How do cats know where their own body is if not through mirrors?

Cats don't recognize themselves in mirrors, as they lack self-awareness, a trait only observed in a few species like great apes, dolphins, and elephants, and typically measured by the mirror self-recognition test. Instead, cats navigate their bodies through a sophisticated sense of proprioception, an internal "body map" that tracks their limbs and torso in space. This is complemented by tactile feedback from their fur and whiskers, allowing them to groom and contort their bodies with remarkable precision without visual cues. Their brain processes this constant stream of sensory information to maintain a coherent understanding of their physical self. Discover more about your cat's incredible senses in our full article.