Why Do Cats Attack Mirrors?

[dendawg]

Interesting theory.

[edible_hat]

For around half a second there it looks like the cat is going to go through the mirror.

[Soulstealer]

My theory is that mirrors don't reflect smells. Cats see another cat but they usually sniff each other to identify friend from stranger. You can't do that with a mirror therefore it's a stranger cat. My first cat would spend way too much time in front of a mirror trying to figure out who the other cat was. She never ran into the mirror though which I suppose is an indicator of some intelligence.

Sort of related, my baby brothers used to do the same thing except it wasn't a lack of smell so much as they didn't realize what a reflectioin was at that stage of their development. They know now.

[Caveat Emptor]

Isn't it a sign of higher intelligence / self awareness when an animal doesn't attack it's own reflection? A baboon will attack, chimps admire themselves.

[Soulstealer]

Perhaps I should mention that I lovingly call my kitties dumb asses. (What? They don't speak human)