[topspin]

> The question is why

I've had one or more around most of my life. They're fun to play with and comedic. They genuinely like their people. They're simultaneously willful and cooperative. They have many habits and preferences, and each one is distinct. They're highly communicative if you understand their motives and language.

If you need to control rodents they are extremely effective and earn their keep. There is nothing more endearing than a proud cat eagerly bringing its catch home to share with its pride. Some people are freaked out by this, not realizing that there is no higher praise a cat can express, hunting on your behalf.

So many dimensions. If a cat likes you it actually likes you: there is no lie in them.

All that said, I'm glad house cats are small. :)

[TheOtherHobbes]

Cats all do the same things. But they have very clearly defined unique personalities, with big variations in intelligence and other qualities.

Also, relaxing. Having a dependent of any kind sleeping soundly close to you implies safety and reassurance in a very primal and satisfying way.

And cats sleep far more than humans do. Even when they're not active they're nice to have around.

I'm not convinced by the "tamed predator" hypothesis. I think if it were true we'd consider them exciting but stressful - like crime fiction.

Clearly we don't. No one sleeps next to a violent crime novel for relaxation.

In fact cat owners often get cognitive dissonance when Furry McPurrFace goes out and eviscerates a bird for breakfast. We feel sorry for the bird, but we don't seriously think "That could have been me. Or one of the kids."

[WalterBright]

> and eviscerates a bird

And there we have what really happened to the dinosaurs.

[ChrisMarshallNY]

A friend once said that, if we suddenly shrank to six inches high, our dog would still listen to our orders, but our cat would try to kill us.

[WalterBright]

Occasionally The Cat would look at me with those "I wish you were smaller" eyes.