The main driver is curiosity
Like any living beings, cats have an orientation instinct. When a new sound or an unfamiliar object appears in their field of vision, they instantly become wary. And if circumstances allow, they carefully observe a suspicious phenomenon - what to expect from it?
Free-ranging village cats have no shortage of variety of experiences. Either a sparrow will perch on the fence, then a careless mouse will poke its head out of the treasured hole, or even the neighbor’s dog will break loose from its chain - and don’t yawn in time to jump into a tree!
A completely different life for the pampered domestic purr. In an apartment there are neither real dangers nor the opportunity to hunt real game. But nature demands its way, and cats begin to look for new experiences on television.
Virtual hunt
If you look closely at a pet who is “stuck” watching TV, you will see how the cat moves its eyes and moves its ears. Her mustache points forward, indicating obvious interest. At the climactic moments, movements of the tail are added to other gestures and facial expressions - the cat knocks it on the sofa.
Do cats watch TV the same way as their owners? It is clear that when watching films and programs, animals are not able to perceive the same amount of information as a person. However, they react to the slightest changes in the picture and happily follow moving objects, which they perceive as potential prey.
Inexperienced, tailed TV viewers even try to catch some particularly nimble character with their paws. However, cats are too intelligent to fall into this trap more than a couple of times.
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Pets quickly realize that there is an invisible but impenetrable barrier between them and the desired prey, which means there is no point in wasting their energy. Next time the cat will not bother itself with unnecessary body movements, but will not stop watching the change of frames.
Interests and preferences
Now you know why cats watch TV. What programs are their favorite?
Researchers from Lancashire University have found that cats distinguish between animate and inanimate objects moving on a screen. The flight of the ball does not arouse their interest, but they are ready to watch the football players who kick the ball around the field for so long until they get tired of it.
Another surprising discovery: cats distinguish drawn characters from living beings filmed on camera, and make a choice not in favor of cartoons. Small predators process visual information faster than people, so the movements of cartoon characters seem unnatural to a cat. Which means they don’t arouse interest.
Like dogs, cats take special pleasure in watching programs where people like them are shown. Programs about the life of wild cats or videos with stories about the antics of their domesticated counterparts are definitely beyond competition.
On domestic television, there was even an attempt to create advertising aimed specifically at cats. However, the idea failed: the TV signal does not transmit smells, and our little brothers perceive the world not only through vision, but also through smell.
In addition, cats love to watch TV during sports broadcasts with running, jumping and fast-changing pictures. However, there are no rules without exceptions: there are cats who, together with their owners, are fond of watching leisurely TV series and movies without flashy action. It used to be that pets were just lying on the couch for company, but in fact, they actually follow the movements on the screen with their eyes, even if they doze off from time to time.
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True reaction
Dogs react vividly to all sounds coming from the TV. They pay attention to barks, human voices, creaks and noises, voices behind the scenes that give familiar commands.
As a result of a study in 2021, scientists found that dogs watch TV for a short time, on average it is a few seconds. Owners are confident that if a pet lies next to them while watching a movie, it also records everything that happens, although this opinion is erroneous.
Often the reaction of a pet to a broadcast on the screen depends on its breed. Hunting dogs demonstrate a more lively reaction to the movement of an object on the screen, while other pets remain calm at this time.
How to stop a cat from jumping on TV?
Watching TV for a long time is harmful to both people and cats. Spending many hours in front of a screen can result in deterioration of vision and overall health for your furry pet.
Owners of old-style TVs sometimes report that their cats like to sleep on the lid of a working TV set. This place has the highest level of electromagnetic radiation, which is dangerous to the health of the animal, so you should not indulge in this habit.
And thin and elegant devices with an LCD screen are themselves in the danger zone. When jumping, an excited pet can turn over the TV or rip it off the wall bracket. Hit the floor, and goodbye, expensive equipment.
If a cat jumps on the TV, how to stop it from doing this? Whenever you see a furry minx getting ready to jump on a forbidden object, clap your hands as hard as you can. Better yet, suddenly rattle the pot lids. Cats cannot stand loud, sharp sounds, and soon your pet will understand that it is not worth behaving this way.
Another option is to use a spray bottle. Just make sure that, firstly, the water does not get on the equipment, and secondly, that the cat does not associate the nasty cold shower with its true culprit, otherwise she will become wary of your every appearance.
Why does my cat like to watch TV?
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In our country, television broadcasting is aimed at many target audiences. Sports, politics, endless talk shows, games. Channels for housewives, teenagers, pensioners. Comedies, action films and soap operas. It seems that DogTV is even raising its head. Only the cat audience remains unreached, but in vain: many tailed pets are watching with visible pleasure what is happening on the screens. We give you a valuable idea, dear TV people and advertisers!
