# Can pets “catch” a yawn from a human?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-pets-catch-a-yawn-from-a-human/997499>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 13, 2024, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-pets-catch-a-yawn-from-a-human/997499 "2024-02-13T01:05:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2024, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-pets-catch-a-yawn-from-a-human/997499/21 "2024-02-13T18:55:00Z")

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I often yawn after my cats do, but I haven’t noticed the reverse. They do yawn a lot in my presence though, but that’s probably because they find me boring (unless I’m eating, then they’re my biggest fans—_damn cats!_).

They do _slow blink_ at me when I do so first. That’s cat/human communication, showing they are comfortable, and trust me—_sweet cats!_

I’m their comfortable, but boring old shoe…who they can steal food from.

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**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2024, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-pets-catch-a-yawn-from-a-human/997499/22 "2024-02-13T19:02:08Z")

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> [@DSeid](#):
>
> Dogs have evolved to be highly skilled at monitoring their humans’ states and intentions, reacting to them, and likely have mirror neurons that respond to us.

That goes a long way toward explaining why they make such good service dogs - especially the kind that monitor people for subtle signs of medical distress, like incipient diabetic episodes or epileptic seizures.

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**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2024, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-pets-catch-a-yawn-from-a-human/997499/23 "2024-02-13T19:48:52Z")

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And working partners throughout human history, be it hunting or herding or guarding …

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**Author:** ![Moris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moris/32/2846_2.png) [@Moris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moris)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2024, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-pets-catch-a-yawn-from-a-human/997499/24 "2024-02-28T14:57:06Z")

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My experience is the opposite. Big black schnauzers and Belgian shepherds.

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