Cats are one of the animals that are mostly kept by humans, and many
researchers are interested in examining the characteristics of this
mustachioed animal. One study revealed that the size of the cat's brain has
shrunk.
Recent research has found that cats' brain sizes have shrunk or shrunk
significantly over time.
This, the researchers said may be due to cats adapting when they began to be
cared for by humans thousands of years ago.
According to the study, which was published in the journal Royal Society
Open Science on January 26, 2021, the team compared the size of a cat's
cranium, which is an indicator of brain size.
They analyzed the shell sizes of the domestic cat (Felis catus), the
European wild cat (Felis silvestris), and the African wildcat (Felis
lybica). The researchers also looked at hybrids or crosses of wild and
domestic cats, and found their brain size was smaller than that of other cat
breeds.
They said the findings indicated a change in the size of the cat's brain.
"Our data show that domestic cats do, indeed, have smaller skull volumes
(meaning smaller brains) compared to European feral cats, domestic feral
cats, African feral cats, and verify the results of previous studies," the
researchers said. (27/1/2022).
On the other hand, since the 1960s and 1970s scientists have been
researching the size of the cat's brain. The trend of brain shrinkage also
appears to be true in other pets such as sheep, dogs and rabbits.
The researchers explained, the existence of natural selection to domesticate
wild animals or domestication leads to the production of nerve crest cells
in animals associated with arousal and fear.
This condition can ultimately lead to changes in the stress response, brain
size, and overall body morphology of animals such as cats.
However, the researchers emphasized that this study is not the first time,
and they only update the existing research on domestication theory. Also
read: Facts about Spotted Cats, the World's Smallest Cat, Only in Asia.
The study also shows how animals such as cats have helped human work for a
long time, including in livestock farming, and on ships. That is, these
findings prove that the relationship between cats and humans is more than
just looking for a food source.
"Domestic cats are often chosen as pets based on their temperament," the
researchers said.
As the study continues, researchers will seek more data to better understand
the effects of domestication on cats, including the factors that influence
changes in their brain size.
