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So, one of the best things to ever grace the internet are pictures of cute animals. We’ve already discussed in a previous article the benefits of relieving stress all the while fostering a more positive outlook all because you’re watching pictures of animals being cute.
And, guess what? It works all the same if you’re focusing on a single species. In our case, that’d be cats this time around.
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Scrolling through a sea of cute cat pictures is proven to have all sorts of benefits: it relieves stress, lifts one’s mood, triggers positivity spirals which builds more resilience to negative effects. Heck, it’s even known to improve marital satisfaction.
There were also studies that determined how humans tend to view attractive humans, and by proxy, cute animals, more positively.
Now, all of this is fine and dandy for us, humans, but how does being cute benefit the cats themselves?
Layla Morgan Wilde, cat expert, author, and the founder of Cat Wisdom 101, an award winning catvocacy website that delivers trusted cat content and information, explained to Bored Panda that it’s really all the same to the critters. It’s the humans that deal in cuteness.
“Cuteness is subjective,” explains Layla. “Cats have no concept of being cute or judge other cats for their ‘cuteness’.”
And, realistically, the only benefit cute cats would ever get from this is the aforementioned tendency for humans to view cute cats more positively. So, more cuddles, among several similar things.
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However, all animals ought to be treated equally, regardless of the cuteness factor. And this means tackling all sorts of animal welfare problems, ranging from reporting animal neglect and abuse to adopting not shopping to supporting animal shelters. Even advocacy can go a long way–something Layla has been doing with Cat Wisdom 101 for years now.
“For me, it's about advocating for [trap-neuter, return], anti-puppy/kitten mills and basic anti-cruelty awareness,” elaborated Layla.
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“I wish people would respect the true nature of cats,” continues Layla. “They are cats and not baby substitutes. Most don't want to be dressed up in silly costumes.”
“They are not fully domesticated and benefit from experiencing nature i.e. safe outdoor walks—leash trained or bringing nature indoors (e.g. edible grass, wood scratching posts, seashells, pinecones).”
