If you’re a cat owner, I’m sure there are dozens of adorable things your precious pet does every day that leave you saying, “Awww!” Whether it’s making biscuits on my stomach or begging me for pets when he feels like he’s being ignored, my little guy knows how to brighten my day countless different ways.
And one of the cutest things every cat parent loves catching their fur baby doing is “airplane ears.” So we took a trip to the aptly named Airplane Ears subreddit and gathered some of their best pics down below. I’ll warn you right now that this list might cause a cuteness overload in your heart. But enjoy scrolling through, and keep reading to find a conversation with Stacy LeBaron, Head Cat, Founder and Host of The Community Cats Podcast!
#1 I Blew My Nose. Sorry Sir Won’t Happen Again
#2 Patches, Who Has Water Ptsd From Her Previous Ab***ve Owners Dunking Her In The Tub When She Was “Bad” After Nearly A Decade Stayed In The Bathroom While I Ran A Bath
#3 I Told Her She Had Tuna Breath And She Promptly Moved To The Wife’s Side Of The Bed To Glare
To learn more about the adorableness that is “airplane ears,” we got in touch with Stacy LeBaron, Head Cat, Founder and Host ofThe Community Cats Podcast. She was kind enough to have a chat with We and explain exactly what it means when cats do this.
“‘Airplane ears’ is a lighthearted way to describe when a cat flattens or angles their ears sideways — kind of like wings on a plane,” Stacy shared. “While it may look cute or funny to us, it’s actually a very functional piece of feline body language. Cats use their ears to communicate and also to assess what’s happening around them.”
#4 A Stray Dog Passed By
#5 After We Applied Ear Drops
#6 I Brought My Newborn Home And She Wasn’t Pleased
“When their ears go into that sideways position, it usually means the cat is feeling uneasy, anxious, overstimulated, or annoyed,” the expert continued. “It’s their way of saying, ‘I’m on alert, and I’m not entirely comfortable with this situation.'”
“It’s also important to distinguish airplane ears from ears pinned back flat against the head,” Stacy noted. “Pinned-back ears are a stronger signal, usually indicating fear, high stress, or defensive aggression. Airplane ears are more of an ‘I’m giving disapproving side-eye’ than an ‘I’m about to unleash feline fury’ kind of signal.”
#7 She Heard My Toddler Calling For Her
#8 My Cat Gets A Little Intense When She Wants To Play
#9 Showed Her A Portrait Of Herself
So why is it important for cat owners to understand what their kitties are trying to communicate with their ears?
“Cats are subtle communicators. They don’t always vocalize how they feel—they show it through body language, and their ears are a huge part of that,” Stacy explained. “Learning to ‘read the ears’ helps you catch early signs of stress, fear, or irritation before it escalates into a growl, swat, or bite.”
#10 I Spent 2 Years As The Intake Technician At A Shelter In Florida, And My Camera Roll Is A Gold Mine Of Airplane Ears
#11 He Was Acting Like A Little Demon. I Didn’t Know Whether To Laugh Or Run
#12 I Said His Name
On the other hand, Stacy says forward and perky ears can show curiosity or confidence. “When you know what your cat’s ears are telling you, you’re better equipped to support their emotional and physical well-being—and build a more trusting relationship overall,” she shared.
#13 I Started Talking To Her In AC/DC Singer Voice
#14 Her Son Wanted To Cuddle
#15 I Didn’t Let Her Get On The Kitchen Counter While Husband Is Cooking
Next, we asked the expert for some advice on learning how to interpret a cat’s behavior. “Start by observing your cat without trying to interact right away. Watch their ears, tail, whiskers, and overall posture in different situations—when they’re relaxed, when someone new enters the room, or when a loud noise happens,” Stacy says. “You’ll begin to see patterns.”
“It’s also important to remember that every cat is an individual. What one cat finds stressful, another might not even blink at,” she continued. “So learning your cat’s unique ‘language’ takes a bit of time and attention, but the payoff is huge.”
#16 I Failed My Cat Overlord
#17 My GF Told Him Pspssps
#18 I Dared To Look At Her
The expert also noted that determining if a cat is in pain or not feeling well is one of our biggest challenges. “Tools like the Feline Grimace Scale and using AI are becoming the norm in determining how your cat is feeling.”
