Cats and dogs have long been cherished as some of the most popular pets worldwide, admired for their companionship, loyalty, and distinct personalities. These creatures continue to improve the lives of families all around the world, whether it’s because of the independent appeal of cats or the devoted character of dogs.

Cat owners are aware that their animals move differently from other pets. Cats are often characterised as “liquid,” as if their bodies just spilt into any place they happened to inhabit. Many pet owners have been amazed by this fluid-like action, and it appears that cats are aware of their amazing skill, as they frequently display a smug demeanour while doing so.

Cats are cherished pets for more reasons than just their fluid motions. Their personalities, which are frequently marked by humour and independence, make them enticing company. Whether it’s the grace or loyalty of a dog, these pets never fail to win people over and deepen the relationship that exists between people and animals.

According to the new research that has been published in iScience, cats selectively rely on body size awareness when negotiating short openings.

According to the author of the research paper, various animal species can make a priori decisions about the passability of openings based on their own size knowledge. So far, no one has tested the ability for self-representation in cats. We hypothesised that cats may rely on their size awareness when they have to negotiate small openings.

Companion cats were tested with incrementally decreasing-sized openings, which were either the same height or the same width. Cats approached and entered even the narrowest openings, but they slowed down before reaching and while passing through the shortest ones.

Because of their specific anatomical features and cautious locomotory strategy, cats readily opt for the trial-and-error method to negotiate narrow apertures, but they seemingly rely on their body-size representing capacity in the case of uncomfortably short openings. Ecologically valid methodologies can provide answers in the future as to whether cats would rely on their body awareness in other challenging spatial tasks, the authors of the study wrote.

Shanghai:

Shanghai Museum has pulled in crowds this summer for an exhibition of ancient Egyptian relics including cat statues and other feline imagery, which on Saturday nights allows up to 200 visitors to bring along their own four-legged friends.

Inspired by ancient Egyptians’ worship of Bastet, the goddess of protection – often depicted as a cat – the museum has given cats the chance to interact with part of the exhibition called “The Secrets of Saqqara”.

“Egyptian archaeological teams discovered a cat temple in Saqqara and unearthed many cat mummies and cat statues. So when we were planning the event, we had cats as a theme, and then came the idea for ‘Meow Night’,” said Shanghai Museum Deputy Director Li Feng.

The “Top of the Pyramids: Ancient Egyptian Civilization Exhibition” began on July 19 and runs until Aug. 17, 2025, with “Meow Night” planned for at least 10 Saturdays. It has held six so far with tickets, including 200 bring-a-cat tickets, selling out each time.

Visitors bring their cats in carriers or pet strollers and can take them out only at designated areas, such as for a photo opportunity next to a statue of Bastet.

The cats are checked on entry to ensure up-to-date vaccinations and for signs of illness or stress. There are veterinarians onsite and rest areas for cats in case the stimulation from their night at the museum gets a bit much.

“It’s very special that you can bring a cat with you,” said visitor Qiu Jiakai who was attending “Meow Night” with one-year-old puss An Mao.

“I listened to the narrator’s introduction saying … many of today’s pet cats are related to the cats domesticated in ancient Egypt. So I thought I would have to bring my cat here to see its ancestors and the cat goddess,” she said.

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