Cats can produce tears because they have tear ducts similar to humans, and their eyes can shed tears for physiological reasons such as keeping the eyes moist, flushing out irritants, or as a response to medical issues like allergies or injuries. However, cats do not cry emotional tears like humans do—they do not shed tears in response to feelings of sadness, anger, or joy. Emotional crying is a uniquely human trait, and while cats experience emotions and can express them through vocalizations and body language, their tears are not tied to emotions. If a cat has watery eyes, it often indicates irritation or a health problem rather than emotional crying. Cats express sadness or distress through behaviors, not through tears.
