Scientists from the University of Lincoln in the United Kingdom conducted a study of how owners perceive the emotional states of dogs and cats. A survey of more than 400 owners showed that people recognise significantly more emotions — both basic and complex — in dogs than in cats.
Specialists in cognitive neuroscience and animal behaviour asked participants questions about six basic emotions: anger, disgust, fear, joy, sadness and surprise. In addition, they examined sixteen complex emotions, including amusement, anxiety, boredom, confusion, curiosity, disappointment, embarrassment, empathy, frustration, grief, guilt, jealousy, love, pain, positive anticipation and pride.
The results confirmed that owners observe a far broader range of emotions in their pets than had previously been documented. At the same time, secondary emotions were more often noted in dogs rather than in cats. The study's charts clearly demonstrate the difference in perception: the blue bars for dogs are noticeably higher than the yellow bars for cats across most complex states.
The authors emphasise the practical significance of the work: understanding the emotional world of dogs and cats serves as a basis for caring for their mental health and overall well-being. The findings open up opportunities for further empirical research aimed at validating specific emotional expressions in these species.
The study was published on 28 October 2026 and has already attracted the attention of the veterinary community. It helps explain why many owners intuitively sense the mood of dogs better than that of cats, and highlights the need to take individual differences in emotion perception into account when caring for animals.
