The motive‚ as usual‚ remains a mystery. The post Iranian Muslim Shot After Taking 15 Hostages on Swiss Train appeared first on Frontpage Mag.

Suppressing political dissent by punishing speech. The post D.C. Jury Awards $1M in Damages to Suppress “Climate Denialism” appeared first on Frontpage Mag.

A roundup of mysterious‚ paranormal and strange news stories from the past week.

One of the most illuminating courses I took as an undergrad was on the morality of human rights. As with most philosophy courses‚ it tried to explain the logic of the obvious and complicated the matter. In the first half of the course‚ we surveyed attempts to give a rational account for human rights and why they ought to be seen as normative and binding: Kantian‚ utilitarian‚ positive‚ social constructivist‚ and so forth. (We didn’t even broach a theological reason‚ as it was assumed to be a nonstarter.) Most folks in the 21st-century WEIRDER West take the notion of human rights for granted. As the Declaration of Independence puts it‚ rights are “inalienable” and ought to be “self-evident.” But the only thing I was convinced of by the end of the human rights survey was that none of the secular programs could pull it off. Each had debilitating criticisms of the other positions. As far as I could see‚ no secular‚ rational grounding could bear the tremendous weight of such a crucial concept in contemporary moral discourse and international law. In a philosophy class‚ you can shrug and move on once your paper is done. But out in the real world‚ what happens when the basis for your entire international moral order is exposed to be an emperor with no clothes? What happens when we discover there’s no “there” there? Out in the real world‚ what happens when the basis for your entire international moral order is exposed to be an emperor with no clothes? This question isn’t confined to university classrooms; it’s being debated in public forums. Witness the recent controversy surrounding the comments on human rights by Yuval Harari—public intellectual‚ history professor at Hebrew University of Jerusalem‚ and author of bestsellers Sapiens and Homo Deus. In a video that circulated on X‚ he said‚ Human rights are just like heaven and like God: it’s just a fictional story that we’ve invented and spread around. It may be a very nice story. It may be a very attractive story we want to believe. But it’s just a story; it’s not reality. It is not a biological reality. Just as jellyfish and woodpeckers and ostriches have no rights‚ homo sapiens have no rights. Take a human‚ cut him open‚ look inside: you find their blood‚ and you find the heart and lungs and kidneys‚ but you don’t find there any rights. The only place you find rights is in the fictional stories that humans have invented and spread around. And the same thing is also true in the political field. States and nations are also‚ like human rights and like God and like heaven‚ just stories. A mountain is a reality: you can see it‚ you can touch it‚ you can even smell it. Israel or the United States‚ they’re just stories. Very powerful stories. Stories we might want to believe very much‚ but still they are just stories. You can’t really see the United States—you cannot touch it; you cannot smell it. Reflecting on these comments‚ as well as the surrounding controversy‚ is worth our time. They lay bare some key fissures in the moral consciousness of our post-Christian culture. They carry lessons for those looking to speak well about the God of creation and redemption to a world that lacks a grasp of the former—and so cannot understand the latter. Just a Story? Given Harari is an atheist and a naturalist‚ it’s no surprise he articulates a fairly standard‚ philosophically unsophisticated form of scientism‚ a nonscientific belief that itself cannot be scientifically verified. The only “real” things are biological realities such as mountains‚ bugs‚ and blood—things that can be tested‚ tasted‚ smelled‚ or physically observed. On that account‚ things like God‚ heaven‚ hell‚ nations‚ and even “human rights” aren’t real—they’re nice stories we tell ourselves to get along with the world. But they aren’t “there” in the structure of things. There are no human rights to the left of your pancreas or written into your physical being‚ like your DNA or chromosomal structure. A consistently naturalist metaphysics looks around at the world that exists as it does‚ just because it does‚ and can’t find a place for an absolute ought written into the way things are—much as we might like there to be one. That this speech sounds like the prelude to a cartoon villain’s revelation of his master plan—to eliminate large swaths of the planet to avoid climate change or something—doesn’t seem to bother Harari. It’s the way things are. We need to accept it if we’re