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From: rcd@nbires.UUCP (Dick Dunn)
Newsgroups: net.pets
Subject: Re: The six senses of a cat
Message-ID: <130@nbires.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 15-Oct-85 04:45:44 EDT
Article-I.D.: nbires.130
Posted: Tue Oct 15 04:45:44 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 19-Oct-85 06:34:43 EDT
References: <165@drutx.UUCP> <116@talaris.UUCP>
Organization: NBI,Inc, Boulder CO
Lines: 16

> Ever notice how cats sway back and forth from side to side
> just before they pounce on a toy, mouse, bird etc.?
> 
> A neuroscientist friend once told me this lateral motion
> increases their depth perception.  

Ever notice how the motion is mostly in the cat's hindquarters?  Watch
carefully; the head is almost still when this happens.  I'd like a know-
ledgable explanation; I've always thought that it was just a windup--some
sort of "getting the motion together."  When cats want a better idea of
what they're watching, they seem to tilt their heads to the side (which
alters the sort of information coming in for stereo perception, though it
would seem in only minor ways).
-- 
Dick Dunn	{hao,ucbvax,allegra}!nbires!rcd		(303)444-5710 x3086
   ...Simpler is better.