Cats are generally not afraid of humans due to a process of self-domestication and adaptation driven by their ancestors seeking resources from humans.
Here's a breakdown of the factors contributing to this:
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Self-Domestication: Unlike dogs, which were actively bred by humans for specific purposes, cats largely domesticated themselves. Wild cat ancestors, drawn to human settlements by the presence of rodents (attracted to stored grains), initiated this process.
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Resource Availability: The cats that were less fearful and more tolerant of humans had better access to food sources (rodents and eventually, scraps provided by humans). This led to increased survival rates and reproductive success for these less fearful individuals.
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Genetic Adaptations: Over generations, these less fearful traits became more prevalent in the cat population. Just as dogs evolved physical traits to appeal to humans, cats likely developed behavioral adaptations that facilitated coexistence.
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Early Socialization: A kitten's early experiences heavily influence its attitude towards humans. Kittens exposed to positive human interaction during their sensitive socialization period (around 2-7 weeks of age) are more likely to develop into confident and affectionate cats.
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Mutual Benefit: The relationship between humans and cats became mutually beneficial. Cats controlled rodent populations, protecting human food stores, and humans provided food and shelter, promoting the cat's survival.
Therefore, cats are not inherently afraid of humans because their ancestors gained an advantage by adapting to human presence and because early positive experiences with humans solidify this tolerance.
