No Stupid Questions

I don't know exactly what cats think, if anything. I've been yawning around cats for 35 years now and not a one has acted like that was a threat. They yawn too so I I think they get it.

My cat doesn't even seem concerned about getting stepped on by the big clumsy oaf she lives with, let alone eaten. She's seen the things I eat and they look nothing like her. I'm not a threat, I'm a self-heating cushion with built-in can opener to her.

House cats at least, felis catus, seem to genuinely enjoy the companionship of humans. Mine will follow me around the house and sit next to/on me. She sleeps next to my pillow every night.

Oddly, cats often look at yawning as a relaxation cue. Creatures that yawn are not under stress, and a cat seeing you yawn can help regulate it's mood

I don't remember where I heard it, but basically dogs do understand that they and their humans are different species, but think you're their leader/master because you provide food and shelter.

But cats are different - they do not understand that they are a different species to their human - they basically think that you are a big strange bald cat. That's why they don't fear you (because cats mostly don't eat other cats) and that's why they sometimes bring mice or some kind of food to you: they think you fucked up on a hunt or something, so they bring you "food" so you do not die.

Cats can definately see that we are much larger than them, but don't think they are threatend by us, we mostly act predictably, we grow to understand them and their needs.

As for yawning, cats yawn as well, and that doesn't signal an attack.

A cat express their emotion primarily through their ears and secondarily through their tail.

We don't have as expressive ears, nor a a tail, true, but we act in different ways which a cat can learn and feel comfortable with.

This applies to cats of average or above intelligence. There are a few dumb cats that have about as much awareness as a tater.

I've never had a shelter or bred cat. Instead, they just appear from the outside, get found in a parking lot, or sometimes materialize and no one knows where they came from. They get cleaned up and shots, chip, and fixed.

Some cats will get their prey/play drive mixed up and snap on you unexpectedly. Almost like they're startled but it's internal, they will often be 'apologetic' or confused afterwards. Some cats are worse about this than others and you shouldn't wrestle or play rough with this kind using your hands, toys only.

And, yes. Cats are absolutely aware of the size and power differential. They're always watching it at some level. Trust must be earned and often slowly built. Had one cat knock down a stack of pans and run behind me for protection. Some cats dislike being laughed at and it can cause aggression or cause retreat.

A cat's love is transactional to a high degree, they're lazy psychos that can learn friendship through trust. They love the comfort of you as much as they actually love you. They mimic affection and scheme a lot more than most people would like to think.

All cats are bad, it's what makes them so great to have in your life.

My cat doesn't have any thoughts

You know they'll eat us if we die and they're hungry right? https://www.science.org/content/article/yes-your-pet-might-eat-your-corpse-s-problem-investigators

Still, some pet owners might take comfort in knowing that their bodies could help their lonely, hungry animals. “If it kept my old golden retriever going after I died,” Byard says, “I’d be quite happy for it to have a feed.”

I'm right with you Byard.

From what I know cats see us as part of their tribe.

my cat definitely thinks yawning = ready to provide pets but she also thinks everything else I do indicates readiness to provide pets so idk

I’ll use my mind reader and let you know