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Old September 11th 03, 07:56 AM
Marek Williams
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On Tue, 09 Sep 2003 17:59:12 GMT, "KellyH" dijo:

OMG, PLEASE don't listen to this guy! You think a cat grooming itself is a
BAD behavior?? That's what cats do! Why in the hell are you scolding your
cat for grooming? What is wrong with you? Do that cat a favor and give it
to someone who will treat it properly. You should never bathe a cat unless
it is exceptionally dirty. You say cats aren't supposed to groom
themselves? Then why are they physically designed to groom themselves?
Their tongues are made to clean their bodies.


Actually, the main reason they lick their fur is to get the vitamin D
that is on it.

Humans produce ergosterol just below the outer skin layer. When the
sun hits the skin it activates the ergosterol into vitamin D,
whereupon it is absorbed by the body and used. In cats the ergosterol
is secreted in the oil glands and coats the fur. The sunlight hits the
fur, activates the ergosterol into vitamin D, and the cat licks it
off.

Of course, it also keeps them clean, which is also healthy. More
importantly, keeping themselves clean is something that humans like.
And cats are in a semi-symbiotic relationship with humans, so that is
also important for their survival.

It's another fetish. Some cats never outgrow it. Cats are
fetish-driven animals. They are obsessive and compulsive and they do
as they please. But isn't that why we love them?
Seriously, though... I think it must bring them back to the moment
when they slid out of the womb or something. It issues them some
comfort. Comfrot being something else that they seek with equal vigor.


As for sticking their face into holes, the purpose is to learn what
size holes they can get into. Being able to squeeze through a hole has
saved the life of lots of cats over the ages. Remember that cats have
very poor close vision. They literally use their whiskers to tell the
size of the hole. Thus practicing with holes is not play, it is a
natural instinct for them.

Incidentally, ever notice how a cat will eat out of a full can, but
when it gets about half empty the cat starts fishing the food out with
his claws? This is the whisker thing again. As soon as the face gets
down into the can so far that the whiskers hit the side of the can it
is a signal to the cat that its face is entering a hole that is too
small. It's a natural reaction to pull back.

There's an evolutionary reason for everything cats do.

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