Can Pets Recognize Their Own Reflection?

Ever Wonder What Happens When a Pet Sees Itself in the Mirror? Some will bark or hiss, others will ignore it, while a couple may even play with their reflection. But does that mean they identify as such?

The reflection recognition of pets has always been an interesting topic for animal owners, as well as animal scientists since the last century. This article will look at the research on mirror image perception in animals — including whether or not your pet can recognize itself — and at what mirror self-recognition means about an animal's intelligence and behaviour.

🔍 What Is Self-Recognition?

This means knowing that you are you, that you are a human being different from everyone around you. The ability to take in signals (self awareness) is the hallmark of higher intelligence.

The "Mirror Test" was created in 1970 by psychologist Gordon Gallup, and is used by scientists to find out if animals have the ability to recognize themselves. The classic test occurs when a marker is placed on an area of an animal's body that it can only view in a reflection. If the animal looks in the mirror, and then examines or touches the mark, it indicates that the animal knows the reflection in the mirror is itself.

🐶 How Do Different Pets React to Mirrors?

However, not all species respond in the same way to their reflection. Some will guess that it is some other animal, others ignore completely. So how do our common pets act when they see a mirror?

The response of dogs: is it confusion, playfulness, or indifference?

The nickname refers to the very idea of recognizing one self, as in the mirror test, in which most dogs fail, which is to say therein they do not identify the reflection in the mirror as "self." Instead, they respond differently:

✔Barking or growlingSome dogs consider their reflection another dog and react aggressively or excitedly.

✔ Attempted play — Pups and playful dogs may jump or paw at the mirror, believing their reflection is a new friend to play with.

✔ Ignoring it – The adult dog loses interest because they know that the reflection can not respond with smell or sound.

🔹 Why dogs don’t know (recognize) themself?

We rely on sight, dogs rely on smell. Since the reflection won't smell like other real dogs, they could catch onto that fact quickly.

Cats: Curious and Cautious

When it comes to seeing their reflection, cats react differently than dogs:

✔ Puffed-out fur & hissing – A reflection is another cat, right?

✔ Curious stares and deliberate dismissal – Some cats will slowly approach the mirror, attempting to comprehend their reflection.

✔ Not acknowledging it at all — Cats become bored instead, and many will eventually learn this "other cat" never responds with scent or sound.

🔹 The cats can recognize or know themselves?

Unlike dogs, cats depend on smells and touch more than sight. Typically, they do not recognize themselves, because their reflection does not smell like a real cat and does not act like a real cat.

Birds: Aggressive or Social?

Mirrors tend to trigger an intense response in birds. Their responses include:

✔ Mercedez-Banz attacks — Many birds attack their reflection, believing it to be another bird invading their territory.

✔ Chitchatting or singing — Parrots and other talking birds may have a "conversation" with their reflection, mistaking it for a fellow bird.

✔ Grooming or preening – the bird thinks its found a partner, some courtship behavior

Do Birds Recognize Themselves?

Few have passed the mirror test, only certain birds like magpies and pigeons. Whether a bird understands its own reflection is another thing, but just like a human being, most birds simply think their reflection is another bird.

Rabbits and Guinea Pigs and Little Pets — Surprised or Unconcerned?

When it comes to small animals like rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs and so forth, they tend to either react in one of two ways,

✔ Flight or flap-dash – Their reflection may be perceived as a threat.

✔ Indifference – For some small pets, the novelty wears off fast when they realize that the interacting reflection doesn't come out to play.

🔹 Do small pets see themselves in a mirror?

No, they do not exhibit mirror self-awareness. They are typically instinctual responses.

Fish: Aggressive and territorial 

✔ Some fish are highly aggressive when they see their own reflection, thinking it is an enemy.

✔ The fins of a Betta fish (Siamese fighting fish) will flare when he sees a mirror because he thinks he is looking at another male.

✔ Some fish will eventually become indifferent to their own reflection.

🔹 Do fish have self-awareness?

Some fish also demonstrate varying degrees of self-awareness — cleaner wrasse, for example, have recently been shown to recognize themselves in a mirror (opens in a new tab) — but most fish don’t really get what a mirror is.

Animals Who Have Passed the Mirror Test

Though few pets are privy to the concept of self-identification, some species have indeed passed the mirror test, including:

✔ Nonhuman primates (great apes [chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas and orangutans])

✔ Dolphins

✔ Elephants

✔ Magpies

✔ Certain types of fish (e.g., cleaner wrasse)

These animals exhibit characteristics of self-awareness which is a hallmark of intelligence.

🧐 Why Don’t Most Pets Recognize Their Reflection?

There are various explanations as to why pets do not pass the mirror test:

Their Other Senses are More Useful than Sight

Dogs and cats (and small pets) are more driven by smell/sound/touch than sight. A reflection does not have an odor and it does not move, so they do not identify it with themselves.

Mirrors Do Not Belong in Nature

Mirrors are not something animals come across in the wild. Because their reflections do not behave as true critters would, most pets either disregard them or adopt a defensive posture.

I Was Another Animal To Them

When our pets first see a reflection, they have a tendency to think it is another animal, and exhibit playful, curious, or confrontational behaviors.

The Signs Of Self Awareness Depends On The Species

However, only a few clever creatures like apes and dolphins have actually demonstrated mirror self-awareness. Most pets lack this ability.

🧠 Do Pets Have Any Sense of Self?

While pets may not relate to mirrors the same way you do, they know who they are in other ways:

✔ Dogs know their own smell — In a classic study termed the "Sniff Test of Self-Recognition," it was determined that dogs identify their own urinary odor more than that of other canines.

✔ Cats know you and other things based because they are a little similar to us — although cats fail the mirror test, they are nonetheless very social and bond with owners, remembering their faces and scents.

✔ Pets respect boundaries; for the most part, most pets have a measure of their bodies they are capable of taking up (and they also know how big they are going through places).

Thus, while pets may not look into a mirror and think, "that's me," they do recognize themselves as distinct beings in their environment.

How to Use Mirrors for Your Pet Enrichment 

Pets may not know what they are looking at, but mirrors can be a source of entertainment and mental stimulation:

✔ For cats and dogs – Play with your pet in front of a mirror and pay attention to their response. Movement is nice to look at for some, and a very fast click for others.

✔ For Birds – Some pet birds like a little mirror, but they are just that, a substitute companion. But if they turn hostile then you go with take it down.

✔ For fish — A mirror offers temporary enrichment, but frequent access may lead to stress (Image credit: prosiaczeq).

✔ For little creatures: most likely some rabbits or guinea pigs will examine a reflecting surface but normally do not do a lot.

As always, watch your pet for the sign and take the mirror away if it becomes too stressful.

Final Thoughts: Can Pets Recognize Their Reflections?

The quick answer is too many pets do not recognize themselves in mirrors. Very few intelligent sentences pass the mirror test and most pets are guided by other senses such as smell and hearing.

So, it's not that pets are stupid or don't have self-awareness, even if they don't recognize their reflection. They signal recognition in other ways like remembering smells, reacting to their names, and bonding significantly with their owners.