Studies conducted to date to measure animals’ awareness of their own bodies are generally based on the classical concept of self-representation. This concept suggests that animals can only represent themselves in their mental models if they pass the mirror mark test. The theory of self-representation has been used to detect full self-awareness in children and non-human animals. In this paradigm, researchers, by directly considering the adaptive characteristics of a species, can hypothesize about certain behavioral manifestations of self-representation. This approach has been deemed suitable for designing ecologically valid experiments to test animals’ ability to represent themselves.
In his study, Pongrácz examined whether cats decide based on their body size before attempting to pass through a narrow space. There are relatively few, though growing, examples showing that non-human species can negotiate appropriately sized openings based on their body dimensions. The range of these animals spans from species with relatively small brains, such as wasps, terrestrial crabs (Coenobita spp.), and snakes, to mammals like birds with high cognitive abilities and predatory mammals like dogs. Body awareness enables an individual to negotiate spatial challenges by modeling their physical attributes in their mind. As members of the Felidae family, highly agile ambush predators well-adapted to overcoming difficult obstacles and spatial challenges in the physical environment, can cats achieve this?
In a study involving thirty different cats, the first step was to record the body size parameters of the cats. Researchers prepared two different panels to test body awareness in cats.One panel had five openings of varying widths but the same height, while the other had openings of gradually decreasing height but a constant width. The panels were placed in the cats’ living environments, and the cats’ reactions to the experimental setup were video-recorded by their owners.
When examining the recordings of the cats, it was observed that in the case of the same height openings, the cats’ behavior was independent of repeated trials and their body measurements. Although the cats hesitated more toward the end of the trials when passing through narrow openings, the researchers concluded that this was an insignificant trend. The cats exhibited more hesitation as they approached the shortest openings. In the fourth and fifth trials, the cats sought alternative routes instead of passing through the opening. In the larger openings during the first three trials, it was observed that taller cats were more likely to seek an alternative route.
In this study, which tested the size awareness of cats, it was found that cats did not hesitate when passing through the narrowest openings. Based on this, evidence was provided to suggest that cats may not make preemptive decisions based on their body size when approaching tall openings, even if these openings are narrower than their chest width. The researchers hypothesized that the primary reason for this is the cats’ small clavicles, which allow them to pass through such spaces without significant difficulty. Since narrow but high openings do not pose a significant challenge for passage, a seamless approach, likely acquired through experience (i.e., supported by body awareness), has become a biologically meaningful solution. Interestingly, as the openings became shorter than the cats’ shoulder height, the cats’ hesitation to pass through increased, demonstrating their reliance on body size representation. It was concluded that the primary reason for the cats’ anxiety when passing through shorter openings was a sense of vulnerability. Additionally, the tendency of taller cats to seek alternative routes suggests that size awareness plays a role in these circumstances. It was also speculated that this might be merely habitual for larger cats.
In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the vertical and horizontal dimensions of an opening hold different levels of importance for cats, and it also provides evidence that cats may possess multiple forms of body awareness. The cats we frequently encounter daily, many of whom are our companions, are far more conscious of their movements than we might assume. Before approaching a space, cats can assess its vertical and horizontal dimensions and decide whether they can pass through based on their anatomical awareness, which they develop through experience. Narrow openings are merely obstacles that cats can easily overcome; however, in the case of shorter gaps, they may hesitate, feel vulnerable, and tend to seek alternative solutions.
Author: Beyza Terzi
Editor: Fatma Duran
Reference: Pongrácz, P. (2024). Cats are (almost) liquid!—Cats selectively rely on body size awareness when negotiating short openings. IScience, 110799. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2024.110799
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