Author: Xiaoqi

Reviewer: Xie Chun (Master of V.M, practicing veterinarian)

Different body languages ​​of cats represent different meanings. It seems that cats are cute when they twist their buttocks, so is it just that cats just love to twist their buttocks? First of all, let’s take a look at the most classic butt shaking animation of Suzume, the internet celebrity cat. I’ve only watched this ecstatic twist a few hundred times...

I am the only cat in the nightclub in my family丨Image source: google.co.uk

This is the rhythm, shake it!丨Picture source: google.co.uk

Gather your strength first丨Please see the watermark for the picture source

The Meow Rocket is swinging and getting ready to launch!丨Picture source: google.co.uk

Although this kind of swiping behavior is really cute, after the swiping is done, the shit-sweeper will usually get punched and kicked.

Ideal:

The cat wiggled its butt cutely and then rushed into my arms. It was a pleasure to hold it and rub it all over.

Reality:

After the cat shakes its butt at you, it comes up with a left hook with its paw, and then kicks its hind legs violently a few times until it leaves a "mark of love" on you.

　　　　　　　　　　　　ials of the picture: google.co.uk

Hip swaying behavior before attack

Cats usually make some strange behaviors before attacking. The specific manifestations include lowering the body's center of gravity, focusing their eyes, and shaking their hips from side to side as if they are ready to attack. In our eyes, this behavior looks cute, but in fact, for cats, it is doing something super serious ~ that is the special skill that they rely on for survival: hunting.

Although domestic cats do not need to go out to hunt, they will still follow the big cat instinct in their bodies and use slippers, ropes, and even your hands and feet at home as "imaginary enemies" to consolidate their hunting skills.

Why swing your hips?

　01 In order to take off at full speed

I don’t know if cat owners usually observe the posture of their cats when walking. Usually when they walk, they will alternate their two hind legs, and their movements are elegant and noble~ That’s why it is called cat walk.

But when they enter the hunting state and prepare to pounce or jump, they will use both hind legs to exert force at the same time, which ensures that they can pedal farther and faster.

Therefore, shaking the hips can help them maximize their energy storage to achieve a better jumping effect, and accurately throw it to the prey like a catapult. It is a bit like when we used to practice long jump, we had to shake our arms for a long time before we were willing to jump out (although Didn’t jump further...)

Image source: google.co.uk

　02 Test ground conditions

Before "taking off", the cat may be twisting its body to test the condition of the ground, such as whether the ground is soft or hard. If the ground is too slippery, it may be dangerous when it pounces, and it may not be able to reach the jumping distance they expect.

Therefore, zoologists guess that this kind of hip twisting is the clever prediction of hunting cats before attacking. After all, they are good hunters with eyes and ears in all directions, so they cannot make any mistakes.

　03 Are you born to twist your butt?

Zoologists are not sure whether this behavior is innate or learned; they believe it is a combination of both.

Cats are born with the instinct to hunt. Learning and experimenting make them better able to practice their hunting skills, so it should be said that they complement each other~

In fact, the best way to explain this behavior is to make an analogy with us humans. For example, golfers will swing their rackets before hitting the ball, bowlers will try back and forth a few times before throwing the ball, or before throwing the shot put or javelin, athletes will There will also be a preparatory action. These can be said to be a kind of accumulation and prediction, or a habitual behavior.

Although I broke in, let’s fight丨Picture source: google.co.uk

Read the body language of cats

When a cat’s ears flatten (turn into airplane ears), its tail stretches straight, and its butt begins to tremble, it means that the cat is about to attack. At this time, it’s best for cat owners not to provoke them anymore. Cats don't care about affection when they are annoyed, and they don't recognize their relatives.