Forensic science journals have documented multiple instances of pets scavenging, providing a unique insight into a disturbing reality that many pet owners do not wish to confront – would our pets eat us? These studies offer the best chance to comprehend this unsettling truth. Research on pets’ scavenging behaviors uncovers how we can misinterpret animals’ behaviors when we fail to consider their perspective.
A 2010 report in the Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine offers a chilling account of a woman who died from an aneurysm and was discovered the following morning. Forensic evidence revealed that her dog had consumed much of her face, while her two cats had not touched her. This challenges the belief that cats are indifferent to eating their owners and suggests that cats may be less destructive than dogs, focusing on softer parts like the nose and lips as they try to rouse their owners.
Carolyn Rando, a forensic anthropologist at University College London, explains that this behavior is not unexpected for cat owners. She notes that cats may try to wake up their owner by swatting their face, which could lead to biting. This insight into pets’ scavenging behaviors sheds light on the complex and sometimes unsettling nature of the relationship between humans and their animal companions.