going to deal rationally with the world. No ‘There’ to Be Seen‚ but the Story’s True Seen from another angle‚ this isn’t far from a point historian Tom Holland makes in his groundbreaking book Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World. The concept of human rights emerged in a specific time and place (12th-century Italy)‚ from specific people (canon lawyers)‚ under the influence of specific doctrines (for example‚ the image of God)‚ based on a specific story (the Christian narrative of creation and redemption). In one sense‚ human rights are the secularization of a deeply Christian concept. As Holland himself affirmed‚ they have “no more objective reality than‚ say‚ the Trinity. Both derive from the workings of Christian theology. Both‚ if they are to be believed‚ require people to make a leap of faith.” (Happily for Holland‚ he seems to have since made that “leap‚” affirming human rights as true along with their source.) In some aspects‚ Holland and Harari seem to agree—there’s no objective there there to be observed when it comes to human rights; it must simply be taken on faith. The difference is that Holland is happy to do so while Harari isn’t. Holland believes the there really is there when it comes to rights‚ though he shares Harari’s epistemological premise of empiricism—the only thing that counts as “objective” is what can be tasted‚ seen‚ smelled‚ and so forth. There’s a ‘There’ There‚ Regardless of the Story One more response is worth noting. Weighing in with partial disagreement with Holland‚ psychologist Jordan Peterson challenged the shared premise that‚ when it comes to human rights‚ there’s no “objective” there there: The doctrine of rights will soon be shown to be an inexorable consequence of the semantic network of meaning—that it’s encoded implicitly into the relationship not only between words and verbal concepts‚ but stories and also patterns of behavior. Built into the structure of human being‚ and perhaps even Being itself. In other words‚ “rights” are the semantic representation of the archetypal reality that characterizes sustainable‚ upward-oriented‚ reciprocally altruistic human interactions. Not arbitrary at all. Quite the contrary. The language is admittedly Byzantine and convoluted. But Peterson is holding out for confirmation that our sense of unique human dignity and value is rooted in the nature of thing‚ being‚ or Being itself. It’s not arbitrary‚ not a social construction‚ not a social-ideological chimera foisted on the Western conscience with no root in the world. Of course‚ given the murkiness of his metaphysics and theology (Peterson’s evolving views seem to be a nontheistic‚ quasi-religious mashup of Jungian psychology that tries to add depth to some of the findings in the developing field of evolutionary psychology)‚ he doesn’t have an account of what that value is or how it exists there. There’s a sense of promise‚ an anticipatory expectation—a faith‚ as it were—that this truth will indeed become verifiable or quantifiable in some way. But at this point‚ it seems a conviction without a rational justification or explanation. Natural Law‚ Natural Rights‚ and the Conscience: Suppressed or Supported? What are we to make of this conversation with these thinkers? What light can Christian doctrine and the Christian “story” shine on the confusion of the current moment? Understanding the basic shape of Christian anthropology can illumine the various ways they’re all right and wrong—as well as point the way forward in our conversations with neighbors and friends. The Law Written on Our Hearts In Romans 1–2‚ Paul tells us all humans were created with a natural knowledge of God and a sense of right and wrong (1:18–23). This is known as “natural theology” and “natural law.” When our moral and cognitive properties are functioning correctly‚ we come to understand both that there’s a Creator who transcends it all‚ who is worthy of all worship and honor‚ and that he makes demands suited to the kinds of creatures we are. One such demand is to treat other creatures with dignity and respect—not abusing them‚ engaging in unnatural sex with them‚ murdering them‚ slandering them‚ and so forth (vv. 24–32). Further‚ we must be clear it’s not just Jews or Christians in view but also Gentiles—non-Jews who don’t know and haven’t received a special or supernatural revelation from God. When Paul talks about the Gentiles‚ he says that even without the law‚ they act as a law unto themselves and “by nature do what the law requires” (2:14)‚ because “the work of the law is written on their hearts” (v. 15). There’s a universal human sense of right and wrong—a notion of law written into our being that transcends all times‚ cultures‚ and places. This is what C. S. Lewis called “the Tao‚” which everyone knows they ought to be abiding