24/09/2023
Have you ever wondered why some cats seem to wait until the very last second then dart right out into the path of a car at lightening speed? In the cats brain, there is a very intentional and logical reason they choose to wait for the car to approach before running out in front of it....
Cats know their claws and bite are sometimes no match for the larger predators they face, and they must rely on their speed and agility to outrun the threat. Although few animals are as nibble as a cat, some can rival their speed. So, to run away from an attacker, cats will wait until the adversary is close enough to start the attack, but not close enough to close the deal.
The adversary in this case is the large car coming at speed, as they see it hid under a parked car, right toward them and about to attack!
In that final moment, a cat will run across the path of the attacker. The attacker will then have to change direction which means slowing down or stopping. By the time the attacker has changed course and started pursuing the cat again, the cat has a massive head start towards any defensive position available.
The problem with cars is their speed and width exceed anything a cat has encountered before and they time their escape route too late. This is why you should always slow down if you spot a cat near the road as their actions can be extremely unpredictable and fast. Although there will always be some cases where a cat is impossible to spot until it's too late, vigilance is key to saving many lives in most situations.
