I’ve seen a few things that have shown many animals have developed a sense of “cuteness” specifically to deal with us.
Comment on Pavlov's conditioning
ikapoz@sh.itjust.works 11 months agoI seem to remember reading that domesticated dogs evolved more expressive eyebrows that proved to be a survival advantage in this process.
Kolanaki@yiffit.net 11 months ago
AFKBRBChocolate@lemmy.world 11 months ago
I’ve long had a theory that cats have evolved to be just cute enough that we don’t murder them. Cats are evil, so it’s understandable that humans would want to kill them, and I think we probably did early on, but some of them were so cute that we didn’t. Those surviving cute cats reproduced and made more cute cats, but they also became more evil. Over generations, we have created beings that are supremely evil, but they’re just so gosh darned cute that we let them get away with it.
Kolanaki@yiffit.net 11 months ago
Well that and they kill pests. We also like things that are useful.
lunatic@lemmy.blahaj.zone 11 months ago
If you were a better hunter, they wouldn’t pity you and provide you food to eat.
Ilovethebomb@lemm.ee 11 months ago
Cats are an autonomous pest control system, that’s why they’re everywhere.
outcide@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Cats don’t have any of the typical traits of domestication. Humans do.
Draw your own conclusions.
SolarNialamide@lemm.ee 11 months ago
Yeah they evolved to keep much more baby-like features into adulthood with a big head and huge eyes because that’s cute to us and triggers strong instincts of protection and love. I forget the exact name for it. And my cats do be looking extremely cute all the time so it was very successful.
Xanthrax@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Found the article: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1820653116
That is super neat, you’re right! It was bread into them due to human preference.
Feathercrown@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Image
burntbutterbiscuits@sh.itjust.works 11 months ago
Aceticon@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Cunning disguises!
theangryseal@lemmy.world 11 months ago
This reminds me of the silly iPad games my kid had me playing a decade ago.
I miss it. :(
Xanthrax@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Lmao, I’m not going to fix it.
Buffalox@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Thanks, I just had a good laugh. ;)
hakunawazo@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Mmmh, puppy muffin.