by in some way. So while someone might not be able to articulate a clear doctrine of the image of God as given in Genesis 1‚ the Bible says they should be able to look at their fellow humans and‚ morally and rationally‚ have a proper sense of how not to treat them. Fallen Reason and Ideology What accounts for the moral divergences within and between societies? How can one society think something is absolutely just and heroic while another opposes it as intrinsically disordered and unjust? There is a universal human sense of right and wrong—a notion of law written into our being that transcends all times‚ cultures‚ and places. There’s no such thing as an amoral society. Each one has comprehensive norms it teaches and ingrains and by which it orders itself—testifying to that inborn‚ universal sense. That said‚ the Bible insists humanity’s natural knowledge has been bent because of sin. Our capacity to discern the lineaments of the created order is broken due to our alienated relationship with God. Our moral compasses no longer point due north‚ and so we tend to suppress and distort the knowledge of God and his law. We do this in all sorts of ways. We make up false gods‚ idolizing features of the creation and remaking the moral law into our own bent images. To invoke Harari’s idiom‚ naturalism is a nice story we tell ourselves to cope with the fear we might face divine judgment for how we treat our neighbors. In that sense‚ ideology is one of the more sophisticated implements in the human arsenal of truth suppression. Consistency‚ Materialism‚ and Grasping at Truth This is what we find in Harari’s technobiological naturalism which‚ at its core‚ is a rationalized‚ truth-suppressing ideology. At least it’s consistent. Indeed‚ the sociobiologists‚ evolutionary psychologists‚ and naturalist philosophers working on the problem agree there’s no way to generate a normative account of morality. (See James Davison Hunter and Paul Nedelisky’s Science and the Good.) The problem is that it’s a consistently false read of reality that exacerbates our natural tendency to deny God and the true value of our neighbor. Peterson‚ on the other hand‚ has been publicly wrestling with the question of God and the truth of the Gospels for a while. He’s trying to affirm the truth of natural law and natural rights without a God who commands and gives rights‚ who authored “the archetypal reality‚” rendering it worthy of dignity and respect. His is a fallen‚ groping inconsistency. Leap of Faith? What of Holland’s response? While historically the doctrine of human rights arose under the influence of Christianity‚ Holland’s response is too fideistic and historicist in not recognizing the revelation given in nature. Holland looks at the fact that “rights” talk arose in a particular way under the influence of the story of the gospel as evidence that “rights” can’t be inherent in nature as an “objective” reality. Tackling the idea that ethics is mostly a matter of choosing to believe the right story‚ theologian Oliver O’Donovan writes‚ We cannot object to the idea that history should be taken seriously. A Christian response to historicism will wish to make precisely the opposite point: when history is made the categorical matrix for all meaning and value‚ it cannot be then taken seriously as history. A story has to be a story about something; but when everything is a story there is nothing for the story to be about. O’Donovan is arguing that while the gospel is a story‚ it’s a story about reality that’s there outside its narration. It’s telling a story about what is and exists‚ about the world God made in a particular way with a particular shape‚ which is there for us to discern. For that reason‚ natural law and natural rights ought not to be seen as supervening or imposed on the reality of nature but inherent within it. Believing the gospel is a matter of receiving a message that clarifies‚ purifies‚ and‚ in some key cases‚ confirms what our fallen reason was grappling to acknowledge despite itself. Supernatural revelation corrects our fallen and sinful perception of natural revelation and completes it by giving it a truth that’s nonetheless beyond it. Peterson is right to hold out for a moral meaning within nature that we discover‚ not decide. Holland is similarly correct in recognizing this meaning needs a warrant and a clarifying revelation from beyond nature. Only if the story of God creating the world in this way is true can it have the moral meaning we so desperately hope for in our affirmation of human dignity. Ultimately‚ only a word from God—the story of God—can help us believe‚ understand‚ and be confirmed in what we know deep in our bones. Confidence in the Story of Reality Where does this leave us? First‚ it’s good to recognize to what degree Harari is right if there’s