cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/36846914
Down we go
this post was submitted on 06 Oct 2025
347 points (98.6% liked)
Science Memes
17142 readers
2800 users here now
Welcome to c/science_memes @ Mander.xyz!
A place for majestic STEMLORD peacocking, as well as memes about the realities of working in a lab.
Rules
- Don't throw mud. Behave like an intellectual and remember the human.
- Keep it rooted (on topic).
- No spam.
- Infographics welcome, get schooled.
This is a science community. We use the Dawkins definition of meme.
Research Committee
Other Mander Communities
Science and Research
Biology and Life Sciences
- !abiogenesis@mander.xyz
- !animal-behavior@mander.xyz
- !anthropology@mander.xyz
- !arachnology@mander.xyz
- !balconygardening@slrpnk.net
- !biodiversity@mander.xyz
- !biology@mander.xyz
- !biophysics@mander.xyz
- !botany@mander.xyz
- !ecology@mander.xyz
- !entomology@mander.xyz
- !fermentation@mander.xyz
- !herpetology@mander.xyz
- !houseplants@mander.xyz
- !medicine@mander.xyz
- !microscopy@mander.xyz
- !mycology@mander.xyz
- !nudibranchs@mander.xyz
- !nutrition@mander.xyz
- !palaeoecology@mander.xyz
- !palaeontology@mander.xyz
- !photosynthesis@mander.xyz
- !plantid@mander.xyz
- !plants@mander.xyz
- !reptiles and amphibians@mander.xyz
Physical Sciences
- !astronomy@mander.xyz
- !chemistry@mander.xyz
- !earthscience@mander.xyz
- !geography@mander.xyz
- !geospatial@mander.xyz
- !nuclear@mander.xyz
- !physics@mander.xyz
- !quantum-computing@mander.xyz
- !spectroscopy@mander.xyz
Humanities and Social Sciences
Practical and Applied Sciences
- !exercise-and sports-science@mander.xyz
- !gardening@mander.xyz
- !self sufficiency@mander.xyz
- !soilscience@slrpnk.net
- !terrariums@mander.xyz
- !timelapse@mander.xyz
Memes
Miscellaneous
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
Close, but not sideways, no cheek-skritch action
“That’s so weird!”
“And what are you doing?”
“…”
They expect embarrassment but they will only get pity.
What is the evolutionary advantage?
Preservation of energy. Anti-parasite behavior.
By lack of limb and intestinal autonomous motion! Yep, the cat is also digesting while flowing down.
Also, autonomous bodywide scratching
I'd say the silliness seen here goes hand-in-hand with curiosity and intelligence, which makes them clever and effective hunters. This type of derpiness also earns them a rent free spot in monkey houses. So, dumb as it may seem, this is actually a very fit behavior.
Your premise is mistaken. The cat is rubbing its scent glands/scratching its cheek (and shoulder) on the stairs' edges, to satisfy an itch and mark its property simultaneously. Sliding down the stairs is merely a benign side effect.
I bet theyre also having fun, because cats do like fun
The temperature in your house is too high .... because your cat has taken to its liquid form.
Sometimes when I'm really tired in the morning I get out of bed like this, it's the path of leadt resistance.
slinky cat!
Example of convergent evolution.
He wants pets and is using the stair edges to handle it himself.
A pet with pets? Petception.
Felis Slinkere!
Cathartic?
It's called "de-escatlation". Just like de-escalation, but with an awkward hiccup.
Looks like a sidewinder snake.
... Drunken Tiger Paw?
Evolutionary advantage...?
Uh... its fairly energy conserving, accomplishes the desired goal when time is not a critical factor, also keeps kitty limber via basically a light stretch/workout of many diffent muscle/tendon groups?
i think stairs can just be awkward for cats to navigate too. they are designed for human feet...
not everything is an Darwinian adaptation.
Tbh, the most compelling idea of why animals play that ive heard is just as a way to keep the body limber and ready. Its like free form yoga and calisthenics combined if youre playing hard
"On the rheology of cats" is the article that studies this phenomenon, please if you don't trust my link don't follow it just search the name in quotes from the beginning of the message (you should never trust the links (-________________-) ) https://www.drgoulu.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Rheology-of-cats.pdf