Cat's, cute and loving, or tiny death machines? by Samantha Vicencio

The cat (Felis catus), also referred to as domestic cat or house cat, is a small domesticated carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species of the family Felidae. Advances in archaeology and genetics have shown that the domestication of the cat occurred in the Near East around 7500 BC. It is commonly kept as a house pet and farm cat, but also ranges freely as a feral cat avoiding human contact. Valued by humans for companionship and its ability to kill vermin, the cat's retractable claws are adapted to killing small prey like mice and rats. It has a strong, flexible body, quick reflexes, and sharp teeth, and its night vision and sense of smell are well developed. It is a social species, but a solitary hunter and a crepuscular predator. Cat communication includes vocalizations like meowing, purring, trilling, hissing, growling, and grunting as well as cat body language. It can hear sounds too faint or too high in frequency for human ears, such as those made by small mammals. It secretes and perceives pheromones.

From Wikipedia

It turns out that cats have a mischievous and somewhat dark reputation in neuroscience. There is research to suggest that a cat’s proximity to other mammals can cause them to behave strangely. This feline power has been attributed to a protozoan that lives in their stool, called Toxoplasma gondii (or Toxo for short). The bug contains an enzyme that creates dopamine, a neurotransmitter.

From Scientific American

My cat Renfield
My cat Renfield
Also, my cat Renfield
Also, my cat Renfield...

Key Data about Cat Pheremones

Cats release pheromones through glands on their:
When cats rub against humans, they can release pheromones that indicate comfort, bonding, and familiarity. These pheremones are:

From Google AI

F4 Pheremone Facial Glands Cheek Pheremones
Also known as the "allomarking pheromone", this pheromone is released when cats rub against other cats or humans. It can indicate that the cat is familiar with the person and is less likely to start a conflict Cats use glands on their face to release low-intensity pheromones. When a cat rubs its head against a person, it can be a sign of comfort and familiarity. Cats may also do this when they want food or attention Cats release comforting pheromones from their cheeks when they rub their head against a person, furniture, or other objects
Humans are not able to smell cat pheromones or be affected by them.

In your slightly more informed opinion… Are Cats indeed cute and loving, or tiny death machines?