can cats smile

Cats do not smile in the same way humans do. They lack the facial muscle movements to show happiness by smiling with their mouths. Instead, cats express contentment and happiness through other subtle behaviors such as narrowing their eyes, slowly blinking, purring, kneading, and relaxed body language. Sometimes a cat's resting mouth shape may look like a smile, but it doesn't signify happiness. Baring teeth in cats usually indicates defensiveness or threat, not a smile. A slow blink or narrowed eyes in cats is often the closest equivalent to a human smile, signaling trust and relaxation. Overall, cats communicate happiness more through body language and vocalizations rather than a visible smile with their mouth.