Cats Are Surprisingly Manipulative, According To British Scientists
Cats have mastered the art of trying to communicate with us, and here's how they do it.
British scientists have been studying the way cats on a particular street have been communicating with humans.
But he's not a stray. So what's he doing out and about? Read on...
I love this board–it's like something out of "Law & Order."
The group of scientists has been using video technology and observation to figure out why a domestic cat like Prince is roaming the roadways.
According to Dr. Ellis, it seems Prince has found the perfect way to communicate with humans–or rather, Prince has found the perfect way to get humans to fulfill his feline needs.
According to Dr. Ellis, Prince has essentially found a way to get what he wants from passersby on the street.
Prince actually has a home–he's not a runaway or feral cat. His owner is out of town though, and he's being taken care of by his owner's roommates. In his owner's absence, Dr. Ellis believes Prince is looking for someone else to fulfill his dietary and affection needs more fully. By rolling and showing his tummy, Prince is aware that he's being cute, and that humans will approach him and give him some love–and maybe, eventually, some food.
She sees him rolling and meowing, and she can't help but give him love and treats. Effectively, she's playing right into Prince's hand, and he's manipulating her into getting what he wants, if you want to look at it that way.
So basically meowing and conveying friendly body language are two ways cats have learned to adapt to life with humans.
Felines know how to get what they want, and that's how their species will survive as long as we're around.