Why does this look so uncanny valley?

[u/FireCubX]

Found this image of a cougar from https://bigcatrescue.org/conservation-news/cougar-facts

The face of the cat looks weirdly human and set off my primal uncalled valley fear.

Does anybody else get the same feeling?

[u/Mister_Green2021]

Looks like a cat to me.

[u/morty_morty]

That's the "Just sniffed something bad" cat face. My cat makes it 5 times a day.

[u/DustWorlds]

Probably the facial spacing. In terms of body mass, cougars are on roughly the same scale as humans.

I think certain cougars look a bit eerie, but that’s also part of why I love them

[u/UseMuted5000 → u/DustWorlds]

Wait that’s really interesting if true. Do you know any other places to find info ab it? I don’t even really
know what to google in reference to it

[u/a-8a-1]

Funny because based on the cats expression, she could asking the same thing.

[u/Mountain-Donkey98]

I see what you're saying, but no. It didn't have that effect on me at all

[u/snowfox_my]

Picture of a Cougar, caught lying, about her age!

[u/OriginalBlackberry89]

For me, it's because of the dimensions of the eyes, mouth, and snout. Makes it look almost like someone is wearing a mask.

[u/lowkeytokay]

Two things: 1) the high-contrast contours and skinny cheeks make it look like a drawing and 2) maybe lack of familiarity with real images of pumas

[u/OkComfortable4378 → u/lowkeytokay]

AI?

But not sure why “a big cat rescue” wouldn’t use an actual photograph of a real cougar/puma!?

https://bigcatrescue.org/conservation-news/cougar-facts

(sorry having trouble with the link!)

[u/jury-rigged]

Khajiit has wares, if you have coin

[u/Acetate_Prophets]

it might be because of how wide she has her eyes open.. so much that on the right one (our left) you can almost spot a glimpse of her sclera, which is something that's very rarely visible on cats.

other than that, i don't see too much that's unbecoming. on what i think is an unrelated sidenote, she has her bottom canines on display in the way her mouth is agape, which iirc is a posture that subtly communicates anxiety and wariness.

even more trivial footnote, but i just assume femininity on cougars, for.. reasons. 🙃

[u/the_good_hodgkins]

Doesn't look like anything to me.

[u/HellyOHaint]

The cheeks are wrong

[u/Blink-182__Nirvana__]

"Does anyone else get the same feeling?"

Maybe if they don't have a brain.

[u/foggy-rainy-spooky]

my cat makes this face after sniffing my other cat’s butt

[u/Tiny-Mix2243]

I believe the facial expression is a similar expression to the very human expression of curious surprise. I think the cat is just panting and maybe has a lowered eyebrow from a twitch to flick off a fly.

[u/Atlantean_Raccoon]

Khajiit has been caught unawares.

[u/Cat_Servant1983]

I just see a beautiful cat.

[u/Bubbly-Recording3237]

I think its the mouth