Is there anything unusual about a cat watching TV? "It's not surprising," says expert Dr. Jillian Orlando of the University of North Carolina. – Cats enjoy watching life outside the window, simply sitting on the windowsill. And in terms of entertainment, watching TV shows is no different. The most curious thing is that cats generally understand: life outside the window is reality, and the television picture is not entirely real.”
Special studies have been conducted on this matter. Thus, scientists have found that cats willingly watch programs about nature and animal life. Cats are attracted to flying birds, scurrying rodents and other small animals. But again, there is nothing surprising: cats are predators by nature; the same birds or mice quickly move across the screen, reviving the corresponding hunting instincts.
However, we should note that some furry pets watch the “box” just because they are bored. Both action films and talk shows. In this case, you need to take care of your pets’ leisure time and offer them some exciting game!
Should I be concerned when my cat watches TV too close to the screen or monitor? Dr. Orlando answers - no, it’s not necessary. The cat's vision does not suffer from this.
However, it happens that the mustachioed stripes take plot moves, let's say, too much to heart. And they start hunting... for the TV. Here's the expert's opinion... Considering that most of us own modern, lightweight flat-screen TVs, the cat is capable of doing some serious business!
Is it possible to correct this behavior? It can probably be corrected. But it is much safer not to leave a hyperactive cat alone with a working TV. And if we watch TV shows, then together. Got a fancy plasma panel? It is better to securely mount it on the wall. Yes, so that the cat cannot reach it even in a jump.
Does watching TV affect the psyche of cats? An interesting question that can be answered in different ways. Some channels broadcast such content that even a calm, balanced person will become mentally unstable. Cats see a flashing picture before their eyes, selecting what is really interesting to them. So there is hardly any cause for alarm.
Of course, doctors advise watching less TV themselves and keeping pets away from the screen. Agree, it is much more useful to play “fishing” or “mouse” with a cat than to follow the tense experiences of characters in modern television series!
Based on materials: Why Does My Cat... Like to Watch TV? Source: vetstreet.com Photo: ac2-videodoc.press (from open sources).
Petstory app – a service for cat owners
As a caring owner, are you worried about the health of your pet? Install the Petstory app on your smartphone to be able to get advice from a qualified veterinarian at any time. Then, in case of alarming symptoms, you will alleviate the animal’s condition before visiting the veterinary clinic, without resorting to the help of articles from the Internet, which often contradict themselves.
The service also allows you to remotely make an appointment at the veterinary clinic closest to your home. Another useful feature is an interactive map of pet stores, as well as catering establishments where pets are allowed.
Download the specialized application for pet owners Petstory on the IOS and Android platforms using the link – https://petstory.ru/prilozhenie-konsultacija-veterinar/.
Cat vision parameters
Hairless cats: history of the breed and maintenance features
Cats are farsighted pets who see well at a distance and have difficulty distinguishing nearby objects. Below we describe what kind of vision cats have and its features.
Range
The main focus of the cat's gaze occurs at a distance of 2-6 m from them. It is at this distance that she can absolutely accurately assess the location of an object and see details.
Due to this feature, her jump from ambush onto prey is accurate and fast.
When preparing to attack an object, the animal nods its head slightly, thereby focusing on the prey and increasing the accuracy of the attack. If the distance from the cat to the object exceeds 20 m, the pet’s vision is blurry. He also does not distinguish the details of objects located at a distance of 50 cm from him. Instead of vision, the cat uses touch and smell.
Sector of review
Many owners notice that when playing, the cat shakes its head up and down. So she prepares to attack the victim or jump. This means that the animal’s viewing angle changes and it more accurately calculates the distance to its prey. The vision mechanism allows the predator to almost always capture its prey.
For good visual acuity, it is important not only what colors animals distinguish, but also how clearly they see certain small details. The ability to examine them is especially developed at night; it increases 6-7 times. But during the day, cats see worse than humans. This gap is filled by better peripheral vision. A dozing pet can view the environment 220-240°, while ours can view the environment up to 180°.
Volume
Many people are interested in how cats see. They recognize surrounding objects as three-dimensional, they have binocular vision. This means that both eyes can notice the same object, the image of which enters the brain, is processed by it and converted into a three-dimensional image.
Number of frames per second
Some researchers estimate that the number of frames per second is 40, but a person sees only 24. Modern television is designed precisely for this speed of perception. The pet only sees changing pictures on the TV screen. For cats to notice moving frames, you will need a speed of 50 frames/sec. Animals perceive moving objects much faster than humans.
For your information! The cat distinguishes objects moving in a horizontal plane very well, but in a vertical position it is a little slower.
