catmando.blog

In one of my earlier posts, I said this:

“Remember, cats are naturally curious and will inspect everything, oftentimes without realizing it may be harmful or dangerous.”

Well, I know we’ve all heard the term “Curiosity killed the cat,” but do we really know what it means and where it came from?

Adages, idioms, proverbs, and metaphors, are just some of the terms used to say one thing, but mean something different.  They are figures of speech used to suggest some kind of likeness between the act of doing one thing without really saying exactly what it is.  Examples I like to use are “Hit the road”; “It’s going to be smooth sailing”; or “Break a leg.”  Most of us know what these mean.  Just like we know what “Curiosity killed the cat” means.

This phrase or figure of speech has been around for centuries and has been used to caution us or others against being too inquisitive.

Some say the phrase dates back to the 1500’s, when the first known documentation of term, “Curiosity killed the cat” was included in a play written in 1598 by the playwright, Ben Johnson.  Actually, then, the phrase was written as “care’ll kill a Cat,” but time, interpretations, and dialects have morphed it into what we have today.

Ultimately, this term is used as a warning to anybody who intends to venture into areas of the unknown.  Our cats do this, don’t they?  We as humans do this too.  There are many of us who push the limits of speed, space, and the oceans in search of the unknown because we are curious.  And yes, some of these things are risky and dangerous so we say, “Curiosity killed the cat” as a warning to all those who tempt fate in their curious endeavors.

Let’s go back to cats.  Yes, cats are curious to their very core.  Of course, some cats are lazy, but even the lazy ones are still curious.  It is just the way they are wired.  Most of us have seen how a cat reacts to the clicking of a metronome.  (check out YouTube) How they seem to jump or are somehow startled when they hear each click.  I have to admit, sometimes it is funny to watch, but next time you are experimenting with your cat and a metronome, try throwing a mouse onto the floor. 

Some scientists have studied what happens to a cat’s brain when presented with certain stimuli.  In one study, the scientists implanted electrodes into a cat’s brain, starved it, and then put it into a room with a metronome.  Each time the metronome clicked, the cat’s brain reacted.  But then, the scientists threw a mouse into the room and instantly the cat no longer reacted to the metronome.  Its focus immediately turned to the mouse as a source of food.

You can do a similar experiment at home with your cat and a laser pointer.  I’m not sure what they see in a laser pointer, but any cat will completely disregard everything to chase that little dot around.  In some cases, they will chase the dot into danger because they are so focused on it, they no longer care about anything else.

As a cat owner, you need to be careful how you entertain and interact with your furry friend.  While we might see a danger or hazard, your cat might just be curious enough to ignore the danger and harm itself.  Please remember to watch out for those who cannot watch out for themselves.