Why Cats Love Watching Us Use the Bathroom

It's not so much about learning, but rather being coerced. Every cat owner has experienced this: when you close the bathroom door, the cat is sure to wail and cry outside, as if you're planning to sneakily eat feces in there. If you soften your heart and let it in, it will promptly wriggle into your pants, gazing at you with wide, mournful eyes.

Keeping an eye on the cat owner while they use the bathroom is a big deal in a cat's life. They must be constantly vigilant of their owner's every move. You might think you can have a bit of privacy, but that's not going to happen. The cat will find a way to sneak into the bathroom and watch what you're up to, or feigning innocence, beg you to let it in.

But why does a cat want to be with its owner in the bathroom?

Historically, stray cats didn't have this desire. However, as more and more cats have been domesticated, this behavior has become widespread. The relationship between cats and their owners has evolved from a distant one to a closer family bond, leading to situations that were never encountered before. Cats are naturally solitary creatures, only living with their mothers and siblings during their kittenhood. Once they grow up and become independent, they lead a solitary life. However, the separation from their mothers is not voluntary; it's usually the mother who drives the kittens away. This is known as "parentchild separation." Kittenhood is filled with longing for the mother's presence, and the kittens will cry and leave reluctantly. Although it may seem cruel, if the kittens stayed with the mother, they would consume all the food in her territory, leading to a crisis where they would both starve to death. In the wild, parentchild separation is a common survival strategy. For domesticated cats, the owner takes on the role of the mother, showing more affection and not driving them away.

Therefore, regardless of age, a cat's childlike nature never fades. They remain cherished by their owners, much like kittens. On the other hand, stray cats have to grow up quickly to face the outside world and survive independently. Domesticated cats, however, have no such need, which allows them to maintain a childlike spirit forever.

When they're hungry, they'll act like a kitten,撒娇 to their owner. After eating, they treat their owner like a sibling and play together. But there's always a "leader" in play. Once one cat takes the lead, the others will follow suit.

So, when the cat owner goes to the bathroom, it's a "leading action" for the cat, prompting them to join in this companionable behavior. This is a common occurrence in domesticated cats, much like when you open a drawer to look for something and think, "What's inside? I want to go in too." The domesticated cat will always maintain a kittenlike mindset, as they have become closer to humans and retained their kittenlike behaviors.

When they want to be affectionate, they'll wag their tails and come closer. This behavior was originally a kitten's way of seeking its mother's care. By wagging its tail, the mother cat can more easily lick its kitten's bottom, which promotes urination and defecation. A more typical "kitten behavior" is to paw at a human or a towel, as if trying to get milk. When domesticated cats want to relive the comfort of their kittenhood, they will perform these actions.

There are also more extreme cases, such as some cats even starting to suck on a towel or the owner's ears. Additionally, cats enjoy pressing their foreheads against humans or their faces, a habit from their kittenhood. When kittens are drinking milk, they press their foreheads against their mother's body, and after finishing, they fall asleep. This close contact brings a sense of security to the kittens, and domesticated cats are no different; they like to sleep with their foreheads pressed against their owners.

So, once a cat enters human life, it will be a child for life. They need adults to take good care of them. Owning a cat is about spoiling them for a lifetime.