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But what kind of cat will they become?
但它們會變成什么樣的貓呢？
One possibility is that the cats of the future will be larger than today's felines.
一種可能性是，未來的貓科動物將比今天的貓科動物更大。
Continued contact with humans may also help cats grow friendlier.
持續與人類接觸也可能有助于貓咪變得更友善。
By nature, cats tend to be more solitary and standoffish than dogs, which have a long evolutionary history as pack animals rather than lone hunters.
從本質上來說，貓比狗更孤獨、更冷漠，而狗作為群居動物而不是孤獨的獵人有著悠久的進化歷史。
Ongoing contact with humans may have helped give friendlier cats a survival advantage, making them more likely to pass on more sociable genes to their offspring.
與人類的持續接觸可能有助于讓更友善的貓獲得生存優勢，使它們更有可能將更善于交際的基因傳遞給后代。
Over time, this might have helped create a more relaxed pet -- without ruining one of the most endearing parts of living with a cat: that when your kitty cuddles, you know it's for real.
隨著時間的推移，這可能有助于創造出一種更放松的寵物，而不會破壞與貓一起生活的最可愛的部分之一：當你的小貓擁抱時，你知道它是真的。
When scientists compared the social behaviors and personalities of domestic cats with clouded leopards, snow leopards, African lions, and Scottish wildcats, they found that house cats weren't exactly suited for group living.
當科學家將家貓與云豹、雪豹、非洲獅和蘇格蘭野貓的社會行為和性格進行比較時，他們發現家貓并不完全適合群體生活。
They tended to be domineering, neurotic, and impulsive -- not exactly the traits you want in a friend.
他們往往專橫、神經質、沖動--這不是你想要的朋友的特質。
However, the personalities of house cats were most like those of the more sociable African lion, which has figured out a way to live in groups.
然而，家貓的性格最像更善于交際的非洲獅，它們已經找到了群體生活的方式。
This suggests that cats have the raw material to adapt to a more sociable future.
這顯示貓有能力適應更社交的未來。
And though large cat colonies may not be the same as lion prides, lions do show that cats can live side by side when the circumstances are right.
盡管大型貓科動物群體可能與獅群不同，但獅子確實表明，在適當的情況下，貓科動物可以并肩生活。
As humans spend more time learning about cat psychology and behavior, this effort creates an opportunity to improve our relationship.
隨著人類花更多時間了解貓的心理和行為，這種努力創造了改善我們關系的機會。
By understanding what makes cats tick -- what motivates them, what makes them happy, what they can and can't tolerate -- we can ensure that our cats have the best lives possible.
通過了解貓的動力--是什么激勵它們，什么讓它們快樂，它們能忍受什么和不能忍受什么--我們可以確保我們的貓擁有最好的生活。
