That Thing About How Cats Think Humans Are Big Kittens Is A Myth, Y’know.

That thing about how cats think humans are big kittens is a myth, y’know.

It’s basically born of false assumptions; folks were trying to explain how a naturally solitary animal could form such complex social bonds with humans, and the explanation they settled on is “it’s a displaced parent/child bond”.

The trouble is, cats aren’t naturally solitary. We just assumed they were based on observations of European wildcats - but housecats aren’t descended from European wildcats. They’re descended from African wildcats, which are known to hunt in bonded pairs and family groupings, and that social tendency is even stronger in their domesticated relatives. The natural social unit of the housecat is a colony: a loose affiliation of cats centred around a shared territory held by alliance of dominant females, who raise all of the colony’s kittens communally.

It’s often remarked that dogs understand that humans are different, while cats just think humans are big, clumsy cats, and that’s totally true - but they regard us as adult colonymates, not as kittens, and all of their social behaviour toward us makes a lot more sense through that lens.

They like to cuddle because communal grooming is how cats bond with colonymates - it establishes a shared scent-identity for the colony and helps clean spots that they can’t easily reach on their own.

They bring us dead animals because cats transport surplus kills back to the colony’s shared territory for consumption by pregnant, nursing, or sick colonymates who can’t easily hunt on their own. Indeed, that’s why they kill so much more than they individually need - it’s not for fun, but to generate enough surplus kills to sustain the colony’s non-hunting members.

They’re okay with us messing with their kittens because communal parenting is the norm in a colony setting, and us being colonymates in their minds automatically makes us co-parents.

It’s even why many cats are so much more tolerant toward very small children, as long as those children are related to one of their regular humans: they can tell the difference between human adults and human “kittens”, and your kittens are their kittens.

Basically, you’re going to have a much easier time getting a handle on why your cat does why your cat does if you remember that the natural mode of social organisation for cats is not as isolated solitary hunters, but as a big communal catpile - and for that purpose, you count as a cat.

If you can, reblog.

Australia’s newest climate report has shown how bad the climate crisis has gotten. The information is both horrifying and not new.

We knew this would happen. They knew this would happen. There is no longer an excuse.

Australia’s climate has warmed by an average of 1.51 +_ 0.23 Celsius, its oceans have warmed by 1.08 Celsius since 1990.

There is less rain, less water flow, sea levels are rising and the risk of catastrophic fires grows every day.

If you have the means to change: change.

If you don’t: inspire others to.

Link to report

984 notes View Post

isweartothegoddess

8 months ago

4K notes View Post

isweartothegoddess

9 months ago

While the world enjoys summer vacations and the freedom and safety that come with them, the people of Gaza, especially in the northern region, are living a daily nightmare. Continuous bombings have reduced their homes to rubble, forcing them to live amidst the ruins. Water and food have become scarce, and standing in lines for basic necessities has become part of their daily routine.

For over nine months, my family has been enduring harsh and difficult conditions in the Jabalia refugee camp. Our homes are destroyed, and we live under extreme summer heat, targeted randomly by missiles. My little brother, who was supposed to enjoy his summer break after a tough school year, now finds himself moving between lines for water and food, spending his days just trying to survive. He couldn't attend school last year, and now he is weak and sick from the effects of war and hunger.

We have decided to start a fundraising campaign to help my family escape this nightmare and secure a better future for us. Your donations and help in spreading this campaign can make a huge difference in our lives. Every donation, no matter how small, brings us one step closer to safety.

Please, share this campaign with your friends, family, and anyone who might be able to help. We desperately need your support.

You can donate through our GoFundMe campaign at the following

gofundme.com

Donate to Help my family in Gaza reach safety, organized by Hazem Khalil

My name is Hazem, and I am from Gaza. Since 2018, I have not been able to see my fami… Hazem Khalil needs your support for Help my family in

Thank you for your kindness and generosity. With your help, we can hope for a better future.

@timetravelingkitty @meaganfoster @briarhips @mazzikah @mahoushojoe

@rhubarbspring @schoolhater @pcktknife @transmutationisms @sawasawako

@feluka @terroristiraqi @irhabiya @commissions4aid-international @wellwaterhysteria

@deepspaceboytoy @post-brahminism @junglejim4322 @kibumkim @neechees

@mangocheesecakes @kyra45 @marnota @7bitter @tortiefrancis

@toiletpotato @fromjannah @omegaversereloaded @vague-humanoid @criptochecca

@aristotels @komsomolka @neptunerings @riding-with-the-wild-hunt @heritageposts

@ot3 @amygdalae @ankle-beez @communistchilchuck @dykesbat

@watermotif @stuckinapril @violentrevolution @mavigator @lacecap

@socalgal @chilewithcarnage @ghelgheli @sayruq @northgazaupdates

@vakarians-babe @appsa @paper-mario-wiki

629 notes View Post

isweartothegoddess

9 months ago

525K notes View Post

isweartothegoddess

1 month ago

genuinely wild to me when I go to someone's house and we watch TV or listen to music or something and there are ads. I haven't seen an ad in my home since 2005. what do you mean you haven't set up multiple layers of digital infrastructure to banish corporate messaging to oblivion before it manifests? listen, this is important. this is the 21st century version of carving sigils on the wall to deny entry to demons or wearing bells to ward off the Unseelie. come on give me your router admin password and I'll show you how to cast a protective spell of Get Thee Tae Fuck, Capital

49K notes View Post

isweartothegoddess

10 months ago

Storoooop pleaes

this is my family. What is their fault for living in oppression and genocide? What is the sin of abstaining from food and drink? . How can you imagine them being besieged for three consecutive days without any necessities for life, including food, drink, milk, sleeping children trembling with fear, and the sounds of bullets, beatings, and flying? The worst day for them. They are now in a tent that does not protect anything. Rather, the situation is made worse by skin diseases and insects, and the lack of water makes matters worse. My child is still sick, and being away from me is affecting her greatly. She misses me, cries every day, and I can't bear this pain anymore.

I'm here for them. I try to knock on all doors and pray that people will meet with mercy, good hearts and humanity. Please donate, share and save my children's innocent lives. They want to live in peace

I am here to appeal to all of you, people of compassionate hearts and humanity, to donate for the sake of my sick child, so that I can be satisfied with her treatment and give her hope that she will meet with me soon. Please donate, share, and mention those with large accounts to help.🥺🥺🙏

https://gofund.me/d2861f7f

673 notes View Post

isweartothegoddess

1 month ago

Appreciation post for all the beginner artists who work hard despite the AI looming over us. You are fabulous. You are precious. Keep up the hard work, you are needed.

51K notes View Post

isweartothegoddess

3 months ago

Request:

Someone (besides loop or Siffrin) suddenly remembering all the loops post canon.

Your choice who gets it.