SoraNews24 —Japan News—
Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
-
TOP
» Japan
-
» Yawns can be contagious for cats too, Japanese pet owner’s adorable felines prove【Photo】
Featured
- Weird
- Studio Ghibli
- Jobs
Yawns can be contagious for cats too, Japanese pet owner’s adorable felines prove【Photo】
Casey Baseel Sep 8, 2019- Tweet

Don-chan and Mogu-chan show that people and kitties aren’t always so different.
Despite how much people adore cats, the feeling isn’t exactly 100-percent mutual. As we’ve mentioned before, some experts say that cats are severely disappointed in us humans, as a result of our almost complete lack of displayed ability in feline skill sets such as licking ourselves clean or catching small animals for sport or sustenance.
But Japanese cat owner and Twitter user @nanao_ssan recently provided photographic evidence of one way in which cat and human behavior overlap, at least with her pets Don-chan and Mogu-chan.
猫もあくびはうつる pic.twitter.com/fHjYHKkExf
— ななおっさん🧵Meteor (@nanao_ssan) August 19, 2019
The snapshot sequence starts with Don-chan, the bigger of the two, letting out a jumbo-sized yawn. Mogu-chan carefully observes the gesture…
…and then, just like happens with humans, shows that the yawn is contagious!
“Cats catch yawns from each other too,” tweeted @nanao_ssan with the photos. Along with a cascade of “So cute!” comments, several other Twitter users mentioned that they themselves often catch yawns from their pet cats, in a cross-species manifestation of the phenomenon.
While the exact reason humans catch yawns from each other is unclear, a popular theory is that it’s a way of showing empathy and forming social connections. That might not sound like something cats, who are historically committed to doing whatever they want, would be all that interested in, however.
▼ Although it’s true that Don-chan and Mogu-chan are good friends.
そうなんだよ!仲良しで本当に親子みたいだよ〜! pic.twitter.com/TPqQECkQyB
— ななおっさん🧵Meteor (@nanao_ssan) August 20, 2019
Like with humans, there’s no conclusive answer as to why the yawn spread between @nanao_ssan’s cats. We can’t help noticing, though, that hanging out with someone and letting out an exaggerated, bored-looking sigh, followed by a sweet smile, like Don-chan did…
…is classic tsundere behavior, which is right up cats’ alley.
Source: Twitter/@nanao_ssan via IT Media
Images: Twitter/@nanao_ssan
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Once your hands are free from covering your mouth after thinking about yawning, you can follow Casey on Twitter.
Like this:
Like Loading…
Related Stories
Japanese cat owner buys feline futon for his pets, they instantly know exactly how to use it
Adorable Japanese cat shows off its purr-fect hiding spot to attack owner’s feet 【Video】
Young and elderly alike can satisfy their feline frenzy with this $180 cat robot companion
Can you spot the real feline in this “opti-cat illusion?” 【Pics】
Adorable Japanese cat uses owner’s finger as pacifier, soothes Japanese Internet’s heart 【Video】
- Cosplay at the beach with new casino dealer swimming costumes from Japan
- Tokyo clerk arrested for memorizing over 1,300 customers’ credit card info, using it online
- Trackbacks (0)
Trackbacks
- There are no trackbacks yet.
