Sorry, should have made that an independent comment, not really an answer to anything in this thread. Just a pet theory brought to mind by all this talk of peacocks and signalling. Cats threaten each other with a toneless sound of rushing air, and and are afraid of high-powered mechanical devices that produce a version of the same effect.
Do you suppose a cat’s hiss tells another cat something about strength and fitness via lung-power?
That could explain their fear of vacuum cleaners and blow-driers.
I don’t suppose that, and I assume you don’t expect me to suppose that, but I don’t know what you’re trying to tell me.
Sorry, should have made that an independent comment, not really an answer to anything in this thread. Just a pet theory brought to mind by all this talk of peacocks and signalling. Cats threaten each other with a toneless sound of rushing air, and and are afraid of high-powered mechanical devices that produce a version of the same effect.