Why do cats act so weird? - Tony Buffington

譯者: Chuan Yang 審譯者: Max Chern

Why do cats do that?

為什麼貓咪會那麼做？

They're cute, they're lovable,

牠們很可愛、討人喜歡

and judging by the 26 billions views of over 2 million YouTube videos

根據 Youtube 超過兩百萬部影片， 總計兩百六十億的觀看次數

of them pouncing,

是關於貓咪......猛撲

bouncing,

climbing,

跳躍

攀爬

cramming,

擠進小空間

stalking,

偷偷摸摸

clawing,

抓撓

chattering,

喵喵叫

and purring,

以及咕嚕作響

one thing is certain:

我們可以確定：

cats are very entertaining.

貓咪非常有趣

These somewhat strange feline behaviors,

這些貓科動物的奇怪行為

both amusing and baffling,

既有趣又讓人感到困惑

leave many of us asking, "Why do cats do that?"

讓我們不禁納悶： 「為什麼貓咪要那麼做？」

Throughout time, cats were simultaneously solitary predators of smaller animals

長久以來， 貓咪既是小動物的獨行掠食者

and prey for larger carnivores.

卻也是大型肉食動物的獵物

As both predator and prey,

由於同時為掠食者與獵物

survival of their species depended on crucial instinctual behaviors

貓咪物種的生存 取決於其關鍵的本能行為

which we still observe in wild and domestic cats today.

這些至今我們仍可在 野貓或家貓身上看到

While the feline actions of your house cat Grizmo might seem perplexing,

或許你家養的 Grizmo 有些令人費解的行為

in the wild, these same behaviors,

然而在野外，這些相同的行為

naturally bred into cats for millions of years,

經過數百萬年自然的演化

would make Grizmo a super cat.

可以讓 Grizmo 成為一隻超級貓

Enabled by their unique muscular structure and keen balancing abilities,

由於牠們獨特的肌肉構造與絕佳的平衡感

cats climbed to high vantage points to survey their territory

貓咪可以爬到高處有利點 瞭望牠們的領土

and spot prey in the wild.

和找到野外的獵物

Grizmo doesn't need these particular skills to find and hunt down dinner

Grizmo 無須用到這些特殊技巧 去搜尋及追捕今天餐盤裡的晚餐

in her food bowl today,

but instinctually, viewing the living room from the top of the bookcase

然而本能地從書架上瞭望整個客廳

is exactly what she has evolved to do.

這正是牠演化獲得的能力

As wild predators, cats are opportunistic and hunt whenever prey is available.

作為野外掠食者 只要有機會貓咪隨時準備獵捕食物　

Since most cat prey are small,

由於大部分的獵物都很小

cats in the wild needed to eat many times each day,

野貓每天都要進食很多次

and use a stalk, pounce, kill, eat strategy to stay fed.

並使用潛近、猛撲、獵殺、吃掉 的策略以獲得食物

This is why Grizmo prefers to chase and pounce on little toys

這就是為什麼 Grizmo 喜歡追逐、猛撲小玩具

and eat small meals over the course of the day and night.

每天少量多餐的原因

Also, small prey tend to hide in tiny spaces in their natural environments,

同時，野外獵物喜歡躲藏在狹小的空間內

so one explanation for Grizmo's propensity to reach into containers and openings

因而一種解釋關於 Grizmo 躲在容器及空隙裡的習性

is that she is compelled by the same curiosity

是被相同的好奇心所驅使

that helped ensure the continuation of her species for millions of years before.

這好奇心使貓咪得以延續幾百萬年

In the wild, cats needed sharp claws for climbing, hunting, and self-defense.

在野外，貓咪需要磨利爪子 以便攀爬、獵捕和自我防衛

Sharpening their claws on nearby surfaces kept them conditioned and ready,

在附近物體表面上磨利爪子 讓自己隨時準備就緒、

helped stretch their back and leg muscles,

協助伸展牠們背部與腿部的肌肉

and relieve some stress, too.

同時也釋放壓力

So, it's not that Grizmo hates your couch,

所以，Grizmo 並不是討厭你的沙發

chair,

椅子

ottoman,

軟墊座椅

pillows,

枕頭

curtains,

and everything else you put in her environment.

窗簾

以及在牠四周所放的任何物品

She's ripping these things to shreds and keeping her claws in tip-top shape

牠把那些東西抓成碎屑 只是為了維持爪子鋒利

because this is exactly what her ancestors did in order to survive.

因為這正是其祖先為了生存而做的事

As animals that were preyed upon,

身為在野外被獵捕的動物

cats evolved to not get caught,

貓咪演化出不易被捕捉的技能

and in the wild, the cats that were the best at avoiding predators thrived.

在野外， 最善於躲避天敵的貓咪 才能茁壯成長

So at your house today,

所以現在在你家裡

Grizmo is an expert at squeezing into small spaces

Grizmo 是擠進狹小空間的能手

and seeking out and hiding in unconventional spots.

並擅長找出及藏匿在不尋常的地點

It also explains why she prefers a clean and odor-free litter box.

這也解釋為何牠偏好乾淨、 無異味的小盒子

That's less likely to give away her location to any predators

這樣比較不會向天敵暴露牠的地點

that may be sniffing around nearby.

這些天敵可能正在附近嗅探

Considering everything we do know about cats,

考量所有我們對於貓咪的了解

it seems that one of their most predominate behaviors

似乎牠們最常見的行為 ── 咕嚕聲

is still one of the most mysterious.

仍是最神秘的其中一種

Cats may purr for any number of reasons,

貓咪可因為許多原因而發出咕嚕聲

such as happiness,

例如開心

stress,

壓力

and hunger.

及飢餓時

But curiously, the frequency of their purrs,

但奇怪的是，貓咪咕嚕的頻率

between 25 and 150 hertz,

介於 25~150 赫茲之間

is within a range that can promote tissue regeneration.

是一個可以促進組織再生的頻率範圍

So while her purring makes Grizmo an excellent nap companion,

所以 Grizmo 的咕嚕聲 不只使牠成為絕佳的午覺夥伴

it is also possible that her purr is healing her muscles and bones,

同時也能治療牠的肌肉與骨骼

and maybe even yours, too.

甚至是你的

They developed through time

貓咪不斷的進化

as both solitary predators that hunted and killed to eat,

既是獵殺進食的獨行掠食者

and stealthy prey that hid and escaped to survive.

也是藏匿逃脫以求生存的隱秘獵物

So cats today retain many of the same instincts

所以至今貓咪仍保留許多本能

that allowed them to thrive in the wild for millions of years.

讓牠們能持續在野外生存幾百萬年

This explains some of their seemingly strange behaviors.

這能解釋部分牠們令人困惑的行為

To them, our homes are their jungles.

對貓咪而言，我們的家就像牠們的叢林

But if this is the case, in our own cat's eyes,

但如果是這樣，在我們貓咪的眼裡

who are we?

我們是什麼呢？

Big, dumb, hairless cats competing with them for resources?

是與牠們競爭資源的 巨大、愚蠢、無毛怪貓？

Terribly stupid predators they're able to outsmart every day?

每天可以輕鬆應對的愚蠢天敵？

Or maybe they think we're the prey.

或也許牠們覺得我們是獵物

翻譯：Chuan Yang