no God and no gospel. We are meat‚ and we have no rational basis for asserting the dignity of human nature. This is a point as old as Dostoevsky and Nietzsche but no less relevant or worth pressing on people for the simple reason that Harari isn’t right about the matter—and most know better. Believing the gospel is a matter of receiving a message that clarifies‚ purifies‚ and‚ in some key cases‚ confirms what our fallen reason was grappling to acknowledge despite itself. Most are unwilling to publicly suppress the truth of the dignity of human nature to the extent he does. Even extremely secular folks have instincts like those of Peterson. They want to affirm human dignity and rights‚ if only to be assured of their own. Christianity offers a clarifying justification that goes far beyond what they could come up with under their own metaphysical and rational steam. Christians‚ rooted in the truth of Scripture‚ can affirm that all humans of every tribe‚ tongue‚ and nation have unparalleled value and dignity rooted in their being made in God’s image. Not only that‚ they have the further dignity that comes with the gospel. Humans are so valuable that God himself became one in the person of Jesus to die‚ pay for all their crimes and sins and injustices against their fellow image-bearers‚ and restore them to their intended glory. Second‚ there’s something counterintuitive about this result. In the contemporary moment‚ the biggest challenges against Christian doctrine and truth come not against our miracles but against our morality—not against the supernatural but against our understanding of the natural order‚ especially expressed in our beliefs about marriage and the nature of men and women. Here we seem to be on our back foot‚ performing a rear-guard action‚ scrambling to defend our views as loving and just. This is only an optical illusion. The moral order is precisely the place Christians need to be prepared to press the apologetic advantage for the truth of the faith. Secular ideologies are being exposed as insufficient to counter violent ideologies that demean human dignity and encroach on human rights. Christianity stands in firm contrast and can give full-throated affirmation to that which other ideologies can only offer weak wishes. Humans are so valuable that God himself became one in the person of Jesus in order to die‚ pay for all their crimes and sins and injustices against their fellow image-bearers‚ and restore them to their intended glory. If this story is true‚ Christianity cannot come as a mere confirmation of what we’ve always believed. We must be prepared to receive it as a correction of all the ways we’ve suppressed the truth of our consciences. We must be willing to hear not only a confirming word but a convicting word that stands in judgment over us. Given humanity’s violent crimes and sins and atrocities against our neighbors—our genocides‚ rapes‚ racism‚ and bigotries—we might also expect our reason to have suppressed the truth in other areas. When Jesus comes along teaching what we don’t want to hear about our sex lives‚ sexualities‚ or gender identities‚ might we not expect some shocks? We must. Third‚ as we press these points‚ we cannot do so without ourselves being pressed by them. We speak as created and fallen image-bearers to other created and fallen image-bearers. That means speaking with both humility and confidence. We speak as those who ourselves regularly must receive correction from the Word for all the ways we suppress the truth in unrighteousness. This humility is an excuse for neither laxity nor hopelessness. Not only do we have the truth of the gospel and the power of the Spirit‚ but God has left a witness in the hearts of those we’re trying to reach—the law itself is written there‚ pressing on their consciences‚ longing for the liberating judgment of gospel of Jesus Christ (Rom. 2:16).

“The preaching of the law is the schoolmaster that brings us to Christ again and again.” – J. D. Greear In his keynote message at TGC’s 2023 National Conference‚ J. D. Greear teaches from Exodus 19–20 and derives four observations about the Ten Commandments‚ emphasizing their authority from God‚ their role in restoring order and true freedom‚ their connection to idolatry‚ and their foundation in God’s grace. These commandments challenge contemporary cultural ideals and serve as a guide to living within God’s beautiful design.

60 years ago today‚ The Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show before a record-setting audience of Americans waiting to see them perform their No. 1 hit‚ I Want to Hold Your Hand. Never before had so many viewers tuned in to a live television program; with 73 million viewers‚ it totaled three-fourths of the […] The post Good News in History‚ February 9 appeared first on Good News Network.