- Trackback URL
Trending Today
- Japan’s Suica Penguin character is “graduating”, and you can choose its successor
- Converse Japan releases green tea cup sneakers so you can wear your love for sushi on your feet
- Starbucks Japan unveils new Chilled Cup drinks for autumn
- Anime magical girls grow to gigantic size with new Madoka Magica plushies [Photos]
- Tokyo ward looking to change lodging laws, ban more than half of its Airbnb-style rentals
- New Japanese ice cream is Ballin, in more ways than one
- Tokyo’s red-light district cafe lets you dine inside a real 1960s cabaret
- Mister Donut releases new sweet potato doughnuts in Japan, and we’ve ranked them from best to worst
- Okinawa man convinced he won 700 million yen by scammers, saved by convenience store staff
- Starbucks Japan proves Pumpkin Spice is NOT dead, with a new take for autumn
- Cosplay at the beach with new casino dealer swimming costumes from Japan
- Tokyo clerk arrested for memorizing over 1,300 customers’ credit card info, using it online
-
Recent Posts
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time’s remake can be played with an actual ocarina [Video]
- Japan’s Suica Penguin character is “graduating”, and you can choose its successor
- Converse Japan releases green tea cup sneakers so you can wear your love for sushi on your feet
- Starbucks Japan unveils new Chilled Cup drinks for autumn
- Starbucks Japan proves Pumpkin Spice is NOT dead, with a new take for autumn
-
MOST POPULAR
- Today
- Weekly
- Monthly
- Yearly
Today
Japan’s Suica Penguin character is “graduating”, and you can choose its successor
Converse Japan releases green tea cup sneakers so you can wear your love for sushi on your feet
Starbucks Japan unveils new Chilled Cup drinks for autumn
Anime magical girls grow to gigantic size with new Madoka Magica plushies [Photos]
Tokyo ward looking to change lodging laws, ban more than half of its Airbnb-style rentals
New Japanese ice cream is Ballin, in more ways than one
Tokyo’s red-light district cafe lets you dine inside a real 1960s cabaret
Mister Donut releases new sweet potato doughnuts in Japan, and we’ve ranked them from best to worst
Okinawa man convinced he won 700 million yen by scammers, saved by convenience store staff
Starbucks Japan proves Pumpkin Spice is NOT dead, with a new take for autumn
Weekly
Kyoto temple bans visitors from wearing kimono
Lego PlayStation recreates Sony’s original console, makes unusual choice for games to salute
A real-world Pokémon Poké Ball hotel is opening in Japan at a still-secret location [Video]
Japan’s first fall color forecast for 2026 is here!
Starbucks Japan reveals new Tsukimi Moon-Viewing drinkware and gifts for autumn 2026
Tokyo ward looking to change lodging laws, ban more than half of its Airbnb-style rentals
New Pokémon anniversary song is 22 minutes long, features all 1,025 Pokémon species [Video]
New Japanese convenience store rice balls taste like instant noodles [Taste test]
Japan’s revolving sushi restaurant king Sushiro coming to U.S. this fall with high prices, no tipping
Tamagotchi evolves into a ring for its 30th anniversary, preorders now open
Monthly
12-year-old British girl who went missing in Tokyo found safe after visiting anime sites around Yokohama
7-year-old boy left behind on Mt. Fuji by his own dad
Japan’s final Penguin Suica train cards have already shipped, and when they’re gone, they’re gone
Sushi Bus: Japan’s first conveyor-belt bus lets you eat sushi while sightseeing around Tokyo
Studio Ghibli unveils new anime calendars and diary planners for 2027
Study finds hundreds of people in Indonesia legally named after Naruto, Inuyasha, other anime stars
Japan approves foreign resident visa renewal fee increases of up to 967 percent, starts soon
Japan tripled its departure tax to fund tourism but is using the money on cherry blossoms and bears
Solo travel in Japan: Hidden beer garden in Tokyo is a haven for single visitors
Kyoto temple bans visitors from wearing kimono
Yearly
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
-
RECOMMENDED STORIES
The secret, sudden sport Japanese cat owners play with their pets
Clever Japanese pet owners find perfect cat beds…at IKEA! 【Photos】
This cat has a super cute reaction to Japanese owner’s beckoning hands 【Video】
Traditional Japanese architecture proves too irresistible for curious cat
Cute cat melts hearts by watching TV with owner in a number of adorable poses
Cute cat puts smile on owner’s face with adorable surprise behind closed door
Japanese cats commandeer space heaters, owners left shivering from cold and cuteness 【Photos】
Pet kitty stuck on a table in Japan deals with problem in cleverly adorable way【Photos】
