Does empathy extend to animals? I've read that humans are able to empathize with other humans, to feel as another person does, through mirror neurons. I'm guessing that they're able to empathize with primates too, as they share similar brains, have similar limbs, faces, etc. So, when someone watches a monkey or child drink juice, they can empathize some of the joy of drinking juice.

But what about a human empathizing with less humanoid animals? Can a person who has developed a personal bond with say, a horse, 'feel' the same way as the horse does? Can one understand the joy of a cat eating its favorite food?

Do mirror neurons apply between humans and animals as well?
But what about a human empathizing with less humanoid animals?


Empathic responding towards humans is generalized to other species. The greater the similarity of the species towards humans, the larger is the empathic response. The findings support the notion that there is a relationship between human empathy directed towards other humans and human empathy directed towards non-human animals. via


  Can one understand the joy of a cat eating its favorite food?


It depend on person. Problem is that we actually do not know how animals feel. And our empathy based on assumption that they feel like us. So it is one more proof of involving of mirror neurons in empathy. 


  Empathy toward non conspecifics has different neural representation
  among individuals with different feeding habits, perhaps reflecting
  different motivational factors and beliefs. via


Also look at  Anthrozoos: A Multidisciplinary Journal of The Interactions of People &amp; Animals