Cats may appear solid, but they exhibit a liquid-like flexibility, as suggested by a 2017 theoretical physics paper inspired by videos of cats fitting into tight spaces. A recent study by biologist Péter Pongrácz has taken this concept further by physically testing dozens of cats to observe their behavior in different scenarios.
Published on September 17 in iScience, Pongrácz's findings indicate that cats fluidly navigate through tall, narrow spaces but hesitate when approaching short, uncomfortable holes. This suggests that cats are aware of their body dimensions and can form mental images of themselves.
Pongrácz, from Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, previously tested dogs in a lab, revealing that dogs also use self-awareness to make decisions. Inspired by this, he wondered about cats' behavior. However, cats are more challenging to test in a lab due to their reclusive nature and potential stress. Instead, Pongrácz brought the lab to the cats by setting up portable experiments in the homes of 29 cat owners in Budapest.
The experiment involved two large cardboard panels attached to doorframes, each with varying holes. Thirty out of 38 cats completed the experiment. When faced with holes of different heights, 22 cats hesitated to crawl through the shortest ones. In contrast, only eight cats paused before attempting the narrowest holes. Most cats tried to squeeze through regardless of fit, adopting a trial-and-error approach.
This hesitation in short holes may serve as a self-preservation tactic in the wild, as cats could expose themselves to threats by squeezing through unseen spaces. The fact that cats still paused in the safety of their homes indicates they rely on their body size representation for planning.
Sridhar Ravi, an aerospace engineer at the University of New South Wales, praises Pongrácz's experiment for its simplicity and elegance. Ravi, who conducted a similar study with bumblebees, suggests that cats' behavior might vary depending on their motivation, such as avoiding injury while chasing prey.
Despite the challenges, Pongrácz found the experiment enjoyable, noting amusing behaviors from both cats and their owners. Some owners were surprised by their cats' performance, either overestimating or underestimating their pets' intelligence.