Japanese pet owner’s precious cat and hedgehog combo are a perfect prickly pair【Video】
Japanese cat who can’t sleep unless it chats with owner melts hearts across the Internet
Japanese cat book explains how cats see their human owners, and it’s not as objects of respect
Cute cat fights yearning desire to eat food on table with adorable results【Video】
Japanese cat cafe in Tokyo is a Ghibli-esque village run by felines in a castle
Happy Java sparrow Day! Pet owners celebrate their adorable birds on Twitter【Photos】
Cat has Internet in stitches after getting itself stuck in awkward position
-
-
Categories
Categories Select Category Africa (33) Anime & Manga (193) Art (64) Australia (42) C America (9) C Asia (17) Canada (59) Cats (72) China (845) Culture (180) Cute (187) Entertainment (248) Europe (344) FN24 (1) Food & Drink (314) Games & Tech (167) Global (1,071) India (11) Internet (2,197) Italy (13) Japan (34,279) Korea (375) Lifestyle (76) Mexico (6) Music (12) N Asia (4) New Zealand (11) News (61) North Korea (72) Oceania (10) Russia (56) S America (33) S Asia (66) SE Asia (378) Space (2) Taiwan (203) UK (16) Uncategorized (19) USA (970) W Asia (25)
-
Archives
Archives Select Month September 2026 (46) August 2026 (174) July 2026 (197) June 2026 (174) May 2026 (138) April 2026 (142) March 2026 (150) February 2026 (124) January 2026 (138) December 2025 (136) November 2025 (136) October 2025 (151) September 2025 (154) August 2025 (143) July 2025 (158) June 2025 (165) May 2025 (162) April 2025 (181) March 2025 (157) February 2025 (127) January 2025 (139) December 2024 (148) November 2024 (149) October 2024 (153) September 2024 (154) August 2024 (158) July 2024 (156) June 2024 (150) May 2024 (166) April 2024 (150) March 2024 (157) February 2024 (169) January 2024 (159) December 2023 (165) November 2023 (166) October 2023 (166) September 2023 (173) August 2023 (183) July 2023 (171) June 2023 (180) May 2023 (158) April 2023 (152) March 2023 (167) February 2023 (160) January 2023 (171) December 2022 (175) November 2022 (176) October 2022 (179) September 2022 (191) August 2022 (202) July 2022 (193) June 2022 (178) May 2022 (178) April 2022 (181) March 2022 (212) February 2022 (199) January 2022 (224) December 2021 (230) November 2021 (214) October 2021 (215) September 2021 (238) August 2021 (225) July 2021 (207) June 2021 (218) May 2021 (209) April 2021 (206) March 2021 (225) February 2021 (209) January 2021 (224) December 2020 (225) November 2020 (224) October 2020 (231) September 2020 (238) August 2020 (227) July 2020 (220) June 2020 (209) May 2020 (215) April 2020 (238) March 2020 (235) February 2020 (222) January 2020 (233) December 2019 (187) November 2019 (214) October 2019 (237) September 2019 (195) August 2019 (205) July 2019 (183) June 2019 (201) May 2019 (231) April 2019 (192) March 2019 (242) February 2019 (211) January 2019 (238) December 2018 (212) November 2018 (217) October 2018 (214) September 2018 (203) August 2018 (217) July 2018 (218) June 2018 (208) May 2018 (204) April 2018 (193) March 2018 (216) February 2018 (192) January 2018 (223) December 2017 (204) November 2017 (209) October 2017 (218) September 2017 (209) August 2017 (228) July 2017 (222) June 2017 (245) May 2017 (229) April 2017 (197) March 2017 (165) February 2017 (151) January 2017 (180) December 2016 (260) November 2016 (267) October 2016 (302) September 2016 (387) August 2016 (351) July 2016 (379) June 2016 (379) May 2016 (312) April 2016 (347) March 2016 (414) February 2016 (379) January 2016 (359) December 2015 (359) November 2015 (378) October 2015 (435) September 2015 (419) August 2015 (152) July 2015 (218) June 2015 (179) May 2015 (237) April 2015 (223) March 2015 (119) February 2015 (121) January 2015 (395) December 2014 (376) November 2014 (376) October 2014 (414) September 2014 (349) August 2014 (379) July 2014 (316) June 2014 (375) May 2014 (384) April 2014 (354) March 2014 (318) February 2014 (284) January 2014 (270) December 2013 (224) November 2013 (242) October 2013 (244) September 2013 (226) August 2013 (241) July 2013 (214) June 2013 (222) May 2013 (191) April 2013 (173) March 2013 (149) February 2013 (85) January 2013 (106) December 2012 (111) November 2012 (149) October 2012 (151) September 2012 (118) August 2012 (99) July 2012 (56) June 2012 (57) May 2012 (54) April 2012 (62) March 2012 (40) February 2012 (27) January 2012 (24) December 2011 (18) November 2011 (12) October 2011 (1) September 2011 (9) August 2011 (11) March 2011 (1)
-
- About Us | Jobs | Contact | Contribution | Partner with Us
© SoraNews24 —Japan News— / SOCIO CORPORATION
- Advertise |
- About Us |
- Work with us |
- Contact |
- Contribution |
%d
