this post was submitted on 17 Oct 2023
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[–] deegeese@sopuli.xyz 97 points 2 years ago (5 children)

Farming -> grain -> rodents -> cats

[–] Norgur@kbin.social 51 points 2 years ago (2 children)

I like OP's version better, so that's what is fact now.

[–] danc4498@lemmy.world 19 points 2 years ago (2 children)

You can like it, but the hard truth is that cats were never domesticated. They can leave anytime they want and would be fine. Humans would never be the same, though…

[–] XTL@sopuli.xyz 9 points 2 years ago (1 children)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestication_of_the_cat

Indeed. I'm a little disappointed that wp doesn't mention that other than in the naming and talk.

A link from there:

https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/are-cats-domesticated

[–] angrystego@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

I think that's because the narrow scientific term domestication is used in casual speach with a shifted meaning. And that's because we don't have any other expression for animals that you can be friends with that would sound as cool as domesticated (taming is too tame).

Edit: Sorry, got lost in the threads. I'll leave it here because it is still kind of on topic. I guess I should also add that domestication is a process and the line where an animal is considered domesticated is arbitrary.

[–] angrystego@lemmy.world 6 points 2 years ago

This only works for outdoor cats and in areas with plenty of prey. Most indoor cats don't do well if left on their own and outdoor cats often struggle too.

[–] eezeebee@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 years ago

Me too. dO YuOr oWn rEsEaRch

[–] bstix@feddit.dk 21 points 2 years ago

That's what big cat wants you to think.

In reality, cats already ate the rodents, but now you have to pay them for doing it.

[–] bitsplease@lemmy.ml 13 points 2 years ago

Hell. Even today cats are great for pest control, my cats go nuts if there's a fly in the house until they get it

Granted, a cat leaping across the room constantly to try and get it is way more annoying than the fly itself, but still lol

[–] hemko@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 2 years ago (1 children)
[–] jaybone@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago
[–] EternalNicodemus@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago

Nuh uh, Cat domesticated us

[–] CryptidBestiary@lemmy.world 37 points 2 years ago (2 children)

I find it funny that besides intellect, us humans possess the greatest power, which is petting. Petting allows us to be friends with most animals that would otherwise kill us

[–] CodeGameEat@lemmy.world 39 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Idk, i feel like control over food supply might be a bigger factor on these friendships :p

[–] angrystego@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Food is a good reason. But I'm friends with several cats I don't feed. Petting works!

[–] Globulart@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago

Cats didn't domesticate themselves by being fed directly by humans. But humans still brought the food because humans bring rats and mice with them, cats stuck around for the greater volume of prey.

And the scritches, obviously.

[–] kamen@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

I don't know about that... Try petting a bear.

[–] TheGiantKorean@lemmy.world 11 points 2 years ago (1 children)

This could have gone a much different direction if they hadn't of petted it in exactly the right spot.

[–] JoeBigelow@lemmy.ca 12 points 2 years ago

"It shredded my whole arm!"

"And I love him, who's a good kitty?"

[–] chtk@feddit.nl 10 points 2 years ago (1 children)
[–] PipedLinkBot@feddit.rocks 3 points 2 years ago

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