it’s more that what we perceive may be not what animals feel, especially as cute behaviors get them more attention, it’s self-reinforcing.
a cat may look like they’re having an existential crisis but may be feeling an emotion humans don’t have, like “ready to hunt but need to conserve limited energy while remaining very alert”
a dog may look happy but actually is upset and hungry so is doing the thing that gets them the treat
it’s more that what we perceive may be not what animals feel, especially as cute behaviors get them more attention, it’s self-reinforcing.
a cat may look like they’re having an existential crisis but may be feeling an emotion humans don’t have, like “ready to hunt but need to conserve limited energy while remaining very alert”
a dog may look happy but actually is upset and hungry so is doing the thing that gets them the treat