Reefa Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 Quote Like, what do they even want from us? Cats are peculiar creatures. One minute they're running around the house pouncing on anything that moves, and the next thing you know, they're cowering inside that old pizza box that you were about to throw out. Gross, guys. Gross. But according to this TED-Ed video, there's a scientific reason cats are such creeps, and it all comes down to their evolutionary history. See, cats evolved to simultaneously be both solitary predators AND the prey of larger carnivores, and their strange habits today reflect both of those strategies. For starters, the pouncing. According to veterinarian and cat expert Tony Buffington from Ohio State University, who created this episode for TED-Ed, our cats' ancestors spent millions of years honing the ability to hunt small prey. Throughout the day, they'd regularly stalk, pounce, kill, and eat animals such as lizards and mice, which also explains why today's cats prefer to have small, regular meals rather than one big serving each day (as all cat owners know, that's just asking for vomit). These passed-down predatory skills also explain why cats love to scratch anything and everything around your house. No, they don't hate your new couch, they just want to keep their claws sharp and their back and leg muscles stretched out, because, in the wild, that's what kept their ancestors alive. And their love for the top of your bookshelf? That's the best vantage point for hunting. But the prey instinct is also strong - it's why your floof likes to hide in small places: bags, drawers, boxes, under the bed. And why they're so scared of cucumbers, apparently. They'll also be grateful if you can please keep their litter tray clean and fresh, because any urine scent is going to attract big scary predators right to them. Thank you. To be fair, knowing the science behind some of the curious cat behaviours doesn't really make them any less odd, or any less adorable. But it does shed some light on how conflicted our complicated little weirdos are, and makes me a little more understanding of all the ripped-up sofa legs over the years. I get it now, buddy, you need to keep your claws sharp to stay alive. Check out the video above to find out more about the evolutionary history behind cats' strange behaviours, and to learn about the one feline-related thing science hasn't explained yet. No spoilers here, but their purrs are totally bizarre. And all you cat haters out there, don't be fooled into thinking dogs, with their "just love me!" simplicity, are any easier. Turns out, they actually hate hugs and we've been torturing our pets this whole time. Damn, we really did pick some of the animal kingdom's biggest enigmas to share our homes with. source Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WALLONN7 Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 As a father of 20 cats, and more to come, I have to disagree with some excerpts from the article... But it's okay, since cats are still a "novelty" in this context... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jabrwky Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 One of my favorites: Site: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/kitty_pet We have 10. Oldest is 20, next 19-yrs. Biggest = 18-lbs. The entertainment never ends. Miss Beady, Mr. Softie, Possum, Sweetpea, Mr. Gray, Little Black, Sammy, Sunny, Little Tiger, Puff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ballistic Gelatin Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 Cats act weird because they ARE weird. And generally useless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VileTouch Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 2 hours ago, Ballistic Gelatin said: Cats are weird because they ARE weird. And generally useless. i have to disagree with that. their scent alone will keep pests away. rats obviously, but also birds (ever had a crow infestation?) the few brave (or stupid) enough who dare enter their territory are on the menu for your cat: squirrels, roaches, pigeons ...pretty much anything that moves. aaand face it, cuteness is useful in itself :3 "What do you mean I'm not helping?" --cat, probably. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mona Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 12 hours ago, jabrwky said: One of my favorites: Site: http://theoatmeal.com Sharecode[?]: /comics/kitty_pet This one is also funny and so true ..... CAT VS. INTERNET http://theoatmeal.com/comics/cat_vs_internet Quote We have 10. Oldest is 20, next 19-yrs. Biggest = 18-lbs. The entertainment never ends. Miss Beady, Mr. Softie, Possum, Sweetpea, Mr. Gray, Little Black, Sammy, Sunny, Little Tiger, Puff. @jabrwky , how come aren't you yet a member of our nSane "cats league" ? You are kindly invited to our thread and present all your cats there. BTW. You need not sharecode links like the one above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WALLONN7 Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 Someone has not yet accepted the loss of his pussy... Only this explains the disdain... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ballistic Gelatin Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 2 hours ago, WALLONN7 said: Someone has not yet accepted the loss of his pussy... Only this explains the disdain... I knew I had lost my pussy when my girlfriend informed me that I would be sleeping on the couch tonight. Oh wait, we're talking about FOUR-footed pussies. Sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VileTouch Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 49 minutes ago, Ballistic Gelatin said: I knew I had lost my pussy when my girlfriend informed me that I would be sleeping on the couch tonight. Oh wait, we're talking about FOUR-footed pussies. Sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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