Humans adopting animals behavior
OK, so today I found out people don't believe it is real.
I asked around my social circle. Only those who didn't have pets or acquired them only as late teens and adults claim that.
Others: those did have pets as kids? They know the truth.
You do adopt parts of animal behaviour, sometimes their ticks and triggers too.
Never in my entire life (21) has there been a single moment when there wasn't at least ONE cat around. Dogs appeared later, but cats? They were always there.
Do you know what cats do when they are attacked? Correct, they raise hackles, hiss and claw and bite. Guess what is my first instinct to when I am attacked?
Crouch, hiss, claw the face of the assaulter and their eyes out.
I have been getting martial arts training for 7 years. 7 years, at least twice a week. And my instinctive response is still to claw and hiss and bite. Actually using my training requires conscious thought, and my trainers, two ex-military who know what they are doing, are endlessly frustrated with me.
I always butcher reproduction training (where we play out scenes of assault under trainer's watch), because having manicure means I leave at least scratches. (that guy who tried to rob me is still sporting scars on both cheeks. I had a flare for cat theme that week and nails were sharp)
I love cuddles. I adore hugs. The most peaceful and pleased I will feel? Lying in my parents ridiculously large bed, surrounded by family members as we talk and joke. Physical contact and the need of it is a thing. Rubbing my face in your neck and hugging you all the while? Normal way of greeting after not seeing for a couple of days. Constant headpats, side hugs and pecks on cheek for kids are normal. Purring is a thing two youngest do. Loving sunny spots and afternoon naps comes from spending afternoon naps with cats just a hand grab distance away. Half the time I dozed off under one or other cat's purring. It was a hard thing to adjust to when school rolled around and couldn't sleep my usual hour-two-three.
What will trigger me, tick me off or set my nerves?
Lack of contact or aversion to touch from family. If family members aren't cuddly, there is something wrong, and it's big.
Someone unfamiliar trying to to touch me. Just like a lot of cats, I hate being touched even passingly without my consent. Family and friends? Cuddle the everloving God out of me any time ever. Strangers? Do not approach or you get glared at and if you don't stop, I will either make you stop or go away.
Displaying my displease with people doesn't go in shouting. I hiss and huff and practically never scream. Besides, hissing is a more effective scaring technique.
Our family's cats were of one litter, mostly, kits of previous ones, and were always behaving affectionately. It rubbed off all of the children. We all are like that. It is going to be hereditary because not having a cat is weird as hell for people like us who always had them.
So, to sum up. Kids are like a sponge. Accepting behavioral patterns from all examples around is what they do. Examples do not have to be human. Impressions set in childhood are really hard to shake off later in life.
















