4 ms·

> While dogs slowed down and hesitated before they attempted to use an uncomfortably small opening, in the case of cats, we did not detect this change in their

> While dogs slowed down and hesitated before they attempted to use an uncomfortably small opening, in the case of cats, we did not detect this change in their behavior before their attempt to go through even the narrowest openings. However, remarkably, cats showed hesitation both before they attempted to penetrate the shortest openings, and while they moved through it. I just skimmed, but I didn’t see any mention whiskers. It’s seems to me that cats can make highly precise measurements of width just by sticking their heads in a space, but height judgments requires additional consideration.

deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
melvyn2 2y ago
> Cats are also aided by their large and sensitive vibrissae, which are positioned on such locations of their head that the cat can detect nearby obstacles in closer encounters. Vibrissal sensation can compensate for the somewhat weaker vision in cats from closer distances or in poorly illuminated environments. Therefore, it is possible that cats approached the narrow openings in our experiment without differential hesitation, and they could use their vibrissae to assess the suitability of the apertures before penetrating them.
- move-on-by 2y ago
  Oh thank you! I’m just a lowly cat owner and did not know what vibrissae are.
diggan 2y ago
From skimming the HN comments: > Wiskers are mentioned, but using the scientific name - vibrissae https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41870897 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41870897
ChrisMarshallNY 2y ago
If you have ever put a cone on a cat (which lasts about five minutes), you see they get crazy. They hug the walls. Their whiskers are a major factor in their perception. I think they can also dislocate their spine. My cat likes to sit in what we call his "Buddha" position, with his back bent about 90 degrees, and his paws in front. This seems to be a common position. He'll sit like that for an hour.
- shepherdjerred 2y ago
  My cats are weird and loved their cones after they got neutered. One would stick his head back in the cone after I took it off.
  - ninalanyon 2y ago
    I think all cats are weird in their own way. Our cat often sunbathed in the middle of parking space across the road. We occasionally had to go out to fetch him because he would refuse to move when someone started to drive into the space.
    - Halfwhit 2y ago
      I have a ginger tomboy who does exactly this. He loves just rolling around in the fine layer of dirt while keeping an eye out for birds or frogs
      - pfdietz 2y ago
        Orange cats sharing their one brain cell.
        ChrisMarshallNY 2y ago
        I think mine goes to the bathroom, when it's his turn with it...
        poulsbohemian 2y ago
        I hear this sentiment often, but it doesn't match my own experience with orange cats... the one I had back in high school (orange male) was at least as intelligent as any other cat I've had. The orange female I have now is very clingy / anxious and far more territorial than any of my other cats, but otherwise demonstrates at least average cat intelligence. I'd had a variety of different types of cats - a japanese bobtail, a balinese, a siamese, various calicos and domestic types - and the orange ones have been on the upper end of intelligence by comparison.
abanana 2y ago
> Highly precise... requires additional consideration You've just reminded me of watching the family cat when I was a child, wanting to squeeze himself into the gap between the end of a sofa and the wall. He tested the gap with his whiskers a couple of times - nope, too narrow. Then the lightbulb moment - he turned just his head sideways, and tested again. Plenty of room! So he rammed himself into the gap. And got stuck.

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]

melvyn2 2y ago

> Cats are also aided by their large and sensitive vibrissae, which are positioned on such locations of their head that the cat can detect nearby obstacles in closer encounters. Vibrissal sensation can compensate for the somewhat weaker vision in cats from closer distances or in poorly illuminated environments. Therefore, it is possible that cats approached the narrow openings in our experiment without differential hesitation, and they could use their vibrissae to assess the suitability of the apertures before penetrating them.

move-on-by 2y ago
Oh thank you! I’m just a lowly cat owner and did not know what vibrissae are.

diggan 2y ago

From skimming the HN comments: > Wiskers are mentioned, but using the scientific name - vibrissae https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41870897 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41870897

ChrisMarshallNY 2y ago

If you have ever put a cone on a cat (which lasts about five minutes), you see they get crazy. They hug the walls. Their whiskers are a major factor in their perception. I think they can also dislocate their spine. My cat likes to sit in what we call his "Buddha" position, with his back bent about 90 degrees, and his paws in front. This seems to be a common position. He'll sit like that for an hour.

shepherdjerred 2y ago
My cats are weird and loved their cones after they got neutered. One would stick his head back in the cone after I took it off.
- ninalanyon 2y ago
  I think all cats are weird in their own way. Our cat often sunbathed in the middle of parking space across the road. We occasionally had to go out to fetch him because he would refuse to move when someone started to drive into the space.
  - Halfwhit 2y ago
    I have a ginger tomboy who does exactly this. He loves just rolling around in the fine layer of dirt while keeping an eye out for birds or frogs
    - pfdietz 2y ago
      Orange cats sharing their one brain cell.
      - ChrisMarshallNY 2y ago
        I think mine goes to the bathroom, when it's his turn with it...
      - poulsbohemian 2y ago
        I hear this sentiment often, but it doesn't match my own experience with orange cats... the one I had back in high school (orange male) was at least as intelligent as any other cat I've had. The orange female I have now is very clingy / anxious and far more territorial than any of my other cats, but otherwise demonstrates at least average cat intelligence. I'd had a variety of different types of cats - a japanese bobtail, a balinese, a siamese, various calicos and domestic types - and the orange ones have been on the upper end of intelligence by comparison.

abanana 2y ago

> Highly precise... requires additional consideration You've just reminded me of watching the family cat when I was a child, wanting to squeeze himself into the gap between the end of a sofa and the wall. He tested the gap with his whiskers a couple of times - nope, too narrow. Then the lightbulb moment - he turned just his head sideways, and tested again. Plenty of room! So he rammed himself into the gap. And got stuck.