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When you see a mirror, you see yourself. This seemingly basic ability demonstrates whether an animal being possesses self-awareness. Humans, great apes, dolphins, elephants, and magpies are also said to pass Gordon Galoup’s famous "mirror test."

It’s still debatable whether our pets like dogs, cats, or rabbits have that same ability. But from what countless pet owners have seen, gazing at yourself is quite a trend in the house animal kingdom. Bored Panda compiled a list of the most adorable little pets looking at their reflections, as if they were telling them: “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the furriest of them all?” We may not know the reason for such behavior, but at least we know the motif.

#1

Find Someone Who Looks At You The Way My Cat Looks At Himself In The Mirror

Find Someone Who Looks At You The Way My Cat Looks At Himself In The Mirror

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Rowlie
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"rembembe:You're goregoeous, You're beautiful, You're the most beautiful cat in the world"

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#2

I Caught My Cat Staring At Himself In The Mirror Looking Like A Renaissance Painting.

I Caught My Cat Staring At Himself In The Mirror Looking Like A Renaissance Painting.

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#3

The Importance Of A Selfie Angle

The Importance Of A Selfie Angle

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nanashi
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

if I'm as pretty as this kitty, I would need several mirrors in every angle as well

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When we look into a mirror, we recognize that the image we’re looking at is our own. Psychologists see it as a special mental act which requires sophisticated aspects of our consciousness. Interestingly, the ability to be self-aware of one's reflection is not something we’re born with. It’s only between the age of 18 and 24 months that babies begin to understand what it is that they’re seeing in the mirror.

The mirror self-recognition test has been applied to animals since its inception in the 1970s and has been considered to be the gold standard indicating whether a living being is self-aware or not. While very few animals and primates have showed signs of self-awareness and passed mirror tests, our beloved dogs have failed it.

According to The Cut, “They do not seem to know, or perhaps they don’t really care, what is going on with the mirror’s scentless, two-dimensional representation of a dog.”

#4

Looking In The Mirror

Looking In The Mirror

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#5

Owl Sees Himself In The Mirror

Owl Sees Himself In The Mirror

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#6

Kill Them. Kill Them All.

Kill Them. Kill Them All.

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However, many scientists feel skeptical about whether the mirror test is the right indication of animal consciousness. For example, the primatologist Frans de Waal argues that self-awareness should be understood as a broader concept. “I cannot imagine that a cat or a dog—even though they don’t recognize themselves in the mirror—I find it hard to imagine that they have no awareness of themselves,” he said.

And while in human developmental psychology, the mirror represents a significant threshold in our sense of self, animal minds don’t necessarily work like the human mind. Not every animal is attuned to social intelligence so deeply like us, and not every animal perceives the world in its visual dimension. Dogs, for example, could have failed the mirror test because their primary instrument of perception is smell.

#8

"I'm Good Enough, I'm Smart Enough, And Gosh Darnit, People Like Me"

"I'm Good Enough, I'm Smart Enough, And Gosh Darnit, People Like Me"

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Nea
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have never felt this confident looking into a mirror. But then i lack his grace and beauty

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#9

My Cat Thinks My Makeup Mirror Is Mesmerizing

My Cat Thinks My Makeup Mirror Is Mesmerizing

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#10

Baby Otter Looking At The Mirror

Baby Otter Looking At The Mirror

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R L
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am not sure if he is shocked to see another otter, or over the moon that he's not alone

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#11

My Rabbit Does This Every Day. Not Sure What He's Thinking About…

My Rabbit Does This Every Day. Not Sure What He's Thinking About…

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#13

Daily Ritual To Connect With The Mirror Cat

Daily Ritual To Connect With The Mirror Cat

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#14

Then She Licked The Mirror Because It Seemed Like There Was A Nice Dog In It :)

Then She Licked The Mirror Because It Seemed Like There Was A Nice Dog In It :)

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#15

Looking In The Mirror

Looking In The Mirror

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#16

The Mortifying Ordeal Of Being Known

The Mortifying Ordeal Of Being Known

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Nagawa (Cofa) Kishiki
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you see the reflection of the dog from your angle, that mean the dog is looking at you though the mirror as well.

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#17

Foster Dog Finds Mirror, Falls In Love

Foster Dog Finds Mirror, Falls In Love

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#22

My Dog Has Discovered Her First Mirror. She Keeps Rolling Her Ball To The "Other Dog" And Whining Because She Wants To Play

My Dog Has Discovered Her First Mirror. She Keeps Rolling Her Ball To The "Other Dog" And Whining Because She Wants To Play

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#24

My Chinchilla Saw Himself For The First Time In The Mirror Today

My Chinchilla Saw Himself For The First Time In The Mirror Today

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#26

"I Don't Even Know Who I Am Anymore"

"I Don't Even Know Who I Am Anymore"

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#27

He Already Knows How Pretty He Is

He Already Knows How Pretty He Is

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#28

He Kept Looking Into The Mirror For Quite A While, Seems Really Depressed About The New Look After Shaving.

He Kept Looking Into The Mirror For Quite A While, Seems Really Depressed About The New Look After Shaving.

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Tracey Hirt
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My cat used to do this when we would get him his summer cut. He’d keep looking in the mirror as if he couldn’t quite believe we had done this to him again. He really was more comfortable in the summer in 100+-degree temps without all the floof.

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Roxie English
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Got Duffy (Maine C**n) a summer cut once. Never again. He got deeply depressed.

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Alex Wright
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He looks like a little lion so did my cat when we gave him a lion cut.

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Layla Corman
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is called "The Lion King Cut". I absolutely LOVE how cute long hairs look with it!

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Weishaar Jamie
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm sure he's thinking "why in the hell would anyone do that to that poor cat?"

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#29

Happens After Ever Bath She Gets. She Goes To The Sink, Stands Up, Paws Down, And Looks At Herself In The Mirror.

Happens After Ever Bath She Gets. She Goes To The Sink, Stands Up, Paws Down, And Looks At Herself In The Mirror.

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#30

Put This Mirror On The Bedside Table And Renly Couldn’t Handle It

Put This Mirror On The Bedside Table And Renly Couldn’t Handle It

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Note: this post originally had 131 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.