Humans have used cats as opportunistic hunters and useful bodies for rodent control. These animals are now part of a billion-dollar industry as pets. However, there are many negative connotations associated with cats. This article will explore the good and bad points of cats. Learn more about cats’ origins and the history of their domestication. You’ll be surprised how useful cats are to us. Let’s face it – cats aren’t exactly ‘good’ for our health.
Humans have exploited cats for thousands of years
We have cultivated a taste for cats. Over the centuries, wildcats have been accepted by people, and gradually separated from their wild ancestors. Like dogs and other domesticated animals, cats have undergone artificial selection as well as natural selection. But why do we continue to cultivate and exploit them? And what are the ethical implications of this ongoing exploitation? We need to examine the history of this relationship to understand why cats have been exploited for thousands of years.
Cats are opportunistic hunters
Although most of the time cats don’t pursue prey as a major food source, they do have their favorites. Some cats enjoy challenging prey, while others prefer an easy kill. It’s possible that a cat catches prey many times, merely because it’s testing out different techniques or is unsure of its own skills. Nevertheless, a cat’s opportunistic hunting skills can be useful in many situations, including preventing your home from being invaded by an elusive cat.
One of the benefits of cats’ opportunistic hunting style is that they will never go hungry and will only engage in predatory behavior when they spot prey. Cats spend as little as three hours hunting per day, even if their owners do not feed them for several days. Depending on where they are living, cats may hunt ten to fifteen times a day. This means that cats have multiple opportunities to catch prey.
They are useful bodies for rodent control
Rodents can become a problem in homes, especially if mice are infesting them. Fortunately, cats are capable of killing both adult and pregnant mice. This helps eliminate the problem and stem the infestation. Mice are also known to carry dangerous diseases, including the Pulmonary Hantavirus. Moreover, if the mice die of natural causes, the young mice will not grow. This way, a cat can also serve as a useful body for rodent control.
They are part of the multimillion-dollar pet business
According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, 63 percent of U.S. households own a pet. That means that there are approximately 71 million people in the U.S. With an estimated value of $261 billion, this industry represents a significant portion of the U.S. economy. Several branches of the pet industry are growing at a steady rate. These branches include pet food, pet treats, grooming, travel, and wellness. Those businesses are part of the multimillion-dollar pet industry.
The market for pet products has been closely followed by investors for several years. Recent statistics indicate that the number of pet owners is growing dramatically, with younger people now making up the largest age group in the industry. Millennials, on the other hand, are among the most active social media users. As a result, the pet industry falls into this category of sharable content. Millennials, on average, spend four times more on social media than Baby Boomers and Gen Xers combined.
