The cats we know today, those who share life with us in exchange for a roof to protect themselves, food and love, once lived outside. They led an independent life, as most cats do in their natural habitat, and only came together when it was breeding season.
Despite the time that has passed since then -around 10 thousand-, his behavior hasn't changed much. The natural instinct of cats is still very much alive today.
Instincts are those reflex reactions that are translated into a stereotyped norm of behavior. Many of the behaviors of cats are learned, but those that are related to survival are already born knowing them, such as the act of suckling as soon as their mother cleans it after giving birth, or that of staying with their siblings so as not to lose heat.
In games you can also see the natural instinct of cats. They, after a month or so, begin to play, chase things, bite everything they find, jump, ... in short, they begin to be cats. They do these behaviors instinctively, without anyone having to teach them.
In cats, three instinctual behaviors can be distinguished above all that make them incredible animals:
Solitary animal by nature
Cats are solitary animals by nature. They do not hunt or eat in groups like lions, and they are very territorial. They have a communication system that allows them to know what others are feeling and thus intuit their reaction; therefore, it is relatively easy for them to avoid conflict.
They are very adaptable, but It is necessary to bear in mind that they are not really domesticated animals, but that they are the ones that allow us to live in their territory.
Hunting instinct
We don't usually think about it, but cats are predatory animals. They need to hunt to survive, but not everyone knows what to do with the prey once captured. In fact, those felines that have not had another to teach them to strike the final blow, what they will do is play with her ... or take her home.
Cats hunt - or try - since they are just a few weeks old kittens. The game - yes, with ropes and stuffed animals 🙂 - allows them to strengthen their muscles while perfecting their hunting skills like stalking and capturing.
Reproductive instinct
Every animal has a basic instinct to maintain its species through reproduction. In the case of cats, they reproduce during the warm months so that their pups have a better chance of survival. But, once they mate, the female will be left alone.
The cat is a very good mother, since takes care of your little ones until they can function on their own, and will protect them from potential enemies. He will take care of them with great care and tenderness, and when the time comes, he will teach them everything they need to be excellent hunters.
The cats. Mysterious, elegant, and much loved.