Watching the cats at home sleep all day makes it hard to imagine that they are actually born survival experts. If one day humans were to disappear, most cats, including your lazy house cat, would not panic; instead, they would quickly adapt and become the rulers of a new world.
When it comes to pets, cats and dogs are undoubtedly the most beloved choices among humans. Dogs have undergone over 30,000 years of domestication, forming a deep dependency on humans, even exhibiting significant physiological differences from wolves. In contrast, the domestication process of cats has been quite different; they have coexisted with humans for thousands of years while retaining many wild traits from their ancestors. In fact, cats have not truly been domesticated by humans but rather have chosen to coexist peacefully with us as wild animals. Perhaps they do not need us as much as we think.
Cats indeed enjoy spending time with humans; some breeds are even known for their clinginess. However, this closeness does not imply that they cannot survive independently. While dogs require human care to live healthily and happily, cats possess the ability to survive on their own without human assistance. For instance, there are millions of stray and feral cats worldwide—some once domestic and others that have lived in the wild for generations. Feral cats have never relied on humans; they are completely independent and embody pure wildness.
Like other wild animals, feral cats face a shorter lifespan due to harsh living conditions. However, even in tough environments, they can reproduce up to 36 kittens each year, helping their populations thrive. If humans were to vanish, feral and stray cats would quickly revert to their instincts, hunting mice, birds, and small mammals while adapting rapidly to urban and rural environments. They would continue to reproduce and showcase remarkable vitality. Even house cats would only need a few generations of evolution to regain their hunting instincts and find ways to survive in the wilderness.
Cats are natural survival experts; they can not only endure in a world without humans but might also become dominant species in certain areas. One day humanity may disappear, but cats will always remain survivors in this world.