• Rolando@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    The bedtime objection makes perfect sense. Cats evolved as hunters but not pack hunters, so they are careful to “share” territory by noticing when other cats are present, and avoiding the territory at that time. (Besides visual observation, they also smell the area and tell whether a foreign cat has rubbed up against the surfaces recently, as they can measure time by how much a scent has faded.). It’s likely that the nighttime is the cat’s “alone time” in the living room, and the humans are committing a faux pas by not appropriately sharing the territory.

    • ricecake@sh.itjust.works
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      6 months ago

      The domestic cat is actually evolved from a decently social feline. In the wild they like to live in colonies where they care for young, groom each other and will bring excess food back to. They’re not solitary, but they’re not pack like wolves. They basically treat humans like members of the colony.
      We think their affinity for routine comes from wanting to patrol their territory regularly and make sure nothing has changed, because change is alarming.

      Just like the human pattern recognition system has some funny side effects like superstition, cat routine drive makes them seem really eccentric at times.

      you are now subscribed to cat facts: long form research edition

      • some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org
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        6 months ago

        First really good chuckle of the day. With a kitty standing on the armrest of my chair and howling at me for pets, I delay her gratification to salute you.

      • TheFriar@lemm.ee
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        6 months ago

        by noticing when other cats are present, and avoiding the territory at that time. (Besides visual observation, they also smell the area and tell whether a foreign cat has rubbed up against the surfaces recently

        If a tripod foe’s paw committed a faux pas by trespassing on their territory with their faux paw (and their three verdad paws)