Liquid can seep through narrow gaps and adapt its shape to the shape of the container it is poured into. But it seems the same can be said about... cats.
Hungarian scientist P. Pograncz, whose article is published in the journal iScience, found that cats understand the size of their own bodies and use this knowledge to determine whether they can squeeze through a narrow opening or fit into a specific container.
The specialist found 30 cat owners in Budapest who allowed him to conduct experiments with their pets at home. As a result, most cats hesitated when faced with an opening that they perceived to be lower than the height of their withers, and in such situations, they simply jumped over the obstacle. However, when it came to width, cats attempted to pass through without hesitation, regardless of the size of the opening.
According to these findings, cats perceive height and width of an opening differently, which relates to their anatomy, the scientist noted. They squeeze through high and narrow gaps without hesitation. But if an animal has to pass through a low, albeit wide opening, it needs to crouch down and may even have to crawl. In this case, the cat feels discomfort and vulnerable, Pograncz believes.
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