The "=^..^=" emote, also known as the "Cat Ears" emote, typically represents a cute or playful expression associated with cats. It consists of equal signs for the eyes, a caret symbol for the nose, and two periods for the mouth, with the "^" symbol representing the ears of a cat. It is commonly used in online chats, forums, and social media to convey a sense of playfulness or affection towards cats.