3 Ways Your Cat Manipulates You

“You haven’t lived until you’ve been owned by a cat.” At least, that’s what they say. 

If you haven’t heard this phrase before, it refers to house cats acting like a boss to their humans. Any cat person can confirm that cats enjoy being the king of the jungle (the living room) and their humans as humble servants.

The funny thing is, humans act like private butlers to their cats. You might think it's because you love them and want to provide for them, but in fact, your cat is controlling you. Here are 3 ways your cat manipulates you:

1. Meowing Like a Baby

Did you know cats meow only to humans? That’s because it’s a completely separate cat language reserved solely for communicating with humans. 

And since it’s only reserved for humans, they adjust the tone of the meow to signal what they want. A quick and soft meow generally means "hello." 

But a high-pitched, annoying meow that grows louder the more you ignore it means "Give me food" or "I want affection."

So how do cats use meowing to manipulate you? The secret lies in the high tone. Cats have evolved to mimic the sound of a baby’s cry. 

This high-pitched sound triggers the same part of our brain that lights up when we hear a baby cry, making us respond with urgency. So when someone tells you your cat isn’t a baby, just remind them it surely acts like one.

2. Purring 

Growing up, many believed that a cat’s purring meant they were happy and relaxed. But recent findings show that cats also purr when they’re stressed or anxious. This leads us to an interesting behaviour known as "solicitation purring". 

Cats combine purring with a meow that mimics the sound of a crying baby, increasing the likelihood of us responding quickly to their needs.

When your cat wants something, whether it's affection, food, or play, they start purring and brushing up against your leg. If ignored, they’ll escalate the behaviour by jumping on your lap, headbutting your hands, or even lying on your keyboard. 

And what do you do? Probably pet them, right?

3. With Their Face Shape

Cats actually manipulate you with their cuteness. Small nose, round face, big round eyes. Does it remind you of something else that looks like this and is cute? If you thought of a baby, you guessed right. 

This phenomenon is called the "baby scheme." Adult cats share the same facial characteristics as babies, which makes us view them as “cute” and feel an instinctive need to care for them.

But why does this work for us? Our brains are wired to react strongly to baby-like features. This instinct comes from an evolutionary trait designed to make us care for human babies, ensuring their survival. 

Since cats share these features, our brains naturally respond with the same sense of nurturing. This makes it harder to resist their cuteness. 

This is why your cat looks even cuter when its pupils dilate. It triggers that protective instinct in you, compelling you to shower them with love.

The Bottom Line

Even though cats are master manipulators, they don’t do most of these things on purpose. Over time, these behaviours have become so ingrained that they’ve evolved into instincts. So rest assured, your little feline is just being a cat.