Whether they’re mini kittens poking their heads into coffee mugs or a majestic ginger cat stretching after a nap, these adorable feline photographs are bound to delight and make you smile. Often paired with relatable cat quotes, they’re perfect for racking up likes on Instagram or sharing with fellow cat owners to instantly cheer them up.
But while cats are adorable, they’re also surprisingly self-sufficient and independent creatures. Unlike dogs, which are pack animals, cats evolved from a solitary wild lifestyle and are less attuned to social cues, so they tend to take care of their own needs without the need for friends. For example, they don’t rely on their owner to provide them with food or shelter; in fact, they’re more likely to hunt vermin in and around human habitations to help ensure their own survival.
As mostly nocturnal hunters, cats have excellent vision and hearing. Their triangle-shaped ears can rotate 180 degrees, acting as small, furry satellite dishes that zero in on sounds to within six-hundredths of a second—faster than the blink of an eye. This ability to pinpoint sounds is a big part of why they have such an imperious reputation for having nine lives.
Most domestic cats prefer high places, or perches. Behaviorists have posited that height gives them a better observation point, allowing them to survey their territory and become aware of activity in and around it. It may also serve as a concealed spot from which to strike prey. In addition, cats are known to have a natural “righting reflex” that allows them to recover from a fall if they fall off a perch, such as a tree branch.