Cats aren't dogs; they're not man's best friend. But while it may seem like your cat is an asshole, at least he has excuses. From treating you like crap to torturing the wild, here are 10 things your cat does.
10. Sleep all day
Cats sleep an indecently long time by human standards. After the 24-hour sleep of a young kitten, the average cat will sleep 16 hours a day ( until he gets old , when he starts sleeping more). Why are they so damn lazy? Because they don't sleep as soundly as we humans do.
Unlike us, who have clearly defined cycles of rapid and non-rapid eye movement sleep that culminate in deep REM sleep, cats doze in short periods of slow wave sleep. In other words, they spend most of their time in light sleep, sleeping deeply only five minutes during the day.
Of course, as crepuscular animals, they also need to sleep all day to be active at dawn and dusk. Another explanation, given that they evolved in hot climates, is that cats sleep all day to regulate their body temperature.
9. Watch
Whether it's the world outside the window, on the wall or just in space, cats are big lovers It doesn't help that their eyes are huge compared to their bodies, or that they blink several times faster than we do (twice a minute versus our 15-20 times a minute). It's not a pleasant quality to have in a pet.
But cats' vision differs from ours, which sheds light on the matter. For one thing, they have a slightly wider field of view (200 degrees versus our 180 degrees) and the ability to detect even the slightest movement. However, their visual acuity isn't as good as ours, meaning we can see more detail at a distance.
Explanations for why cats stare so intently vary. It could be that what looks like a wall to us is, for cats with their super-hearing, a complex and stimulating soundboard of pipes, insects, and rodents. It could also be related to the practice of hunting, for which patience and concentration are key. However, perhaps the least asshole-like reason is love. Based on numerous studies, Japanese researchers have concluded that cats only stare on people they trust They also found that, like dogs, cats can notice and follow your gaze.
8. Writing outside the trash can
There are some really nasty reasons for peeing outside the litter box. Your cat might feel better about smelling more of her own pee, or maybe she doesn't like the litter (kind of like how you poop on the floor because you don't like toilet paper). Alternatively, if you have more than one cat, maybe the one who doesn't pee on the floor is a real asshole who aggressively hoards the tray . But even these reasons have justifications. For example, if your cat needs to sniff its urine more, it's probably a sign of anxiety. And if they don't like the bedding, it could just be that their paws are sore.
There may be others,more serious explanations These include urinary tract infections, kidney or thyroid disease, diabetes, digestive problems, and age-related health problems.
Or maybe you're a jerk because you don't empty the box enough?
7. Meowing through the night
If your cat meows more than usual, it may be a sign of illness. But in general, it’s their way of getting what they want from you. Cats very rarely meow at each other. This is another behavior reinforced by human reactions that we fear means it’s your fault again. For example, your cat meows and you feed them; you’ve taught them that meowing brings food. Many of us condition our pets this way without even thinking about it.
Cats can even learn to associate different meows—different lengths, different pitches—with different rewards (food, attention, etc.). It is no coincidence that cats of deaf owners meow less , and research shows that meowing mimics sounds human babies .
However, as already mentioned, meowing can be cause for concern A good way to rule out an underlying medical condition is to look at your cat's ears and eyes. If their ears are turned to the side or back and/or their pupils are dilated, there's a good chance your cat is sick or distressed about something.
6. Ignoring you
Why does your cat seem content to ignore you? Unlike dogs, who come running when called, cats don’t even look up. We know they can hear us; studies have shown that they can recognize your voice and even their own name (at least as precursors to a reward).
One eight-month study , for example, showed that up to 70% cats turned their heads when they heard a human voice. It's just that cats' responses are extremely subtle, especially compared to dogs, whose responses are deliberately sociable.
We haven't bred or trained cats in the same way we have dogs, which means that cat behavior is much more instinctive. Cats in the wild don't vocalize, even to their own kittens, unless there is an immediate threat. So unless your cat wants something from you when you call her, she simply doesn't have the reasons to answer .
5. Headbutt
Also known as head rubbing or head rubbing , this is when your cat presses his head against you. They also do this with each other. But it can become a nuisance if he becomes more aggressive.
It is no surprise that dominant cats headbutt more. And that is a clue to why. Cats have scent glands all over their bodies, including their chin, mouth, temples, and ears, and a dominant cat in an apartment building will headbutt more to spread her scent (the colony scent) to all members.
So, holey or not, when your cat headbutts you, she's marking you. as my tribe , which, by the way, makes her your leader (at least for other cats).
4. Lose your shit on catnip
Cats on catnip are like people on cocaine: manic, aggressive, unpredictable, and a bit silly. Cats just aren't as hedonistic — at least they have an excuse.
It turns out that catnip, as well as silver vine (another plant that causes a reaction), contain chemicals called nepetalactone and nepetalactol, which act as mosquito repellents In the study, the researchers allowed cats to rub against paper soaked in nepetalactol, then introduced mosquitoes and counted how many cats were attacked. They found a clear correlation between rubbing and fewer bites.
The drug's effect is believed to be euphoria, attributed to β-opioid system, is the reaction cats have to this plant to encourage them to interact with it. Not all cats do; hereditary trait . 30 percent do not respond to catnip and 20 percent do not respond to silver vine. Tigers were also found to be indifferent to catnip and even "disapproved" of silver vine.
3. They dig their claws into you
Kneading soft objects (like making dough with your paws) is something all cats learn as kittens. It is a way to stimulate the production of mother's milk by releasing oxytocin It is also a form of communication between kittens and their mother, as kneading releases pheromones from scent glands in the paws.
However, domesticated cats usually continue to knead into adulthood. This can become painful, as many cats also dig their claws in. In typical cat fashion, this simply means, that they love you . And the more they do, the harder they will knead - so you become an asshole if you punish.
But why do cats continue to knead long after Mom is dead and buried? Again, it's your fault. The persistence of juvenile behavior into adulthood (neoteny) in this case probably comes down to his social advantage with you and other animals in the house.
2. Bringing dead animals into the house
Even if you're not disgusted, horrified, or guilty about your cat's habit of bringing dead birds and rodents into the house, it can still feel like a passive-aggressive comment about how much you feed them. The truth is, cats just natural born predators . It's not about eating, it's about hunting. In fact, it's the same engine that makes your cat chase laser pointers or feathers on a string.
But why, once they have killed their prey, are they so eager to show it to you? Sometimes they won’t even leave it somewhere for you to find, but will hold it in their mouth and meow until you come and see it. This is due to another drive, which is their instinctive nature as a pack animal. Female cats in particular are eager to teach their young how to hunt. In other words, they are not trying to scare you, shame you, or make you vomit; they are just being nice to you. like a helpless kitten , which cannot hunt on its own, but which they love very much.
1. Playing with your prey
Perhaps the most disgusting thing your cat does is play with its prey before killing it. They usually slap their prey with their paws, ensuring a slow and painful death and leaving us wondering: how could Mr. Cuddles be so cruel?
According to research, conducted in the 1970s, the answer is actually quite simple. The researchers found that cats given rats and mice to hunt played with their prey longer the larger the prey was. And of course, the larger the prey, the greater the risk to the predator. So the researchers concluded that the “play” was actually a strategy for disarming the prey from a distance before going in for the kill. The researchers also noticed that hungrier cats played with their prey for shorter periods of time. We see the same behavior in big cats in the wild.
But why do cats sometimes fail to kill the prey they play with? The answer is a little more nuanced: practice .
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