The post Do Cats Make Friends With Other Cats? Feline Social Behavior Explained by Brooke Billingsley appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. Click to Skip Ahead Bonding Between Cats Does My Cat Need a Cat Friend? If you’ve ever brought home a new cat and you already own one‚ then you know how complex the introduction of the two pets can be. Cats are finicky animals that are slow to warm up to new animals and situations‚ which can make it difficult to integrate a new cat into your household. If your cat spends time outdoors‚ then they are likely to run into other cats‚ which will likely take an adjustment period similar to that of introducing a new cat into your home. Will your cat ever make friends with other cats? Cats are able to bond with other cats‚ forging what we might consider a “friendship” with each other. Not all cats want to form bonds with other cats‚ though! Bonding Between Cats Although some cats may warm up to each other within a matter of days or weeks‚ it typically takes between 8 and 12 months for two cats to form a bond close enough that they could be considered to be friends. In some cases‚ though‚ the two cats may never bond. While this situation usually results in two cats that simply stay out of each other’s way‚ it sometimes requires one of the cats to be permanently rehomed for the safety and health of the animals. Keep in mind that cats are naturally solitary animals. They can form bonds with other animals and people‚ but in the wild‚ cats usually live completely solitary lives. They may only interact with other cats when there is a territory dispute or breeding season is in full swing. If you’ve ever watched a feral cat colony‚ then you’ve likely noted that some cats do seem to stick together. In many cases‚ these cats have bonded from a young age. They may even be siblings. Image Credit: Sandeep Gore‚ Shutterstock Does My Cat Need a Cat Friend? If you’re currently living in a one-cat household‚ you may have caught yourself wondering if your cat might be happier if you gave them a feline friend. If your cat spends a lot of time alone or seems excessively bored‚ even when you spend daily time with them playing and snuggling‚ then they may benefit from the addition of another cat in the home. It’s important to remember‚ though‚ that most cats are perfectly content to live in a home with no other cats. In the wild‚ their territory would be relatively large‚ and cats are often not keen on sharing their territory with other felines. This is one of the main reasons that it’s so difficult to introduce two cats to each other. Many cats can adjust to the addition of a new cat to the home. Even if your cat may not necessarily want a feline friend‚ it doesn’t mean that they won’t be able to adjust to a new cat‚ nor does it mean that they’ll never bond with the new addition. Image Credit: Bachkova Natalia_Shutterstock In Conclusion Cats may not form friendships in the traditional sense that humans do‚ but they can bond closely with other cats. Littermates that are raised together or kittens that are kept with their mother are most likely to be tightly bonded to their companion. Other cats can learn to accept other cats‚ sometimes even forming extremely close bonds. Cats are solitary animals‚ though‚ so many of them are very happy to live in their own territory without the intrusion of other animals. Sources Introducing Your Cat to a New Cat – PAWS Featured Image Credit: Xeniya Butenko‚ Shutterstock The post Do Cats Make Friends With Other Cats? Feline Social Behavior Explained by Brooke Billingsley appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

The post Why Do Cats Lay in the Middle of the Floor? 7 Possible Reasons by Codee Chessher appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. Cat owners everywhere are familiar with the feline antics their furry roommates get up to‚ but it’s not always obvious why they do the peculiar things they do. For example‚ why do cats just lie in the middle of the floor even when they have a perfectly comfy pet bed nearby? The answer is more nuanced than you might think. There are actually numerous reasons your cat might prefer resting on the bare floor. Read on with us as we break down those reasons so you can have more insight into your cat’s behavior. The 7 Reasons That Cats Lay In The Middle of The Floor 1. It’s Cooler During the sweltering summer heat‚ your cat might lounge on the floor to beat the heat and cool off a bit. You can identify a cat trying to cool down by lying on the floor by the way they sprawl out their bodies. They do that to make as much contact with the floor as possible‚ which cools them off faster than if they were just sitting or curled up in a loafing position. Tile floors are ideal‚ but any flat‚ cool surface will do the trick. In the winter‚ you won’t see this very much if at all because your cat won’t need to cool down‚ and they’ll in fact seek out heat instead. Image Credit: Xeniya Butenko‚ Shutterstock 2. They’re Sunbathing Cats don’t get tans‚ but they do like the feel of sunlight on their fur and are happy to soak up some warm rays on a chilly day. They love windows that let in natural light‚ whether they’re watching the great outdoors (AKA cat TV) or just drowsing. This is normal and healthy in moderation‚ but ensure your cat has plenty of clean‚ fresh water to stay hydrated and to stave off dehydration caused by too much sun exposure. 