That thing about how cats think humans are big kittens is a myth, y’know.
It’s basically born of false assumptions; folks were trying to explain how a naturally solitary animal could form such complex social bonds with humans, and the explanation they settled on is “it’s a displaced parent/child bond”.
The trouble is, cats aren’t naturally solitary. We just assumed they were based on observations of European wildcats – but housecats aren’t descended from European wildcats. They’re descended from African wildcats, which are known to hunt in bonded pairs and family groupings, and that social tendency is even stronger in their domesticated relatives. The natural social unit of the housecat is a colony: a loose affiliation of cats centred around a shared territory held by alliance of dominant females, who raise all of the colony’s kittens communally.
It’s often remarked that dogs understand that humans are different, while cats just think humans are big, clumsy cats, and that’s totally true – but they regard us as adult colonymates, not as kittens, and all of their social behaviour toward us makes a lot more sense through that lens.
The like to cuddle because communal grooming is how cats bond with colonymates – it establishes a shared scent-identity for the colony and helps clean spots that they can’t easily reach on their own.
They bring us dead animals because cats transport surplus kills back to the colony’s shared territory for consumption by pregnant, nursing, or sick colonymates who can’t easily hunt on their own. Indeed, that’s why they kill so much more than they individually need – it’s not for fun, but to generate enough surplus kills to sustain the colony’s non-hunting members.
They’re okay with us messing with their kittens because communal parenting is the norm in a colony setting, and us being colonymates in their minds automatically makes us co-parents.
It’s even why many cats are so much more tolerant toward very small children, as long as those children are related to one of their regular humans: they can tell the difference between human adults and human “kittens”, and your kittens are their kittens.
Basically, you’re going to have a much easier time getting a handle on why your cat does why your cat does if you remember that the natural mode of social organisation for cats is not as isolated solitary hunters, but as a big communal catpile – and for that purpose, you count as a cat.
Tag: the vet speaks
Baby bird season is incoming and I’d like to remind everyone that birds do not have a significant sense of smell. Bird parents will not reject birdlets because you have handled them.
If you see smol birbs with few or no feathers on the ground, you can safely put them back into their nest, bird parents will still care for them.
If you see smol birbs with some or most feathers on the ground, please leave them there, as bird parents are probably nearby watching and feeding.
nakey bird = accidentally fell out, is cold and scared, put back in nest! if you can’t reach the nest, try to put it on a wide branch or fork so predators can’t get at it as easily.
scruffy feather bird = starting to try the fly thing, not very good at it. only put in nest/branch if predators abound, i.e. you have four outdoor cats and they’re licking their chops.
fluffy feather bird = smol fly guy! do nothing. can probably get away from predators and will flip its shit if you pick it up.
Cats Who Just Realized You Took Them To The Vet
“NO.”
omg the second last one!!
So, people are reblogging my Bahorel Les Mis Modern Aesthetic with comments like…
…and it’s making me think that I really need to share some of my veterinarian stories of very large men with tiny puppies and kittens BECAUSE IT IS EVERY BIT AS PRECIOUS AS YOU THINK IT IS. So, yeah. Mental note. I clearly need to tell some of those stories and adapt them for Bahorel. Just saying. ;D
(Tags belonging to @spidernerd, @flabberballs, and @myminionsandieatcereal)
PETA
you guys remember when PETA stole people pets off their porches and euthanized them?
you guys remember how it came out that PETA kills about 90% of the animals it takes in, including healthy and adoptable puppies and kittens, stating “
We could become a no-kill shelter immediately. It means we wouldn’t do as much work”?
you guys remember when PETA advocated killing all pit bulls for the crime of being pit bulls?
you guys remember when PETA handed out these comics to children when there were no adults looking?
you guys remember when they made a porn site and then filled it with videos of animal abuse, and (also in that link) claimed cats should be vegetarian?
you guys remember when PETA lied about sheep shearing, got caught, and defended the lie as true even after they admitted the sheep in their picture wasn’t even real?
you guys remember when they tried to excuse their horrifying ways by claiming that the person who exposed them was manipulating the facts by taking them and putting them in the wrong context?
Because I remember. I remember everything.
And I’m gonna make sure everyone else remembers too.
Why would they kill pit bulls they’re sweeties
Because PETA does not care about animals. they do not care that these dogs live and breathe and feel and want love like every other dog. they do not care about the history of human/dog bonding and co-evolution, they do not care that dogs and human beings have relied on each other for millennia, they do not care that its cruel and morally repugnant to put down an animal just because you can, they do not care about animals.
PETA cares about money and publicity, its a corporation run by a psychopath who is afraid of pitts as it states in the link: she was apparently bit by one, and now she hates them.
PETA doesn’t give a rats ass about animals. They just want to kill and make money off of idiots who fall of their spiel.
Some celebs support them
ah c’mon, dear-tumb1r, I think you’re being a bit harsh. I mean, okay, PETA’s done some questionable things, but it’s not like they’ve also
–spread false information about milk causing autism based on outdated bullshit information
–used holocaust imagery to compare the meat industry to concentration camps (no pictures)
Nah. PETA’s not that bad.
(/the heaviest of all my fucking sarcasm, I am salty as a fucking winter road, lord do I fucking hate PETA)
Did you think i was fucking joking, PETA?
I will make sure everyone fucking remembers what you’ve done.
Bringing it back, because it’s charity season and people need to know NOT to give charity to these fuckers.
HSUS is just as bad
Don’t donate to HSUS eitherI often wonder about celebrities who endorse PETA. Do they not know? Has no one told them? Why would you want to be associated with an organization with such an awful and shady history?
Organizations to support instead are
and many others… there are tons of farm animal sanctuaries worldwide. Just be sure to check their nonprofit status before donating.
perfect, thank you!!
A veterinarian created a natural cat feeding system to keep your cat both happy and healthy. Get more information here
@planecrackers
wow this is rly cool
Cooooool!
I have a feeling her dog had puppies and she got too attached.
I have a feeling she is me in the future.
This is nearly enough dogs.
This is one of the best aquatic turtle enclosures I have ever seen. While it seems over the top, everything present is necessary for happy, healthy turtles. At least 100 gallons of water, filter, heater, basking lamp, UV light, haul out area, and dry land. If all aquatic turtles were kept this way I’d never see any because they would rarely get sick.
Source Unknown.
Easter is coming up! And it’s a terrible time for pet store bunnies!
Rabbits are marketed as “easy”, short-lived, starter pets, especially during the Easter holidays, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth! A healthy, well cared for bunny can live just as long as the average cat or dog- 10-12 years!
What’s more, they have more complex needs than a cat or a dog. Rabbits are prey animals and do not behave or show affection in the same way as predators like cats and dogs; they don’t deal well with being outside-only animals; they can get sad if they’re on their own and don’t receive enough attention; and if they’re bought as a male and female couple, they can start reproducing from as early as 5-6 months of age, and they can carry multiple litters at the same time!
They have a specialised diet (NOT carrots!), need a specialised living area (unless you want all your things to get chewed up!), and they need specialised vets! Caring for them costs as much as caring for a dog!
They’re a big responsibility!
BUNNY SAFETY SIGNAL BOOST BECAUSE BUNNIES ARE IMPORTANT
eirenical17 