#19 I Said Hi To My Neighbors Cat
#20 She Heard My Boyfriend Imitating Her Purrs
#21 Slightly Moved My Leg
“And don’t be afraid to turn to trusted resources! We host an annual Feline Behavior Conference and sometimes feature behaviorists on the podcast,” Stacy told We. “It’s a great way for cat guardians to learn more and hear from experts in the field.”
#22 Muenster Screams At The Door To Go Outside. I Try Telling Him It’s Cold. He Was Displeased To Find Out That It Is, In Fact, Cold
#23 He Found Me Hungover In The Bath At 5am, I’d Call Him Disappointed But That Would Be A Understatement
#24 I Said His Paw Looked Clean
Finally, Stacy added that cats are constantly communicating with us—we just have to learn how to listen. “Ear position is just one piece of the puzzle, but it’s a really helpful one. And if you’re curious to dive deeper into feline behavior, I’d encourage folks to subscribe to the Community Cats Podcast. We’re always exploring topics like this and sharing tips from professionals who’ve dedicated their careers to understanding cats better.”
#25 Today We Learned About Harnesses
#26 I Have No Idea What I Did But She Really Hated It
#27 My Husband Poured Himself A Glass Of Water
#28 The Downstairs Neighbor Sneezed
#29 I Told Her That She Got Fat
#30 I Walked Into My Friends House
#31 I Kissed Her During iPad Time
#32 I Told Her That Her Sister Is Allowed To Exist Too
#33 Claudia Taking A Reluctant Flight To Sleepy Town 🛩
#34 We Made The Mistake Of Getting Her A Baby Brother…
#35 My Wife And I Put Our Wedding Rings On Each Ear. He Seemed To Have Felt Violated
#36 He Was Laying On My Gfs Chest And I Made Her Laugh
#37 I Meowed Back
#38 I Brutally Torture My Cat (I Kissed His Forehead)
#39 I Told Her It Wasn’t Dinner Time Just Because It’s Dark Outside
#40 She Mad Because Nobody Is Taking Her Order
#41 I Told Him He Couldn’t Eat My Daffodils Because They’re Toxic To Cats
#42 I Accidentally Coughed Near Her
#43 I Touched “My Boyfriend ” He Didn’t Like That!
#44 I Told Her To Stop Crushing My Organs 🙁
#45 I Tried To Comfort Her When The Dryer Went Off
#46 Somebody Got M***ered Outside Our Apartment
#47 He Finished His Fish Slop In A Tube
#48 I Did Not Mean To Turn On The Flash
#49 I Opened The Duolingo App
#50 I Told Him I Loved Him While He Was Making Biscuits. Sorry???
#51 On A Scale Of 1-10- How Dead Am I?
#52 I Sneezed And Woke Her Up
#53 I Meowed At Her
#54 Safe To Say Stepan Does Not Like His New Sweater
#55 She Just Let Out The Most Rancid Fart I Ever Smelled, So I Farted Back At Her
#56 I Told Him He Was In The Way
#57 Husband Made Stupid Face At Him
#58 When You Get Yelled At For Eating Dirt
#59 My Boyfriend Stopped Petting Her Because She Was Drooling
#60 I Came Back After A Month Long Vacation
#61 I Asked Him If He’d Still Love Me If I Were A Worm
#62 My Husband Yelled At Her For Hissing At Our Other Cat
#63 I Called Her Stinky
#64 I Asked Him To Not Steal And Eat My Credit Card
#65 I Thanked Him For Laying In Bed With Me And Called Him Handsome
#66 I Told Them I Had To Get Up
#67 Let Me Introduce My Airplane Bald Cat
#68 I Asked Him If He Is Aware That He Is A Cat
#69 Very Grumpy That I Let A Stranger Into My Home (My Boyfriend Who Has Known Her The Entire Time I’ve Had Her)
#70 I Told Panini He Was Adopted
#71 I Told Her The Crib Was, In Fact, Not For Her
#72 She Woke Me Up In The Middle Of The Night. I Asked Her What She Wanted. I Have Offended The Baby
#73 I Told Her I Love Her ✈️
#74 I Dropped My Controller While She Was On My Lap
#75 He Stole My Spot And I Stole It Back
#76 I Petted Her
#77 My Mom Was Practicing Knitting Leg Warmers And Started With A Tiny One
#78 I Told Her She Can’t Sit On The Vegetables
#79 I Facetimed Her While I Was On Vacation
#80 I Pspsps-Ed On My Evening Walk
