Can Cats Understand TV?

When I sit down to watch a nature documentary or sports, I occasionally find my cat Boo next to me with her attention fixed on the TV screen.

While she might seem like she's enjoying the show, does she really comprehend what's happening on-screen? Or is she just following a colorful moving blob without really understanding?

Cats watching TV is a recent phenomenon that’s adorable, but not well understood. Here's a look at what we know about cats watching TV.

The most common sign your cat is watching TV is they'll stare, with their head will follow moving objects on-screen. This behavior is especially obvious when watching prey animals like birds and mice on-screen. 

You can test this out by sticking on a Youtube video for cats. These videos usually feature fast moving birds, cats, and mice. They’re a great way to keep your cat entertained. 

Your cat may also chirp when watching. Cats usually chirp in excitement when they see a bird while staring out the window. Your cat might chirp if they see something they think of as prey on your TV.

Another common sign your cat is watching TV is pawing and scratching. Your cat may paw at your TV screen out of curiosity or because they want to hunt. Just make sure your cat doesn't scratch your screen!

A cat wagging their tail might also be a sign they're watching TV. Cats use their tail to convey emotions, including excitement and playfulness. 

Televisions are rarely new to cats, as they were only invented in the 1920s. As a result, cats don't have a long history of watching TV. But that doesn't mean it's not well documented. 

A quick search on the internet and you'll find dozens of videos of cats watching television. Cats have likely been watching television for decades, but improved TV screens and documentation mean this hilarious phenomenon is now recognized worldwide. 

The reason why cats watch TV isn't well studied. Cats have excellent eyesight, so they recognize shapes and motions on screen, which keeps them interested in watching. 

Cone cells in a cat's eye help them see in color and judge distance and speed. These cells allow your cat to recognize bright colors and judge movement, even if they're on a TV screen. 

A cat's sense of hearing plays a role in watching TV. Cats have one of the widest hearing ranges among mammals, and can hear up to three times further than humans. They even hear better than dogs. A cat’s acute sense of hearing means they can identify noises from nature on the TV. 

Some studies believe TVs act as a "false window" for cats. Like aquariums, your cat may understand what's images on a TV, but they don't realize that it's inaccessible and not real. 

Cats don't think the same way we do. While cats are smart, they're not clever enough to comprehend television. Instead of watching something for the joy of it, they're likely more interested in hunting or chasing whatever objects on-screen out of instinct.

It's not really possible to train your cat to watch television. Cats are harder to train than dogs and less likely to watch TV on command. It's hard to encourage your cat to watch TV as they're free-spirited and go where they please. Cats have short attention spans and usually lose interest in the television after a few minutes. 

That said, you can try to train your cat to watch TV sometimes with positive reinforcement. Put on some cat-friendly TV, like a documentary on big cats or a video of birds, and position them towards the screen. 

Praise your cat when they pay attention to the TV and even give them a small treat as a reward. This may encourage your cat to watch TV with you in the future. 

While it's funny to see your cat watching TV, you might want to avoid this behavior. The more excited your cat gets at what's on TV, the more likely they will pounce at or scratch the screen, damaging an expensive piece of equipment.

Got more questions about your cat’s behavior? Chat with a veterinary expert to get answers about your pet’s quirks, health and more!