Why Do Cats Do That?

Introduction

• Cats are cute, lovable, and very entertaining.
• Over 26 billion views of 2 million YouTube cat videos.
• Cats have behaviors that seem strange and amusing, leading to the question: Why do they do that?

Evolutionary Background

• Cats were both solitary predators and prey for larger carnivores.
• Survival depended on crucial instinctual behaviors, evident in both wild and domestic cats today.

Climbing

• Unique muscular structure and balancing abilities enable climbing.
• In the wild, cats climbed to high vantage points to survey territory and spot prey.
• Domestic cats, like Grizmo, climb to view their environment for similar instinctual reasons.

Hunting Behavior

• Wild cats are opportunistic hunters, preying on small animals multiple times a day.
• They used a stalk, pounce, kill, eat strategy.
• Domestic cats chase and pounce on toys, prefer small meals throughout the day.
• Curiosity in reaching into containers and openings mirrors wild hunting behavior.

Sharp Claws

• Wild cats needed sharp claws for climbing, hunting, and self-defense.
• Claw sharpening kept them conditioned, stretched muscles, and relieved stress.
• Domestic cats scratch furniture to maintain claw condition and for similar reasons.

Hiding and Small Spaces

• As prey, cats evolved to avoid getting caught, squeezed into small spaces to hide.
• Domestic cats seek unconventional spots and prefer clean litter boxes to avoid detection.

Purring

• Cats purr for various reasons: happiness, stress, hunger.
• Purr frequency (25-150 Hz) can promote tissue regeneration.
• Purring may heal muscles and bones for both cats and humans.

Conclusion

• Domestic cats retain many wild instincts.
• Our homes are jungles to them.
• Question remains: Do cats see us as hairless cats, predators, or prey?