3. They Trust You Many cats are natural skeptics‚ and they show their trust in understated ways that don’t directly translate to humans. For instance‚ sleeping on the floor with their belly exposed is a big sign that your cat is comfortable around you and feels safe in your presence. Giving them some attention when they’re showing their trust in such a sweet way can go a long way to developing a closer bond with your kitty. Image Credit: Sam Lion‚ Pexels 4. They’re Strategically Located Cats have meticulously honed hunting instincts thanks to countless years of evolution‚ and that can even affect where they choose to lie down. What looks to you like a random spot on the floor could actually be a tactically chosen spot to watch for prey or merely to observe for potential threats in their territory. You can confirm this theory yourself by watching your cat for a while. If they seem alert and swivel their head at the slightest sounds or movements‚ they’re in hunting mode. 5. Some Cats Prefer Sleeping on the Floor It’s strange but true. Some cats‚ especially strays that become house cats‚ are so used to sleeping on the ground that they prefer it. Still‚ any cat may prefer sleeping on the floor‚ tables‚ shelves‚ countertops‚ or other flat surfaces. Image Credit: Liao Zhiwo Henry‚ Shutterstock 6. You Move Too Much When You Sit With Your Cat Some cats are less patient than others when it comes to being jostled around by movements on the furniture and will seek out some peaceful quiet time by lying on the ground. It doesn’t mean they don’t love you‚ though; they just love their cat naps too! Chaotic households with children or other pets inspire this behavior more often than quiet homes. This is why it’s important to have an area set aside for your cat where they can go to unwind and not be disturbed‚ though there’s no guarantee your cat won’t just prefer a nice spot on the floor. Alternatively‚ you could try simply moving less when you sit with your cat so they feel more comfortable. 7. Your Cat Might Be Sick or Hurt Let’s be clear here: laying on the floor by itself isn’t a cause for concern. It’s when you start noticing strange or worrying health-related signs along with a sudden preference for laying on the floor that you want to pay more attention‚ as your cat might be suffering from an illness. Cats are reluctant to let you know they’re sick and might hide from you. If your cat starts laying on the floor and exhibiting any of the following signs‚ we urge you to take them to a trusted vet. Alarming Signs to Watch For: Abnormal sleep habits: Sleeping much more or much less while on the floor may be a sign that your cat is in pain. Hiding: A normally social cat who lies on the floor in remote areas of your home might be feeling under the weather or nursing a wound. GI symptoms: Including vomiting‚ diarrhea‚ and bloating‚ these are some of the most obvious and concerning signs to watch for if your cat is suddenly laying on the floor. Changes in appetite: If your cat is drinking and eating very little or a lot accompanied by bouts of floor-laying‚ your cat may need to get a checkup to pinpoint the cause. Wounds: Cats that got hurt by another animal or hazardous objects might lay on the floor by themselves while they recuperate. Image Credit: MULTI ILHAM ANUGRIYA‚ Shutterstock Final Verdict Don’t stop your cat from lying in the middle of the floor. It’s not typically an issue on its own if your cat prefers to lay on the floor instead of on a pet bed or on the furniture with you. They might be trying to regulate their body temperature‚ get in some private time to show they trust you‚ or maybe they just prefer the floor. As long as your cat isn’t exhibiting any negative health effects and lying on the floor‚ it’s best to let them lay where they feel most comfortable and safe. Featured Image Credit: DimaBerlin‚ Shutterstock The post Why Do Cats Lay in the Middle of the Floor? 7 Possible Reasons by Codee Chessher appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

