What cats do when we’re not looking • Hacker News Board

Re: What cats do when we’re not looking

#11

Post by the-dude » Thu, Aug 05, 2021, 10:05 AM UTC

hellbannedguy wrote: post #8

eric4smith wrote: post #4

No need for GPS or cameras. Cats are stone cold hunter killers. Almost brainless too. They kill anything that moves and is edible. We all know cats that sometimes just kill for the sake of killing (practice??) and don’t even eat the prey. It’s like the cats brain is just made for hunting and killing and very little else. Just watch how stupid cats are in cat videos — except when they are hunting. I have a cat at one…

They are predators, but not brainless. I was working on my truck one summer night, and a cat introduced himself by meowing. I immediately thought he was abandoned. I took him to a vet, and no chip. He arrived a few days later with a breakaway collar, and tag. It turned out he was from a wealthy family, but didn't lije the dog. I am very allergic to cats, but this guy tried everything in order to live in my house. Eve…

Unlike dogs, cats domesticate themselves. It is a win-win.

Re: What cats do when we’re not looking

#12

Post by implements » Thu, Aug 05, 2021, 10:19 AM UTC

ourcat wrote: post #5

berkes wrote: post #2

Are there any god GPS trackers for cats that people would advice? The article mentions nothing about the setup or tech, and I'd love to find out what my cats are up to before they come home with another rabbit or bird (probably sleeping).

How about an Apple Air Tag on a collar?

They’re not very ‘fine grained’, and only show last known location rather than a way-pointed path. Handy for finding a lost pet, though.

Re: What cats do when we’re not looking

#13

Post by nkoren » Thu, Aug 05, 2021, 10:23 AM UTC

eric4smith wrote: post #4

No need for GPS or cameras. Cats are stone cold hunter killers. Almost brainless too. They kill anything that moves and is edible. We all know cats that sometimes just kill for the sake of killing (practice??) and don’t even eat the prey. It’s like the cats brain is just made for hunting and killing and very little else. Just watch how stupid cats are in cat videos — except when they are hunting. I have a cat at one…

You do not know cats very well. They exhibit an extraordinarily diverse range of behaviours, interests, and intelligence. I've had cats who were brilliant hunters and dumb as posts; I've also had cats who were wholly disinterested in hunting but showed considerable intelligence in terms of puzzle solving. And most cats I've known have been clearly motivated by social interaction as an end in itself. They put a lot of thought into this.

Re: What cats do when we’re not looking

#14

Post by eric4smith » Thu, Aug 05, 2021, 10:38 AM UTC

nkoren wrote: post #13

eric4smith wrote: post #4

No need for GPS or cameras. Cats are stone cold hunter killers. Almost brainless too. They kill anything that moves and is edible. We all know cats that sometimes just kill for the sake of killing (practice??) and don’t even eat the prey. It’s like the cats brain is just made for hunting and killing and very little else. Just watch how stupid cats are in cat videos — except when they are hunting. I have a cat at one…

You do not know cats very well. They exhibit an extraordinarily diverse range of behaviours, interests, and intelligence. I've had cats who were brilliant hunters and dumb as posts; I've also had cats who were wholly disinterested in hunting but showed considerable intelligence in terms of puzzle solving. And most cats I've known have been clearly motivated by social interaction as an end in itself. They put a lot of…

As someone who has owned many cats in the last 50 years - I stand by my statement.

I still love them though.

Re: What cats do when we’re not looking

#15

Post by eric4smith » Thu, Aug 05, 2021, 10:39 AM UTC

jrimbault wrote: post #9

eric4smith wrote: post #4

No need for GPS or cameras. Cats are stone cold hunter killers. Almost brainless too. They kill anything that moves and is edible. We all know cats that sometimes just kill for the sake of killing (practice??) and don’t even eat the prey. It’s like the cats brain is just made for hunting and killing and very little else. Just watch how stupid cats are in cat videos — except when they are hunting. I have a cat at one…

> Yes, even your docile house cat - put her outside and bam! Death and destruction. Except for those city house cats who are terrified of anything moving. I know one city house cat who's a real hunter killer and is able to actually lure, trap and kill pigeons from inside an appartment (without balcony), and when outside in the countryside kills absolutely everything. But most city house cats I know are scared shitles…

Most city house cats have had the predator gene and instinct bred out of them.

