. One human may reveal jealousy by sulking, another with anger and a third by crying.
And as every cat lover knows, our furry friends are just as complex.
