I Just Learned Why Cats Like Concrete Slabs So Much, And It's So... Cat

Cat on a concrete slabYou might have seen the viral videos on social media recently; a cat owner brings a concrete slab into their home, leaves it in easy access of their cat, and films. The resulting sniffs, pats, and almost inevitable rolling and nuzzling is pretty adorable to watch. But why do they feel that way about what is, after all, a block? Is it that, as one TikTok poster suggested, they’re “remembering their days as a street cat”?Here’s what the pros say:@mrmilothechonkI should have bought 3 😂 #foryou#foryoupage#cats#catsoftiktok#viral♬ Almost forgot that this was the whole point - Take my Hand Instrumental - AntonioVivaldWhy do cats like concrete slabs so much? Professor of biology Jonathan Losos, author of The Cat’s Meow: How Cats Evolved from the Savanna to Your Sofa, told Livescience that texture probably has a lot to do with it. The “rough texture” allows them to get to parts of their bodies they couldn’t usually reach while rolling on it, which Professor Losos thinks is both a satisfying feeling and a potentially great way to mark their scent and territory. On TikTok, pet behaviourist Dr Annie said there’s a novelty element too. Concrete blocks are “new and kind of out of place,” she said. Lastly, the beloved block “warms up really nicely when it’s in a sunny spot,” which cats like because they “have a higher body temperature than humans do and... evolved from a species adapted to a warm environment.”Their “thermal neutral zone,” or the temperature by which their bodies neither have to spend energy cooling or warming them, is “believed to be between 30°C- 38°C,” after all.Cats seem to love oblongs in general Professor Losos shared that this reminded him of a former trend, which involved placing a square with tape on the floor and watching as your cat more than likely went to sit in it. Not only was a whole paper written about this phenomenon, but the professor shared: “This seems to be related to cats’ love of being in boxes.”For the sake of science, he says, we should consider bringing in other concrete shapes too to see whether your furry friend has a similar reaction. Related...I Just Learned Why Humans Originally Kept Cats, And I'm HorrifiedTikTok Says These 2 Sounds Can Get Cats To Come To You ― Here's What The Experts ThinkSo THAT's Why Cats Love Catnip So Much

Comments

Breaking news

James Gunn Reveals The 1 ‘Most Challenging’ Detail Of Filming Superman – And It Might Surprise You

Huffpost uk

Exclusive: Military contractor says she was fired for noting problem that ‘jeopardized the safety of U.S civilians and troops’

about 4 hours ago

Shoppers flock to sweet treats inspired by US trends, Mr Kipling owner says

Independent

Comments

Breaking news

James Gunn Reveals The 1 ‘Most Challenging’ Detail Of Filming Superman – And It Might Surprise You

Lewis Capaldi Opened Up About Anti-Psychotics: I’m Ready To Say They Changed My Life, Too

Germany’s 6ft 6in Chancellor towers over Keir Starmer – see how other leaders stack up

Belgian ticket inspector who said ‘bonjour’ to passengers is given a warning

Chris Blackhurst answers your questions on wealth tax – from millionaire exodus to Labour’s silence

Police face ban from marching in Pride parades after High Court ruling

Defence secretary revealed sensitive Afghan data breach details – but media still banned from reporting it

Retail sales up a surprising 0.6% in June after a May pullback by consumers

M&S says Sparks membership deals ‘fully back online’ after hack

Star-crossed singer Connie Francis, whose hits included 'Pretty Little Baby' dead at 87

World’s largest crane ‘Big Carl’ lifts reactor dome into place at Hinkley Point C

Two dead and several injured after Israeli strike on Gaza’s only Catholic church

Britain will lower its voting age to 16 in a bid to strengthen democracy

Voices: Are suspended Labour MPs undisciplined? Readers have their say

Terror-accused Tesco worker denies making kill list of ‘race traitor’ customers

Myanmar's military government recaptures strategic town from rebels - report

Energy giant SSE sees UK dry spell hit water power generation

The grueling 135-mile journey of a 66-year-old runner through one of the hottest places on Earth

DWP urges 200,000 parents to come forward after missing out on massive state pension top up

Teens, screens, time pressure and other challenges to navigate on a family road trip

Lin-Manuel Miranda will turn 'Hamilton' 10th anniversary into a fundraiser for immigration services

Starmer and Merz sign biggest UK-German treaty since WW2 with deals on migration, trade and security

Video: Tractor smashes into homes after drug driver runs red light

Intelligence committee demands to know why ministers kept them in the dark over Afghan data breach

People Are Just Realising Who Directed One Of Jennifer Love Hewitt's Most Famous Scenes, And Wow

'Summerween' Has Gone Viral – It's The Perfect Holiday For Sun-Haters Like Me

5 Symptoms Of Salmonella As Tomatoes Linked To Dozens Of Cases

Tickets For The Odyssey Are Now On Sale – But You’ll Be Waiting A While To See It

Labour Is Giving The Vote To 16-Year-Olds – But Half Of Them Don't Want It

What are ‘three-parent babies’ and how does the IVF treatment work?

Man who spent £3,000 on Tomorrowland ticket accuses festival of ‘profit over safety’

Best friends won £168,000 on the lottery after reading about it in their horoscopes

Dad-of-six told police he was being abused weeks before ex ‘stabbed him in heart’

First picture of British tourists who died after jumping into pool in Portugal

Jess Phillips agrees the economy ‘isn’t going well’ and it will take time before people feel ‘less skint’

Watch live: UK and Germany sign treaty on migrant smuggling crackdown

Moves to ban ‘exploitative’ unpaid internships a step closer

Moves to help bus drivers during heatwave

Trump tariffs hit peaches as Greece fears dent in demand

Labour minister Jess Phillips says rebel MPs right to be punished for ‘slagging off own government’

Trump’s former communication director says president has only apologized once in 20 years

Ex-wife of Berkeley professor arrested after his shooting death amid custody battle

Exclusive: Military contractor says she was fired for noting problem that ‘jeopardized the safety of U.S civilians and troops’

Shoppers flock to sweet treats inspired by US trends, Mr Kipling owner says

French town withdraws music festival funding after Kneecap booking announced

What are Patriot missiles and why does Ukraine need them?

Trump faces backlash from own supporters as poll reveals anger over Epstein files

Machine that aided moon landing acquired by Scots museum as anniversary nears

Archaeologists find evidence of Europe’s oldest lake settlement

French court orders release of Lebanese militant Georges Ibrahim Abdallah

Fewer people claimed non-dom tax status in UK ahead of Government crackdown

Oxford University Press halts publication of China-sponsored journal after years of outrage

US warns Indian visa holders after shoplifting case in Illinois

Trump rejected more Iran strikes after minimal damage to nuclear sites in first wave, new report says

Buckle Up – This Is What Your Uterus Actually Looks Like

Doctor Who Just Landed Its First Emmy Nomination Ever – But Not For The Reason You Think

Ariana Grande Has A Few Words For Anyone Who Thinks She's Done With Music

I Just Learned Why Cats Like Concrete Slabs So Much, And It's So... Cat

'Ask Me Another Question': Reform MP Fumes At Journalist Over Afghan 'Sex Offenders' Row

UK’s busiest airports raise drop off fees – here’s how much they cost now