Cats: Science’s Fascinating Felines
Can Humans Identify Cats by Scent?
A study published in the journal Perception explored whether humans can identify their cats by their scent alone. Cat owners were presented with two blankets, one impregnated with the scent of an unfamiliar cat and the other with the scent of their own pet. Surprisingly, only about 50% of cat owners could correctly identify their cat’s blanket, a success rate no better than random chance. However, when a similar experiment was conducted with dog owners, nearly 90% recognized their pet by its scent. This difference may be due to the fact that dogs invest less energy in grooming and emit a stronger bouquet of microbial flora.
Cats: Efficient Vampire Predators
A 1994 study published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science suggests that cats are skilled predators of vampire bats. Researchers observed outdoor cats living near livestock, which are common prey for vampire bats in Latin America. The presence of a house cat was found to discourage vampire bats from foraging on goats, pigs, cows, and even humans. However, the cats sometimes waited to pounce until after the bats had sucked their prey dry, which is less beneficial from our perspective.
Are Cats Obese? Human Denial and Reality
Feline nutritionists have identified numerous factors contributing to rampant obesity in house cats, and one of the biggest challenges is human denial. A 2006 study published in the Journal of Nutrition interviewed 60 German owners of overweight cats. Researchers found striking differences between how the owners perceived their cats and how the scientists saw them. Only a small percentage of owners readily admitted that their cat was overweight, while the majority used euphemisms or denied the issue altogether. Fat cat owners were less likely to recognize their cats’ weight problems than owners of overweight dogs, possibly because cats appear less often in public, where others might comment.
Cats Under the Influence: The Effects of Alcohol
A 1946 study published in Psychosomatic Medicine explored the effects of alcohol on stressed-out felines. Cats were given saucers of alcohol-spiked milk, and all became intoxicated. The giddy kitties lost paw-eye coordination and struggled to perform recently learned tasks. At the height of their inebriation, they couldn’t respond to signals or operate food-delivery mechanisms. Some of the more stressed-out cats even developed a preference for alcoholic drinks.
A Royal Co-Author: The Cat Who Helped Publish a Physics Paper
In 1975, physicist Jack H. Hetherington published a paper entitled “Two-, Three-, and Four-Atom Exchange Effects in bcc ³He” in the journal Physics Review Letters. However, the paper faced an unusual obstacle: Hetherington had written it using the royal “we” pronoun, which was against the journal’s rules. Rather than retype the entire paper, Hetherington recruited a distinguished-sounding co-author: his Siamese cat, Chester. Chester’s name was officially upgraded to F.D.C. Willard (F and D for Felis domesticus, C for Chester, and Willard for the cat’s father).
A Serial Killer Cat: The Devastating Impact of Feline Predation
A 2007 study published in the journal “Seventeen Years of Predation by One Suburban Cat in New Zealand” documented the shocking killing sprees of a lone feline predator. The house cat in question was responsible for the total eradication of rabbits throughout its backyard territory. The study’s author revealed that the “delinquent cat” under scrutiny was his own pet, Peng You, who had provided all the data.
Cats and Sharks: An Unlikely Connection
A 2003 study published in the Journal of Wildlife Diseases suggests that cats may play a role in the deaths of sea otters by Great White sharks. Researchers found that otters infected with toxoplasma gondii, a parasite commonly found in cat poop, were more likely to be killed by Great White sharks. The infection may cause otters to act sluggish, making them easy prey. Cats may transmit the disease to otters through their feces, which can be flushed into the ocean via storm water run-off.
Cat Cafés: A Feline Paradise for Humans
The emerging phenomenon of cat cafés, where humans pay for feline company, has provided a unique opportunity for anthropological research. A 2014 study published in Japanese Studies observed curious behaviors within cat cafés. Customers gathered to celebrate a cat’s birthday, dressing it in a miniature kimono and presenting it with gifts. The study also noted the use of the term “fuwa fuwa” to describe fluffy cats.
Cats and Birds: A Complex Relationship
A 2012 experiment published in the journal Behavioural Processes observed cats’ reactions to a novel object—a plush owlet with large glass eyes. The cats inevitably menaced and attacked the stuffed owlet. However, in a 2013 experiment published in The Journal of Applied Ecology, the tables were turned. Researchers placed a taxidermied tabby cat near the nests of wild blackbirds and recorded the birds’ aggressive reactions. The blackbirds were so disturbed by the decoy cat’s presence that they gathered less food, decreasing their hatchlings’ survival chances.
Cats at Play: What Do They Do for Fun?
A 2005 study published in the journal “Caregiver Perceptions of What Indoor Cats Do ‘For Fun'” investigated the various activities that cats engage in for amusement. The study found that cats enjoy playing with sponges, spinning, sleeping on toasters, helping to cook, and observing a variety of objects, including alpacas, parking lots, snowflakes, window awnings, and the sun. However, one of the most popular activities among cats is simply “staring at nothing.”
