Most cats enjoy being in high places. Whether it's a high shelf, a window perch or the top of the refrigerator, your cat may feel more comfortable in the upper half of the room where he can keep an eye on the world around him.
Instinct plays a large role in determing this classical feline penchant. Cats are tree-climbing mammals that descended from Proailurus, the first true cat, about 34 million years ago. Early cats were hunters and many of them lived in the rain forests. Their claws enabled them to climb skillfully, escaping into trees for safety or climbing to lie in wait for prey. In other words, climbing had survival value and became hard-wired as a way of life for cats.
Our cats climb for safety and just for the fun of it. They will sprint up and down a tree -- or your draperies -- with the same skill their ancestors used in the forest. Their flexible musculoskeletal system gives them exceptional coordination and balance and enables them to jump. Strong muscles in the hindquarters and back enable a cat to leap several times his own length, either horizontally or vertically. Also, claws are as important to cats for anchoring and leverage as grappling irons and crampons are to rock climber.
Watch a cat before he leaps onto a high place. He leans back and stares. He seems to be calculating angles from where he is to where he's going. Then without taking his eyes from the intended spot, he becomes airborne. But he doesn't land with a thud. Making a graceful jump, and he seems to hover momentarily before his paws softly touch down. Then your kitty makes himself comfortable, turns around a few times, tucks in his paws, and enjoys the panoramic vista from his lofty safe haven. Life's not so tough at the top.
Related Articles
-
1
Why Do Cats Knead So Much?
Kneading is a sign that your cat is happy, comfortable and relaxed and you should feel proud if your cat deems you worthy of being kneaded. It's your pet's way of saying he's glad you are there.
» Read More
-
2
Why Do Cats Hiss?
When your cat hisses, it is a defensive behavior; in fact, it's an evolutionary deceptive strategy called mimicry and occurs when one species of animal looks or behaves like another.
» Read More
-
3
Why Do Cats Rub Up Against Things?
Cats are equipped with glands that secrete pheromones, which are substances produced by insects, animals and humans that act as a form of chemical communication. Pheromones are akin to fingerprints in...
» Read More
-
4
Why Cats Land on Their Feet
Contrary to popular belief, falling cats do not always land on their feet. In fact, every day cats sustain serious injuries from falling out of open windows, off balconies and from rooftops.
» Read More
-
5
Whiskers: Your Cat’s Finger on the World
It’s said that if a cat’s whiskers touch a mouse in the dark, the cat reacts with the speed and precision of a mousetrap. Whiskers serve as delicate sense organs of touch and are the equivalent to our...
» Read More