3 ms·

I think you're misreading that paragraph. It is specifically saying the euphoria is not the _only_ reason that cats roll around in catnip.

• Schiphol 6y ago
  The "rather" connotes mutually exclusive alternatives, doesn't it? (I'm not a native speaker.)
  • armada651 6y ago
    I think it translates best to "echter" in this context. Which doesn't necessarily exclude other possibilities. However the sentence can simply be read in two ways. Both interpretations are equally valid.
  • andyjohnson0 6y ago
    Native English speaker here. I read it as qualifying the degree of functionality in the rolling behaviour. That is: the rolling behaviour is functional to a significant extent, but is not entirely functional.
  • selimthegrim 6y ago
    "I had rather a good time."
  • svachalek 6y ago
    Interesting, as a native speaker I am only familiar with it meaning mutual exclusion, with a range of connotations from "the former is the opposite of correct" to "let me adjust that thought slightly". However, Merriam-Webster supports my experience with the first 4 definitions and then drops a "but also" as the fifth. Sometimes I hate English. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rather https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rather