this post was submitted on 17 Oct 2023
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[–] [email protected] 109 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Farming -> grain -> rodents -> cats

[–] [email protected] 60 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I like OP's version better, so that's what is fact now.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 1 year ago (3 children)

You can like it, but the hard truth is that cats were never domesticated. They can leave anytime they want and would be fine. Humans would never be the same, though…

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestication_of_the_cat

Indeed. I'm a little disappointed that wp doesn't mention that other than in the naming and talk.

A link from there:

https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/are-cats-domesticated

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I think that's because the narrow scientific term domestication is used in casual speach with a shifted meaning. And that's because we don't have any other expression for animals that you can be friends with that would sound as cool as domesticated (taming is too tame).

Edit: Sorry, got lost in the threads. I'll leave it here because it is still kind of on topic. I guess I should also add that domestication is a process and the line where an animal is considered domesticated is arbitrary.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

This only works for outdoor cats and in areas with plenty of prey. Most indoor cats don't do well if left on their own and outdoor cats often struggle too.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

My cat would die in seconds if I let him outside. He's too dumb to live.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Me too. dO YuOr oWn rEsEaRch

[–] [email protected] 24 points 1 year ago

That's what big cat wants you to think.

In reality, cats already ate the rodents, but now you have to pay them for doing it.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago

Hell. Even today cats are great for pest control, my cats go nuts if there's a fly in the house until they get it

Granted, a cat leaping across the room constantly to try and get it is way more annoying than the fly itself, but still lol

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago
[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Nuh uh, Cat domesticated us

[–] [email protected] 44 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I find it funny that besides intellect, us humans possess the greatest power, which is petting. Petting allows us to be friends with most animals that would otherwise kill us

[–] [email protected] 44 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Idk, i feel like control over food supply might be a bigger factor on these friendships :p

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Food is a good reason. But I'm friends with several cats I don't feed. Petting works!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Cats didn't domesticate themselves by being fed directly by humans. But humans still brought the food because humans bring rats and mice with them, cats stuck around for the greater volume of prey.

And the scritches, obviously.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Pretty sure my cat would still kill me if he had the ability. He'll be like "Give me pets. Scratch my belly. Now DIE!"

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

AFAIR it's because the cat showing you their belly is not "scratch my belly" but rather "I'm not afraid of you so I show you my most fragile of bits"

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This for sure. Next time your cat shows you their belly, scratch the back of their head or pet their back like you normally would and see if they react better.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

My cat actually loves belly rubs, but I remember that little tidbit with other cats.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Some cats do like it! Depending on situation, mine do as well, but my roommates have a cat who will quickly flop over to show her belly if you pet her, but will act offended and give a warning bite if you try to pet her there

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I don't know about that... Try petting a bear.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This could have gone a much different direction if they hadn't of petted it in exactly the right spot.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 year ago

"It shredded my whole arm!"

"And I love him, who's a good kitty?"

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Here is an alternative Piped link(s):

here kitty kitty

hello skin

the crossover episode

Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.

I'm open-source; check me out at GitHub.