Re:Are animals conscious? How new research is changing minds
by themaninthedark on Tuesday June 18, 2024 @08:40AM
(#40717128)
My thoughts didn't go to scent but to environment change; things moving can signify the presence of another animal, one that is trying to hide itself. Could be an ambush predator.
Re:Are animals conscious? How new research is changing minds
by iovrthoughtthis on Tuesday June 18, 2024 @10:30AM
(#40718286)
this could also be the reason humans notice changes
Re:Are animals conscious? How new research is changing minds
by zeekaran on Tuesday June 18, 2024 @09:02AM
(#40717345)
Any time we move a piece of furniture, especially cat furniture that has been ignored for months, it becomes a new fascinating object.
Most non-feral cats don't just go around pissing on everything.
Re:Are animals conscious? How new research is changing minds
by devbent on Tuesday June 18, 2024 @11:25AM
(#40718896)
I had a dog growing up who'd try to move furniture back to its original location anytime we rearranged the room.
Re:Are animals conscious? How new research is changing minds
by User23 on Tuesday June 18, 2024 @09:08AM
(#40717403)
This reminds me of Feynman’s famous essay about the rat mazes and how the rats used all kinds of unexpected cues to navigate like the sound of their feet in the floor and the position of the room lights.
Re:Are animals conscious? How new research is changing minds
by matt-attack on Saturday June 22, 2024 @09:50PM
(#40763991)
Funny you should mention that Feynman story. Because probably more apropos is the story he talks about being able to identify which book on a shelf was recently manhandled - SOLELY BY THE SCENT. I kid you not it if you’re not familiar with that one but I distinctly recall that story from one of his books.
Re:Are animals conscious? How new research is changing minds
by water-your-self on Wednesday June 19, 2024 @08:59AM
(#40727877)
I do not agree that the most probable explanation is scent, given the description provided by the comment you are responding to
Orthogonal to any argument about conciousness in cats, the most probable explanation is your cat was aware of your scent freshly attached to a book that previously didn't carry it.
In my experience cats are acutely aware of scents, particularly known and especially unknown scents in new places.
Had you been an unknown cat the chances are extremely high your cat would have urinated on your book.