Cat litter boxes should be aligned north to south. You’ll need a compass. A cat will feel more comfortable if she can make a poop or pee while facing the North or South Pole.
That is the deduction I make based on recent research carried out with dogs. But I am being flippant about the results of careful research which is interesting and important and which confirms the ability of the dog amongst several mammalian species to sense or detect the Earth’s magnetic field.
People believe that certain animals navigate using the Earth’s magnetic field when travelling long distances. A migrating bird is the best example. Cats that are lost and find their way home over long distances are another example. There are many of these cases.
The general consensus amongst the cat experts is that cats navigate by sensing the Earth’s magnetic field. They are able to feel where north, south, east and west are. The cat can probably then compare it to the direction they took in getting to where they are. The magnetic field would be a reference point allowing them to retrace their steps and get home. I am speculating but it makes good sense.
Although the research that I refer to was conducted with dogs there is good reason to believe that the same or similar conclusions would have been made with cats or some other mammals.
In the research, 70 dogs where observed defecating and urinating. The direction of the body was noted. Variables, such as the position of the sun, were taken into account and eliminated. There were 1,893 observations of defecation and 5,582 observations of urination.
The researchers were unable to come to a conclusion as to whether a dog consciously detected the magnetic field or whether it was sensed as a feeling, thereby making the dog feel more comfortable when aligned north to south. Dogs actively avoided east-west alignment when pooping and peeing.
If magnetic-field-sensing-animals feel more comfortable aligned N-S when doing certain things, it begs the question whether this knowledge should be used to improve cat caretaking. It is too early to decide that. However, I am thinking, for example of sleeping quarters. Does your cat always sleep in a certain direction? Perhaps you can’t tell because she is curled up but is she curled up in the same way each time? This a story that may throw up some new articles in the future.
One last point: can humans sense the Earth’s magnetic field? I don’t know but I believe some people can or are more able to tap into that skill. Some people are able to “get their bearings” better than others. Some drivers don’t get lost while others do. Is this something to do with sensing the Earth’s magnetic field?
Here is the summary of the research I have referred to:
I found the study interesting, but yes, not a good way to spend money!
I hope so Michael
Good point about money. I think, though, that there will be some benefits for animals because it is one more bit of information that tells people that animals have abilities that we apparently don’t. That may help some people to respect animals a bit more, which in turn should indirectly improve animal welfare.
Thanks, Ruth AKA. I was about to write something similar.
This (sorry to those who care) mundane research couldn’t have been carried out anywhere but the old USA! I’ll pass the word to my dog loving friends which way they must position their dog to poop.
I wonder how may millions of dollars taxpayors shelled out for this nonsense.
Very interesting Michael and it’s good you have brought this to notice because now I wonder how much money was spent on this seeming to me pointless research? Money which could have been spent on homeless animals, on neutering animals to prevent more unwanted, or on educating ignorant people as to the fact that animals are living, breathing, feeling creatures.
Has every mystery of Nature to be researched by people who have nothing better to do?
Animals, cats in particular, are far cleverer than any human being and we will never know all their secrets.
Well I’ve seen everything now! “Is nothing private?” dogs and cats might ask! Or maybe it’s April 1st already. Can’t possibly comment on which direction Walter and Jo face when answering the call of nature as they rarely do it in their trays(all of which now I’ve stopped to have a look at them are placed east to west – oh no!) only when they’re taken short during the night which is as rare as hens teeth. And to be honest I’ve never noticed either of them lying one way in particular, they’re usually constantly changing position and rolling over with warm tummies uppermost. There probably is something in the earth’s magnetism theory, lay lines or whatever but whether it influences toileting behaviour – who knows!?! 🙂