It is alleged that apes and ants can pass the mirror test for self-recognition, but not so for cats. It is also alleged that some animals consider their reflections to be a potential enemy.

The idea is to turn the 'mirror' into a screen, onto which is projected live video of the cat, but with the motionless image of a mouse added just behind the cat. If the cat turns to look for a mouse crouching behind itself, instead of attacking the screen, I believe we can call that self-recognition.

Granted, the usual test assumes that some spot has been placed on the animal, but projecting the mouse onto the cat's body seems unneccessary.
-- 4and20, Jan 30 2021

// projecting the mouse onto the cat's body seems unneccessary. //

Not if it tricks the cat into attacking itself ...
-- 8th of 7, Jan 30 2021


Using a screen creates a loss of parallax & stereoscopic vision of the "being in the mirror". Put the screen behind the cat, so the mouse can still be turned on & off as needed, but the cat will still look "real" in the mirror.
-- neutrinos_shadow, Jan 31 2021


Add a virtual laser pointer red dot for extra feline psychosis ...
-- 8th of 7, Jan 31 2021



random, halfbakery