They're cute, they're lovable.

牠們很可愛，很討人喜歡。

And judging by the 26 billions views of over 2 million YouTube videos of them.

而且，從超過兩百萬支YouTube影片有高達260億次的觀賞次數來看。

Pouncing, bouncing, climbing, cramming, stalking, clawing, chattering, and purring.

影片關於貓兒們突襲（或猛撲）、受到驚嚇彈跳、攀爬、縮成一團毛球、鬼鬼祟祟地靠近目標、磨利貓爪、牙齒打顫（貓對著鳥或松鼠發出奇怪的聲音）、以及發出呼嚕聲，

One thing is certain: cats are very entertaining.

有件事是確定的：貓真的極具娛樂性

These somewhat strange feline behaviors, both amusing and baffling.

這些所謂奇怪的貓科動物行為，好玩有趣又莫名奇妙。

Leave many of us asking, "Why do cats do that?"

讓我們許多人不禁想問：「為何貓那麼做?」

Throughout time, cats were simultaneously solitary predators of smaller animals, and prey for larger carnivores.

隨著時間，貓同時是小型動物的單獨掠食者，也是大型動物的獵物

As both predator and prey, survival of their species depended on crucial instinctual behaviors.

同時身為掠食者和獵物，牠們物種的生存取決於決定性的本能行為。

Which we still observe in wild and domestic cats today.

也就是我們今日仍從野生和馴養的貓身上觀察到的行為。

While the feline actions of your house cat Grizmo might seem perplexing.

鋻於你家的貓 Grizmo，牠的貓科動物行徑也許令人看似不解。

In the wild, these same behaviors, naturally bred into cats for millions of years, would make Grizmo a super cat.

在野外中，這些相同的行為，數百萬年來，已經自然繁殖成為貓的一部分，能讓Grizmo成為一隻超級貓。

Enabled by their unique muscular structure and keen balancing abilities.

因為牠們獨特的肌肉結構和敏捷的平衡能力。

Cats climbed to high vantage points to survey their territory and spot prey in the wild.

使得貓可以攀爬到高處有利的位置，以便勘測牠們的領域並發現在野外的獵物

Grizmo doesn't need these particular skills to find and hunt down dinner in her food bowl today.

Grizmo並不需要這些特殊技巧來尋找和追捕牠今天食物碗裡的晚餐。

But instinctually, viewing the living room from the top of the bookcase is exactly what she has evolved to do.

但本能地，從書櫃最上頭俯瞰客廳，便就是牠已經進化到這麼做的證明。

As wild predators, cats are opportunistic and hunt whenever prey is available.

身為野生掠食者，貓是很會投機取巧的，而且隨時追捕能找到的獵物。

Since most cat prey are small.

因為貓的獵物大部分都是小型動物。

Cats in the wild needed to eat many times each day, and use a stalk, pounce, kill, eat strategy to stay fed.

在野外的貓則必須一天吃好幾餐，並使用偷偷靠近、猛撲、獵殺和吃的技巧來填飽肚子。

This is why Grizmo prefers to chase and pounce on little toys, and eat small meals over the course of the day and night.

這也是為何Grizmo偏好追逐和撲向小玩具，而且一整天下來少量多餐。

Also, small prey tend to hide in tiny spaces in their natural environments.

另外，小型獵物傾向躲藏於自然環境中的狹小空間。

So one explanation for Grizmo's propensity to reach into containers and openings, is that she is compelled by the same curiosity.

因此，一項對於Grizmo傾向把手伸進去容器和開口裡的解釋，是因為牠受到相同的好奇心驅使。

That helped ensure the continuation of her species for millions of years before.

那相同的好奇心，在數百萬年前，幫助確保了牠的物種的延續。

In the wild, cats needed sharp claws for climbing, hunting, and self-defense.

在野外，貓需要鋒利的爪子來攀爬、狩獵和自我防衛。

Sharpening their claws on nearby surfaces kept them conditioned and ready, helped stretch their back and leg muscles, and relieve some stress, too.

在附近表面磨利牠們的貓爪，能讓牠們保持最佳狀態、蓄勢待發，能幫助伸展牠們背部和腳的肌肉，而且也能釋放出一些壓力。

So, it's not that Grizmo hates your couch, chair, ottoman, pillows, curtains, and everything else you put in her environment.

所以，並不是Grizmo討厭你的沙發、椅子、軟腳墊、枕頭、窗簾以及你放在牠所處環境的其他一切物品。

She's ripping these things to shreds and keeping her claws in tip-top shape.

牠把這些物品撕成碎片，保持牠的貓爪在一流的狀態。

Because this is exactly what her ancestors did in order to survive.

因為這正是牠的祖先們為了生存而會做的事。

As animals that were preyed upon, cats evolved to not get caught.

做為被獵捕的動物，貓進化到不要被逮到。

And in the wild, the cats that were the best at avoiding predators thrived.

而在野外，因為最會閃躲掠食者，貓才得以生生不息。

So at your house today.

因此，今天在你家。

Grizmo is an expert at squeezing into small spaces and seeking out and hiding in unconventional spots.

Grizmo是一個會擠進狹小空間，找到並躲藏在不合常理地點的專家。

It also explains why she prefers a clean and odor-free litter box.

這也解釋了為何牠喜歡乾淨無氣味的貓砂盆。

That's less likely to give away her location to any predators that may be sniffing around nearby.

因為那比較不會把牠的所在地點洩露給任何可能在附近嗅味道的掠食者。

Considering everything we do know about cats.

考慮到我們知道貓的一切。

It seems that one of their most predominant behaviors is still one of the most mysterious.

牠們最主導的行為之一，看起來仍然是牠們最神秘的行為之一。

Cats may purr for any number of reasons, such as happiness, stress, and hunger.

貓也許會因各種原因發出呼嚕聲，像是感到開心、有壓力和肚子餓。

But curiously, the frequency of their purrs, between 25 and 150 hertz, is within a range that can promote tissue regeneration.

但好奇的是，牠們發出的呼嚕聲頻率，介於25到150赫茲，剛好是在可以促進組織重生的頻率範圍內。

So while her purring makes Grizmo an excellent nap companion.

因此，Grizmo 的呼嚕聲讓牠成了最佳小睡伴侶。

It is also possible that her purr is healing her muscles and bones, and maybe even yours, too.

有可能牠的呼嚕聲正在使牠的肌肉和骨頭恢復健康狀態，也許也在使你的肌肉和骨頭恢復健康。

They developed through time as both solitary predators that hunted and killed to eat.

隨著時間，牠們也發展變成為了吃而狩獵和獵殺的單獨掠食者，

And stealthy prey that hid and escaped to survive.

以及為了生存而躲藏和逃跑的鬼鬼祟祟的獵物。

So cats today retain many of the same instincts that allowed them to thrive in the wild for millions of years.

因此，今日的貓保留了許多相同的本能，那些本能讓牠們在野外中生生不息數百萬年。

This explains some of their seemingly strange behaviors.

這解釋了一些牠們看似奇怪的行為舉止。

To them, our homes are their jungles.

對牠們來說，我們的家是牠們的叢林。

But if this is the case, in our own cat's eyes.

但如果是這樣來看的話，那在我們家貓的眼中。

Who are we?

我們又是誰呢？

Big, dumb, hairless cats competing with them for resources?

是跟牠們競爭資源的巨大、愚蠢、無毛的貓？

Terribly stupid predators they're able to outsmart everyday?

還是牠們每天可以以智取勝的超級愚笨的掠食者？

Or maybe they think we're the prey.

又或者也許牠們認為我們才是獵物。