Science proves what we suspected: cats are fundamentally “liquid”

Cats and dogs have long been among the most popular pets worldwide, admired for their companionship, loyalty and distinct personalities. These creatures continue to improve the lives of families around the world, whether due to the independent appeal of cats or the devoted nature of dogs.

Cat owners are aware that their animals move differently than other pets. Cats are often described as “liquid,” as if their bodies simply went wherever they were. Many pet owners have been amazed by this liquid-like action, and it seems that cats are aware of this amazing ability, as they often exhibit complacent behavior when doing so.

Cats are not only popular pets because of their fluid movements. Her personality, often characterized by humor and independence, makes her an enticing companion. Whether it’s a dog’s grace or loyalty, these pets always manage to win people over and deepen the relationship between humans and animals.

According to the new study published in iScience, Cats rely selectively on body size perception when negotiating short openings.

According to the author of the research paper, different animal species can make a priori decisions about the passability of openings based on their own size knowledge. No one has yet tested the ability for self-expression in cats. We hypothesized that cats may rely on size awareness when negotiating small openings.

Companion cats were tested with increasingly smaller openings that were either the same height or the same width. Cats approached and entered even the narrowest openings, but they slowed before reaching and passing through the shortest openings.

Because of their specific anatomical features and cautious locomotion strategy, cats readily opt for the trial-and-error method of negotiating narrow openings, but for uncomfortably short openings they appear to rely on their body size to provide capacity. Ecologically valid methods could provide answers in the future as to whether cats would rely on their body awareness for other demanding spatial tasks, write the authors of the study.