Coffee: But then cats use a more subtle method for EVERYTHING!!

This from the Beeb: How cats lap water:

... cats use their tongues to delicately draw up water without breaking the surface of the liquid.

The scientists, who published their study in the journal Science, say this differs from dogs, who employ a messy scooping action to quench their thirst.

[ ... ]

While humans and animals such as sheep or horses use suction to draw liquid upwards, and dogs curl their tongue into a cup-like shape to ladle liquid in, the footage revealed that cats use a more subtle mechanism to drink.

The study was inspired by Cutta Cutta the cat The scientists found that the tip of the cat's tongue curls backwards, not forwards, as it darts down towards its bowl.

Then, instead of penetrating the surface of the liquid, the tongue just lightly touches it.

Dr Stocker explains: "The fluid comes in contact with the tongue and sticks to it, then the action of the tongue being drawn upwards very rapidly creates a liquid column.

"I would say cats know more about fluid mechanics than dogs." - Roman Stocker, MIT

The team thinks cats may have adopted this more complex but neater approach because it means they are less likely to be splashed with water as they drink.

- Rebecca Morelle, "Mystery of how cats lap is revealed" (BBC 11 November 2010)

A cat graciously demonstrates:



Here is the method for faucets:



More catnip?

Monkeys making monkeys out of their elders (and how cats play tricks on you too)

Animal mind: One way that animals teach

Do animals have souls?

Animal minds: How well can we understand a cat ... or a bat?

Medical journal publishesarticle on cat's death predictions

And who thought monkeys were smart anyway?

This from ScienceNewsDaily about "grooming" behaviour in primates:

'Our computer model GrooFiWorld shows that complex calculating behaviour is completely unnecessary. We can add the simple rule to the existing DomWorld model that an individual will begin grooming another when it expects to lose from it upon attacking the other. This in itself leads to many of the complex patterns of friendly behaviour observed in real primates.' In the DomWorld model, individuals group together and compete with their neighbours. (Primates social intelligence overestimated, ScienceNewsDaily, January 11, 2010)

Okay, I wouldn't give you fifteen cents for the computer model. This much I know is true. I have seen cats washing each others' faces in the middle of the night. That doesn't mean the cats are especially intelligent. Yes, cats are definitely more intelligent than snails, but everyone knows that.

Cats like to wash themselves, and cannot conveniently wash their own faces. All attempts I have seen so far have been clumsy and disgusting, so co-operating with another cat works much better.

In the instances I observed, the ritual had absolutely nothing to do with attacking the other cat. Both cats were parked resolutely near the heater in a tiny apartment and very unlikely to start a fight. They just wanted to settle down to a long feline nap in a warm environment, but wanted to get their faces washed first.

Find out why there is an intelligent design controversy: