BEHAVIOUR
Get food
Protect predator
sleeping
Cats are fascinating but sometimes mysterious creatures. Increasing our understanding and knowledge of their behaviour, can only enhance our enjoyment and love of these special animals.
How cat gets food
Cats may prefer to use their eyes rather than follow their nose when it comes to finding the location of food, according to new research by leading animal behaviourists. Felines have a tremendous sense of smell and vision, but the new study by researchers at the University of Lincoln, UK, has for the first time investigated which sense they prefer to use under test conditions – and suggested sight may be more important than smell.
A group of six cats were placed in a maze which had 'decision' points – and the cats had to choose which avenue they took based on their preference for using images or smell. They were simultaneously presented with two squares of paper, each containing a different visual and odour cue. One combination of stimuli indicated they would receive a food reward, whereas the other led to no reward.
Once the cats had learned the rules of the game and received food rewards for correctly choosing either the visual stimulus or the olfactory stimulus, the researchers separated the cues (visual versus olfactory) to investigate whether the cats were using their eyes or nose to solve the task.
Four out of the six cats picked the visual cue, over the odour cue, to receive their food reward with only one cat preferring to use its nose and the sixth showing no preference. So it seems that when they had the choice, cats simply preferred the visual signals over the olfactory ones.
The findings have now been published by the international journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science.
Evy Mayes carried out the research at the University of Lincoln while she was studying for her Masters degree in feline behaviour and welfare. Evy, who is now working at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, explained: "Up until now we really thought that the sense of smell would dominate how cats view their world, but we are now reconsidering this and also the implications of how we manage them. At Battersea Dogs & Cats Home we make sure that our cats are housed in the best possible environment - one that respects the cat and provides each individual with whatever it needs in order to help it adapt to a rehoming environment. I was also particularly surprised by the speed at which the cats learned how to solve the task, which is very encouraging for future cat behaviour studies."
Professor Daniel Mills, who supervised the study and is based in the University of Lincoln's School of Life Sciences, added: "We live in a complex world and use all of our senses to make sense of it. This is the first time we have asked cats how they operate rather than assumed this from what we know about their senses. Another important finding from this work is the individual variability - different cats had quite fixed preferences, and this may have important implications for their welfare. If there is a cat which has a strong preference for using its nose then simple changes in the smell of the environment might have a big impact on it, whereas, for others it may be insignificant. This work provides a unique insight into the important principles of attending to the needs of the individual rather than the population in general for good welfare." Due to the small sample size, further investigation is required to infer a general preference for cats to use visual over olfactory stimuli when learning the location of food.
2. How cat protects from predators
Crouching. This position gives an illusion that the cat appears to be smaller and less threatening to the other cat
Turning over and exposing the belly is the ultimate defensive posture. Having the belly up gives the cat the ability to engage all its weapons such as its claws, teeth, etc. However, sometimes cats expose their belly to humans during bonding. In this case, it means relaxed or completely trusting. In some cases, you may find your cat attacking your hand while you are trying to rub its tummy. It is a natural reaction for the cat to defend itself in such position
Arched back
Tail shaped like an inverted "U"
Ears rotated to the side and downward
Ears rotated back and totally flattened
Prolonged stare
Round pupils (round pupils can also indicate interest, excitement or fear, depending on the circumstances)
3. Sleeping Habits
Cats have the reputation for being aloof, and although it’s not an accurate assessment, some of that interpretation comes from the fact that cats are known for sleeping much of the day. Some people even label cats as lazy because sleeping takes up about two-thirds of their lives. Referring to cats as lazy is about as far from the truth as you can get. For people who don’t like cats or aren’t familiar with them, it may seem as if cats don’t “do” anything and just rely on humans to supply an endless supply of food. If you take a moment to really look at why cats sleep the way they do, you’ll end up with an entirely different perspective and a new respect for how a cat’s body works so efficiently.
http://phys.org/news/2015-02-cats-sight-food.html#jCp
http://www.catbehaviorassociates.com/why-do-cats-sleep-so-much/