The post Do Cats Protect Their Owners? Facts &; FAQ by Nicole Cosgrove appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. Click to Skip Ahead The Cat-Human Relationship Protective Cats Signs Your Cat Is Protecting You How to Prevent Aggressive Behavior Do Cats Care About Their Owners? Do Cats Guard the Home? When we think of protective pets‚ we tend to think of dogs. However‚ cats can be very protective of their owners and family. If they feel they or you are threatened‚ they may take action to try and combat the threat. But‚ because humans are much bigger than cats‚ and pose a considerable threat‚ protective cats will typically warn you and may try and scare the threat off‚ rather than directly attacking. However‚ some cats can be overprotective and this may manifest itself as aggression towards visitors. Below‚ we look at some of the possible causes of this protective instinct and what you can do to prevent your cat from attacking visitors. The Cat-Human Relationship Cats have been domesticated for thousands of years. They share our homes and lives. In some cases‚ they work with us‚ especially to protect food against potential scavengers. But‚ for the most part‚ they have a reputation for being aloof and standoffish. It can seem as though they don’t really care about us at all‚ as long as we keep putting food down and meeting their daily requirements. But‚ studies suggest that cats also rely on us for comfort and security. They form very strong bonds with their owners‚ similar to the bonds between humans and dogs or even babies. Image Credit: I Wei Huang‚ Shutterstock Protective Cats Because cats form these close bonds with their humans‚ it means they can feel the need to protect. Cats don’t think the same way as humans‚ or even dogs‚ so this protective nature doesn’t mean that they will come rushing in to save the day by attacking perceived threats. More likely‚ they will try to warn you of any danger. A protective cat may follow you around the house and even sleep with you or near you. It will likely warn you of potential danger by making noise. Signs Your Cat Is Protecting You Having a protective cat can seem sweet‚ and there are even instances of cats chasing away dogs and other potential predators to protect their humans. However‚ it can become a problem if a cat becomes overprotective. The cat may try and prevent other people from getting too close to you and can even attack visitors to the house or other family members if they perceive them as a threat. Signs of an overprotective cat are similar to the signs a cat would show if they feel threatened. They will bush up their tail and the fur on their backs‚ making themselves appear bigger and more threatening than they are. This will be aimed at the person or other animal that they see as a threat. These can be seen as warning signs‚ and if the threat doesn’t go away‚ the cat may become more aggressive‚ eventually leading to scratching and biting. Image Credit: Diana Taliun‚ Shutterstock How to Prevent Aggressive Cat Behavior Never praise or reward the cat for aggressive behavior. This teaches the cat that aggression is the desired response‚ and not only will they continue to show similar signs‚ but they could also become even more aggressive. Don’t punish the cat for being aggressive‚ however. Your cat is unlikely to know what it is being punished for so it won’t rectify the problem and may cause anxiety. Generally‚ you need to ignore the negative reaction by walking away from it. You can also attempt to distract the cat by providing something acceptable to attack or play with before it gets aggressive. Do Cats Actually Care About Their Owners? Studies suggest that cats are attached to their owners. They not only rely on people for their food and water but also comfort and security. So‚ while it might come as a surprise to the owners of aloof‚ independent cats‚ they can care very deeply about their owners. Image Credit: U__Photo‚ Shutterstock Do Cats Guard the Home? Cats can protect their home; in the same way they might protect humans. Typically‚ this means they will sound an audible alarm for their humans‚ but it can lead to cats being aggressive towards people visiting the house and potentially even intruders. The size of human visitors means that most cats will avoid direct confrontation with people‚ though. Conclusion Although they can appear aloof and even a little ignorant of their human owners‚ cats can develop very strong bonds. As well as being reliant on their humans for food‚ water‚ and shelter‚ it has been discovered that they also rely on people for social bonds and security. This means that pet cats can become protective and‚ albeit very rarely‚ may even become over-protective and potentially aggressive. Sources https://www.hillspet.co.uk/cat-care/behavior-appearance/are-cats-protective-of-humans https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/cats-really-do-need-their-humans-even-if-they-don-n1057431 https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(19)31086-3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1k4wNXfDB8 Featured Image Credit: Nataliabiruk‚ Shutterstock The post Do Cats Protect Their Owners? Facts &; FAQ by Nicole Cosgrove appeared first on Catster. 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