One of a feline’s most devastating offensive/kill maneuvers is to grab its prey in its front paws belly to belly (claws out to keep hold), and use its more powerful back feet’s claws to slice through its prey’s belly. Repeatedly until the victims guts fall out, leaving the victim evicerated and slowly dying. What you are seeing when they are “playing” like that is them practicing a lethal combo move.
Even common housecats are murder machines. They don’t have bells because they are cute, the bells are to warn birds and squirrels of incoming doom. I’m serious, they are the #1 killer of small animals.
To back up your point. There was a species of flightless birds on an island in New Zealand called Stephens Island wren (Traversia lyalli) and that was their only habitat.
After a lighthouse was built the lighthouse keeper had a pet cat that ate the bird to extinction.
It wasn’t a single cat, but yeah. The island became infested with them. After the damage was done, they sent men with shotguns to kill the cats. Whole lotta good all that did.
Which is one of the reasons cats and dogs hate each other — they speak completely different languages. Not just the belly example, but when a dog wags its tail, it’s friendly. When a cat waves its tail, watch out!
Cats and dogs raised together eventually work this out.
I know this was a joke, but it’s actually them showing you that they trust you enough to show you their most vulnerable spot. Cats can snuggle against you or sleep in your lap if they like you, but they get something out of that exchange. Showing their belly is purely letting you know you’re trusted. It’s like a hug.
My cats are indoors only, in part because I’m worried they’ll be abused/stolen but also because they are apex predators. I’ve seen them even just playing and they’re… Brutal. I have literal scars from them ‘playing’.
But they’re happy. And safe. It’s OK for them to be indoors cats if I just keep them stimulated. They have zoomies, they get a bit shitty at times but they’re fine.
One could argue that domestic cats proliferation throughout the world is from human action as well. Their natural habitat certainly wasn’t the south of Wales before we stepped in and took them all over the world for them to evolve into different types. My understanding is that most house cats evolved from desert dwelling cats.
I saw a YouTube video a long time ago where they strapped cameras to outdoor cats. They were all pets, not feral. They thought they were going to get these cute videos of their cats playing and exploring the world but they were pretty much non-stop murdering.
I figure it’s similar to why humans get the urge to throw things since that was our main hunting technique for a long time. We have entire sports built around it and just about everyone gets the urge to toss paper in the bin instead of just dropping it.
If I remember correctly the domesticated house cat is one of the predators with the highest success rates in hunting. A small species of wild cat holds the record for the absolute highest access rate. They’re ambulatory buzz saws.
They’re also the only animal in Star Trek that gives multiple officers nightmares. Long live Spot.
Nobody in here is serious haha!
One of a feline’s most devastating offensive/kill maneuvers is to grab its prey in its front paws belly to belly (claws out to keep hold), and use its more powerful back feet’s claws to slice through its prey’s belly. Repeatedly until the victims guts fall out, leaving the victim evicerated and slowly dying. What you are seeing when they are “playing” like that is them practicing a lethal combo move.
Even common housecats are murder machines. They don’t have bells because they are cute, the bells are to warn birds and squirrels of incoming doom. I’m serious, they are the #1 killer of small animals.
To back up your point. There was a species of flightless birds on an island in New Zealand called Stephens Island wren (Traversia lyalli) and that was their only habitat.
After a lighthouse was built the lighthouse keeper had a pet cat that ate the bird to extinction.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyall’s_wren
It wasn’t a single cat, but yeah. The island became infested with them. After the damage was done, they sent men with shotguns to kill the cats. Whole lotta good all that did.
TLDR When a cat rolls over and shows its belly, its pointing a GUN at you.
Edit: they’re also so murderous that they practice their aim by shooting themselves in the face over and over again, for FUN.
When a dog does that, you goddamn scratch that belly.
Which is one of the reasons cats and dogs hate each other — they speak completely different languages. Not just the belly example, but when a dog wags its tail, it’s friendly. When a cat waves its tail, watch out!
Cats and dogs raised together eventually work this out.
Gun show: Admit One
I know this was a joke, but it’s actually them showing you that they trust you enough to show you their most vulnerable spot. Cats can snuggle against you or sleep in your lap if they like you, but they get something out of that exchange. Showing their belly is purely letting you know you’re trusted. It’s like a hug.
Domestic cats are the second largest source of exinction globaly, after human action
My cats are indoors only, in part because I’m worried they’ll be abused/stolen but also because they are apex predators. I’ve seen them even just playing and they’re… Brutal. I have literal scars from them ‘playing’.
But they’re happy. And safe. It’s OK for them to be indoors cats if I just keep them stimulated. They have zoomies, they get a bit shitty at times but they’re fine.
Also cars. Thats another reason my cat is indoors only
One could argue that domestic cats proliferation throughout the world is from human action as well. Their natural habitat certainly wasn’t the south of Wales before we stepped in and took them all over the world for them to evolve into different types. My understanding is that most house cats evolved from desert dwelling cats.
Yeah, but its not as good a soundbite. Rats are #3 and they spread by humans too
I saw a YouTube video a long time ago where they strapped cameras to outdoor cats. They were all pets, not feral. They thought they were going to get these cute videos of their cats playing and exploring the world but they were pretty much non-stop murdering.
Got a link for that? I’m interested to watch
Can confirm. My adopted rag doll mix does this to my hands. Grab and flipper kick till submission. RIP my hands.
I figure it’s similar to why humans get the urge to throw things since that was our main hunting technique for a long time. We have entire sports built around it and just about everyone gets the urge to toss paper in the bin instead of just dropping it.
If I remember correctly the domesticated house cat is one of the predators with the highest success rates in hunting. A small species of wild cat holds the record for the absolute highest access rate. They’re ambulatory buzz saws.
They’re also the only animal in Star Trek that gives multiple officers nightmares. Long live Spot.
They are nature automated can openers
Nah. My cats see me as a biped can opener
This reminds me of this infographic.
https://letstalkscience.ca/sites/default/files/styles/x_large/public/2019-10/Graphic-What_kills_birds.png?itok=SSmZujjf