The Cat Behavior Answer Book - Arden Moore [5]
TASTE ISN’T EVERYTHING. Cats have a reputation for being finicky eaters, and there is a scientific explanation. Cats have only about 473 taste buds compared to the more than 9,000 we possess. Because feline taste buds are few in number and poorly developed, cats depend more on their sense of smell than taste. They do not adopt the canine motto of “eat first, ask later” when it comes to food.
THE EYES HAVE IT. Finally, the reason Cleo may be missing that toy mouse right under her nose is because it is not moving. When it comes to the sight sense, cats surpass us in seeing movement due to their superior peripheral vision. Their pupils can dilate wider to capture more of a panoramic view than we can. However, they can be a bit myopic and not actually see what’s literally under their noses, like that toy mouse, because they have a blind spot right under their chins.
So, if you’re keeping score, it’s Cats 4, Humans 0, with a possible tie for vision. I guess we should be grateful that we have something cats don’t have — thumbs.
Predator or Prey?
Q I love watching my three cats bat around toy mice and chase the feathers on a wand toy. Why is their hunting instinct so strong after they have been domesticated for thousands of years?
A While we usually think of cats as mighty hunters, they actually fill the role of both prey and predator, depending on the other species involved. Let’s start with the predator part. All cats, from a mighty lion to that sweet kitty on your lap, are genetically programmed to hunt. In keeping with their size, cats focus on small mammals and birds. Interestingly, most biologists regard cats as small mammal experts and bird opportunists because cats tend not to be very good at catching birds unless the birds are sick, young, or ground nesting.
Predatory behavior is mostly innate, and kittens early on show a tendency to chase moving objects and to pounce on littermates. Just like us, they learn through trial and error, and their play sessions help them increase their speed and refine their leaping abilities.
Their moms also teach them by example. Outdoor cats often bring home a dead mouse or bird to their litter and eat it in front of the kittens to demonstrate needed behaviors. She will then present a dead animal to the kittens to eat themselves, and, finally, will bring home a nearly dead creature for the kittens to finish off. These experiences hone their hunting and killing skills. For indoor cats, the prey happens to be a store-bought toy or perhaps your pink slipper. But the lessons learned are the same, and many cats who never see a mouse or a bird until adulthood quickly figure out how to catch and kill their prey.
When the tables are turned and cats become the prey, they tap into their survival skills and the fight-or-flight mind-set. Outdoor cats are at risk not only from neighborhood dogs; even in suburban areas they often fall victim to coyotes, hawks, and other predators. Their first response is usually to flee if at all possible, either diving into a hiding place or scooting up a tree. A cornered cat can fight fiercely, however, as many a startled (and scratched) dog has discovered. The very tools that make them effective predators become their best defense. That must be where the phrase “to fight tooth and claw” comes from!
CAT GEOMETRY AND PERSONALITIES
When searching for a kitten or cat to adopt, how can you tell if your selection