Using online media to assess mirror self-recognition in domestic cats

In the mirror test of visual self-recognition, if an animal responds to its reflection as its own, rather than as to a novel individual, the animal may have the capacity to recognize itself. Here we explore two permutations of the mirror test on cats by gleaning data from social media. We examine TikTok videos where pet owners show cats reflective images with augmented reality filters; and YouTube videos where cats interact with mirrors. Behavioral sequence analysis revealed little support that cats understand reflective images. Few TikTok cats responded to AR images, and those cats may have responded to other cues, such as human touch. In YouTube videos, cats fell into five behavioral clusters, two which were aggressive, and two which were curious. Even curious cats showed little evidence that they understood mirrors. We discuss whether distinct clusters indicate that cat personality influences how cats respond to their reflections.