为什么猫被夹住后颈就不动了

猫作为人类最常见的宠物之一，有时会表现出一种奇特的行为：当被抓住颈部时，它们会变得非常温顺，甚至瘫软地躺在那里。这种行为常被误解为猫的哀求或投降，然而真正的原因却是与猫的本能和解剖结构有关。

当我们提起猫的后颈，刺激到的是猫的颈椎第一和第二节，这被称为"生死穴"。这两个部位的神经和血管密集，而且与脑干相连，因此受到的刺激会直接影响猫的神经系统。当我们用手指夹住猫的颈部时，这种刺激会引发猫的本能反射，使其放松身体并停止运动。这种反射被称为“屈服反应”或“屈服姿势”。

这种反射是猫通过习得和遗传方式形成的自我保护机制。在野外，母猫通常会用牙齿咬住幼猫的颈部，并用它们的獠牙夹住。这样做既可以保护幼猫，也可以控制它们的行动，使它们保持安静和不引起注意。当一只猎食者抓住猫的颈部时，这个屈服反射会帮助猫保持生命安全，因为停止运动可以减少被攻击者发现的概率。

尽管这种反射对野生猫是非常重要的，但在家养猫身上却不太适用。家养猫通常不会遇到真正的威胁或攻击，因此这种反射在家庭环境中往往是多余的。夹住猫的颈部可能会导致猫感到不安和恐惧，长期以往可能会对它们的身心健康产生负面影响。

所以，作为猫主人，我们应该尽量避免使用这种方法来控制猫的行为。相反，我们可以通过积极的训练和鼓励来建立与猫的良好关系。使用正面的奖励和耐心的方式来培养猫的行为，将会产生更好的结果。

In English:

Why don't cats move when their neck is clamped?

Cats, as one of the most common pets for humans, sometimes exhibit a peculiar behavior: when their necks are grasped, they become very docile and even lie limp. This behavior is often misunderstood as a plea or surrender from the cat, but the real reason lies in the cat's instinct and anatomical structure.

When we lift a cat by its scruff, we stimulate the first and second cervical vertebrae, known as the "death spot." These areas are rich in nerves and blood vessels and connected to the brainstem, so the stimulation directly affects the cat's nervous system. When we pinch the cat's neck with our fingers, this stimulation triggers the cat's instinctive reflex, causing it to relax its body and stop moving. This reflex is known as the "submissive response" or "submissive posture."

This reflex is a self-protective mechanism that cats have developed through learning and genetic inheritance. In the wild, mother cats usually grasp their kittens' necks with their teeth and clamp them with their fangs. This not only protects the kittens but also controls their actions, keeping them quiet and unnoticeable. When a predator grabs a cat's neck, this submissive reflex helps the cat maintain its safety, as ceasing movement reduces the chances of being detected by the attacker.

Although this reflex is crucial for wild cats, it is less applicable to domesticated cats. Pet cats rarely encounter genuine threats or attacks, so this reflex is often unnecessary in a home environment. Clamping a cat's neck can make them feel anxious and fearful, and in the long run, it can have negative effects on their physical and mental well-being.

Therefore, as cat owners, we should avoid using this method to control a cat's behavior as much as possible. Instead, we can establish a good relationship with the cat through positive training and encouragement. Cultivating the cat's behavior with positive reinforcement and patience will yield better results.