Many of our feline friends enjoy sitting around in front of the television, but is that simply because they want to be close to their humans? Or do cats actually watch TV? And if they do, what do they see when they watch TV?

Cats often seem spellbound by the television set, at least if our social media accounts are to be believed.

There are countless videos out there, showing cats staring unblinkingly into the screen.

But what's the truth of the matter when it comes to their interest? Do cats actually watch TV and do they understand what's on there?

The TAG24 cat guide has all the answers! From finding out whether cats actually watch TV – and if they enjoy it – to taking a guess at what programs could be interesting for our furry friends, let's find out what a cat's experience actually looks like!

Cats can see and recognize the moving pictures on a screen, but only if the screen has a refresh rate of at least 50Hz.

As a result, if your television or computer monitor is older, you may have noticed that your pet won't respond to it in quite the same way.

The reason for this is that a cat's brain processes images faster than a human's. As a result, whilst humans usually see a film at around 24 frames per second (fps), a cat is going to need more like 100fps before it notices much at all.

On top of all of this, cats will only really notice a television if it is showing something fast-paced, loud, and exciting.

Cats will watch TV if there are:

• Fast moving objects on-screen
• Larger and more recognizable images
• Noticeable or familiar noises
• Sudden and flickering light
• Rapidly changing colors

A cat's behavior is largely instinctive and, as a result, if something triggers those instincts, it will take notice.

Whilst cats can watch TV, they're hardly going to understand the content.

It probably won't come as a shock to you that animals in general don't understand the intricacies of plot, tension, or dialogue. They're not going to be following the latest Netflix show particularly closely.

That is, unless it's perhaps a documentary, or something that will appeal to their instincts. If they see a fast moving object, they may react. Images of potential prey could also pique their interest, and so will loud and sudden noises.

With all of this in mind, your best bet for catching your cat's eye is a video game. Not only are games more likely to run at a higher refresh rate, but they will offer fast-paced content that is far more likely to catch your kitty's attention than the latest episode of Dr. Phil.

Cats will actually chill and watch television with you, but to be honest, it's unlikely to be for the content.

Rapid images, loud noises, and bright lights might attract their attention, but they're unlikely to make it want to watch the television.

Instead, it is far more likely that your feline friend will take any excuse for a good ol' fashioned cuddle. They might enjoy watching a few little mice runnin' around, but for the most part they don't really "watch" the screen – they just exist in the same space as it.

In some cases, though, snuggles and cuddles aren't the only reason why a cat might enjoy hanging out in front of a television.

Some of these reasons include:

• Curiosity
• Interest
• Hunting and instinct

Cats will watch a bit of television because it has caught their attention and, yes, sometimes that might actually come with positive perceptions – something that approaching liking the activity.

Let's be real, though, other than momentary fascination, there's not much that would make a cat genuinely take up TV watching.

Cats like to watch their humans watching TV, they don't have "taste" in television.

They will, however, become particularly infatuated with fast-moving films of other animals that may be considered prey.

This will only be a momentary interest, though, as they would have been drawn by the picture and the noise. Unlike those hilarious viral videos, cats will rarely interact with a screen, as they quickly realize that they're not watching something that's physically present.

That's because the crucial element of scent is missing.

Remember that cats may get distressed by flashing lights and loud noises, though.

Cats can, indeed, see the television, but that doesn't mean that they necessarily understand what is going on. They're not going to be able to recognize another cat shown on screen. In fact, if they're close enough to notice anything, they should probably be moved away from the TV.

In general, screen can be quite exciting for cats if the refresh rate is fast enough, and they can even stimulate their hunting instincts.