Re: What cats do when we’re not looking

#16

Post by tokai » Thu, Aug 05, 2021, 11:11 AM UTC

jrimbault wrote: post #9

eric4smith wrote: post #4

No need for GPS or cameras. Cats are stone cold hunter killers. Almost brainless too. They kill anything that moves and is edible. We all know cats that sometimes just kill for the sake of killing (practice??) and don’t even eat the prey. It’s like the cats brain is just made for hunting and killing and very little else. Just watch how stupid cats are in cat videos — except when they are hunting. I have a cat at one…

> Yes, even your docile house cat - put her outside and bam! Death and destruction. Except for those city house cats who are terrified of anything moving. I know one city house cat who's a real hunter killer and is able to actually lure, trap and kill pigeons from inside an appartment (without balcony), and when outside in the countryside kills absolutely everything. But most city house cats I know are scared shitles…

In its defence everything is bullied by ravens. Wolves, birds of prey, humans, etc.

Re: What cats do when we’re not looking

#17

Post by notRobot » Thu, Aug 05, 2021, 11:13 AM UTC

If anyone here decides to put a collar (with or without a tracker) on a cat, please remember to use a breakaway collar!

These are designed to break off (as opposed to choking the cat) if they get caught on a fence or branch or something.

They cost next to nothing - and can save your outdoor cat's life.

https://www.petmate.com/the-importance-of-quick-release-cat-...

Re: What cats do when we’re not looking

#18

Post by gadders » Thu, Aug 05, 2021, 11:15 AM UTC

notRobot wrote: post #17

If anyone here decides to put a collar (with or without a tracker) on a cat, please remember to use a breakaway collar! These are designed to break off (as opposed to choking the cat) if they get caught on a fence or branch or something. They cost next to nothing - and can save your outdoor cat's life. https://www.petmate.com/the-importance-of-quick-release-cat-...

Our outdoor cat wanders the fields round our house, and loses a collar every couple of months. Occasionally the neighbours find them and return them. One of them looked like it had passed through a cow first.

Re: What cats do when we’re not looking

#19

Post by gadders » Thu, Aug 05, 2021, 11:16 AM UTC

hellbannedguy wrote: post #8

eric4smith wrote: post #4

No need for GPS or cameras. Cats are stone cold hunter killers. Almost brainless too. They kill anything that moves and is edible. We all know cats that sometimes just kill for the sake of killing (practice??) and don’t even eat the prey. It’s like the cats brain is just made for hunting and killing and very little else. Just watch how stupid cats are in cat videos — except when they are hunting. I have a cat at one…

They are predators, but not brainless. I was working on my truck one summer night, and a cat introduced himself by meowing. I immediately thought he was abandoned. I took him to a vet, and no chip. He arrived a few days later with a breakaway collar, and tag. It turned out he was from a wealthy family, but didn't lije the dog. I am very allergic to cats, but this guy tried everything in order to live in my house. Eve…

My nan always used to say "All cats have two homes."

Ours frequently goes next door to share supper with the cat there.

Re: What cats do when we’re not looking

#20

Post by vidanay » Thu, Aug 05, 2021, 11:27 AM UTC

the-dude wrote: post #11

hellbannedguy wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They are predators, but not brainless. I was working on my truck one summer night, and a cat introduced himself by meowing. I immediately thought he was abandoned. I took him to a vet, and no chip. He arrived a few days later with a breakaway collar, and tag. It turned out he was from a wealthy family, but didn't lije the dog. I am very allergic to cats, but this guy tried everything in order to live in my house. Eve…

Unlike dogs, cats domesticate themselves. It is a win-win.

Humans have dogs as companions. Cats have humans as companions.