Welcome to the Tuesday edition of the Coffee Hour at Street Prophets. This is an open thread where we can discuss what’s happening in our lives, what we’ve been working on, and our opinions on current events. I thought we might talk about cats today.
Cats began the process of domesticating humans shortly after human developed agriculture about 10,000 years ago. Today’s domesticated cats (Felis silvestris catus) are descended from one of five wild cats: the Sardinian wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica), the European wildcat (F. s. silvestris), the Central Asian wildcat (F.s. ornata), the subsaharan African wildcat (F.s. cafra and the Chinese desert cat (F.s. bieti). The oldest archaeological evidence of cats in association with humans comes from Cyprus at about 7500 BCE.
The most popular names for male cats include Tigger, Tiger, Max, Smokey, Sam, Kitty, Sassy, Shadow, Simba, and Patch. And for female cats: Tigger, Tiger, Smokey, Kitty, Sassy, Shadow, Patch, Lucky, Misty, and Sammy.
Whitehead’s Observation:
“If a dog jumps into your lap, it is because he is fond of you; if a cat does the same thing, it is because your lap is warmer.”
Some other things that people have said about cats:
“If cats seem distant and aloof it is because this is not their native planet—they are here just to visit and dominate.”
“In order to keep a true perspective of one’s importance, everyone should have a dog that worships him and a cat that will ignore him.”
“I have studied many philosophers and many cats. The wisdom of cats is infinitely superior.”
Cats, by the way, cannot taste sweets: cats lack the genes which would allow them to taste sweet. While there are anecdotes about cats liking sweets, but they actually can’t taste sweets. David Biello, writing in
Scientific American, reports:
“So far, cats are along among mammals in lacking the sweet gene; even close relatives among the meat-eaters like hyenas and mongooses have it.”
Cats also lack the ability a key enzyme that controls the metabolism of carbohydrates. As a result of pet food manufacturers using corn and other grains in cat food, cats today are more likely to get diabetes.
Today’s questions:
Do you currently have a cat? Do you have more than one?
What is your cat’s name and why did you give it that name?
Is your cat a part of your family?
Feel free to post pictures in the comments.
This is an open thread, all topics are welcome.