sentience

“We don't know much else beyond this basic type of sentience. It's hard to answer what this implies for consciousness of two animals fusing into one since it depends on how we define consciousness.”

Rose pointed out what he described as “exciting language … around the sentience of animals.”

Humans have grown more open to recognizing animal sentience since “The Hathaways,” giving them their due without mistaking our worldview for theirs.

"This teaches us that we shouldn't make assumptions about animal intelligence or sentience based on whether they are 'built' just like us," she said.

Amazingly, naturally-produced painkillers have long been considered a key indicator of possible sentience in animals.