Copy Cats: How Cats Learn and Mimic Behaviours

Compared to dogs, cats are more mysterious and subtle in expressing their thoughts, emotions and actions. Many believe that cats cannot be trained, but cats are actually capable of learning behaviours and skills through observation and mimicry, particularly from other cats and even humans.

The intelligence and memory of cats enables them to copy a variety of actions, though their motivations differ from dogs. Cats primarily learn from watching fellow felines, especially when young but even as adults, which shapes many of their social and personal behaviours.

In this article, we explore seven fascinating behaviours cats can learn through mimicry, helping owners better understand and enrich their cats’ lives.

1. Grooming: Learning Cleanliness Through Observation

Cats are famously fastidious about personal hygiene, spending large parts of the day grooming. Kittens learn to groom themselves by watching their mothers and siblings. In cases where kittens are hand-reared, they may delay proper grooming until they observe other cats cleaning themselves.

In multi-cat households, you may notice one cat grooming, followed shortly by others, a clear example of imitation reinforcing grooming habits and social bonds.

2. Hunting: Teaching Prey Skills

While a cat’s prey drive is instinctive, the techniques of hunting can be learned. Queens (mother cats) share hunting strategies with their kittens, who learn by watching and playing. This learned mimicry of stalking, pouncing and capturing is crucial for skill development in wild and domestic cats alike.

3. Yawning: Contagious Communication Across Species

Yawning is known to be contagious not only among humans but across species, including cats. If one cat yawns, others in the vicinity will often follow, suggesting this mimicry may help alleviate stress or reinforce social cohesion.

4. Vocalisations: Expanding Feline Communication

Some cat breeds, such as Bengal and Siamese, are naturally more vocal. Cats usually use vocalisations mainly to communicate with humans rather than with other cats. However, if you introduce a more vocal cat into a household, other cats may mimic these vocal cues, expanding their own repertoire of sounds to interact with people.

5. Play: Learning Social and Hunting Skills

Play behaviour is important for mental and physical stimulation. A playful cat can positively influence less active companions by encouraging involvement in games, stalking toys or imaginary prey. This mimicry promotes exercise and engagement, beneficial to overall wellbeing.

6. Respecting Personal Space: Mimicking Territorial Awareness

Cats are curious but also respectful of territories and personal space. They learn these boundaries by observing how other cats behave around beds, food bowls, and preferred resting places. This mimicry keeps peace in multi-cat households and facilitates social harmony.

7. Imitation of Human Actions: Beyond Feline Mimicry

Recent studies prove that some cats can learn to imitate human actions. For example, a cat named Ebisu was trained using the "Do as I do" method to copy behaviours like touching or rubbing objects. Such abilities reveal cats’ surprising capacity for social learning beyond their species and highlight their bond with humans.

Understanding these mimicry behaviours can help owners enrich their cat’s environment through interactive play, positive social interactions and patient training, leading to a happier, more fulfilled feline companion.

To adopt your next cat or kitten responsibly, always look for reputable breeders or consider rescue options that prioritise the well-being of cats and promote ethical ownership.