# What is the science behind our love for cats?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-science-behind-our-love-for-cats/1032855>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 6, 2026, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-science-behind-our-love-for-cats/1032855 "2026-09-06T13:32:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-science-behind-our-love-for-cats/1032855/41 "2026-09-07T19:50:49Z")

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> [@Dr.Drake](#):
>
> I don’t agree that no one should ever let cats roam outside, but mine stay indoors and seem quite content. (Edit: and have yet to be eaten by anything.)

Well, I make exception for barn cats, which are not pets.

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**Author:** ![Reindeer\_Flotilla](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reindeer_flotilla/32/3024_2.png) [@Reindeer\_Flotilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reindeer_Flotilla)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-science-behind-our-love-for-cats/1032855/42 "2026-09-07T21:15:56Z")

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I love how all members of the cat family, from the big wild ones to the house cat, have a lot of features, instincts, and behaviors in common. It’s like having a little cuddly version of the ultimate land predator, with house cats having great quickness, balance, sense of smell on par with dogs, intelligence (when they’re motivated, e.g. I’ve had several cats figure out how to open a door using the doorknob), excellent hearing along with movable ears to accurately range and direction-find sound sources, and retractable claws.

Also the house cat has decided we humans can be tolerated and make nice warm-blooded furniture.

Paraphrasing the old quote, “God made the cat so that people would know what it’s like to pet a tiger.”

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**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2026, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-science-behind-our-love-for-cats/1032855/43 "2026-09-07T21:35:12Z")

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> SPOCK: There’s something disquieting about these creatures.  
> .  
> MCCOY: Don’t tell me you’ve got a feeling.  
> .  
> SPOCK: Don’t be insulting, Doctor. They remind me of the lilies of the field. They toil not, neither do they spin. But they seem to eat a great deal. I see no practical use for them.  
> .  
> MCCOY: Does everything have to have a practical use for you? They’re nice, soft, and furry, and they make a pleasant sound.  
> .  
> SPOCK: So would an ermine violin, but I see no advantage in having one.

**Ermine violin** : One of the funniest phrases in _The Trouble With Tribbles_. When I first heard it (a very long time ago), I immediately thought of cats.

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