Weird-News: Cats vs. Science

[ARNie]

Ever wonder what makes cats tick? That's what some scientists tried finding out...

Dogs are big, dumb, infinitely lovable obedience machines. Cats—love 'em, hate 'em, or spend half your day giggleweeping to Internet videos of them—are anything but. Why are they so willfully difficult? What's going on in their heads? The short version: we don't really know.

Cats are weird. My cat has done everything from comfort me in times of ever-so-slight emotional trouble to suddenly deciding, in the middle of an especially excellent petting session, that my hand doesn't look quite enough like the scene of a grisly butcher knife murder. Or I might put out food and say, "Come get it!" only to be greeted by perfect silence. Then, when I turn my back, the food miraculously disappears as though abducted by some paranormal whisper. Oh, and of course, who can forget the moments when their cat tears across the house chasing and/or running from nothing and/or their own dark pasts?

"Why?" we ask ourselves. "Why do you do these things, cat? Why can't you just make sense?"

It's especially frustrating given how far studies of animal cognition have come in recent years. For the longest time, scientists assumed that animals were—by and large—simple creatures (or even organic machines) incapable of abstract thought, real emotion, or complex learning. However, recent studies of dogs, monkeys, and even fish have proven quite the contrary. Turns out, dogs are capable of morality, jealousy, and even basic ethics.

But what about cats? Well, they're a little more... complicated.

There's a lengthier explanation into the research but if you want to delve into that...and come to the same conclusion that we're already familiar with...feel free to read all about it below:
http://tmi.kotaku.com/i-dont-get-cats-a ... rkhamilton" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;