LessWrong (Curated & Popular) "Backyard cat fight shows Schelling points preexist language" by jchan
Jan 16, 2026
A backyard becomes a battleground as two cats, Tabby and Tuxedo, clash over territory. The chain-link fence serves as their Schelling point, demonstrating that even animals can navigate unspoken agreements. Tuxedo's strategic retreat highlights the significance of home-field advantage and escape routes. This quirky showdown suggests that tacit bargaining is a fundamental aspect of negotiation, existing before language itself. Dive into this fascinating exploration of conflict and communication in the animal kingdom!
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Backyard Cats Resolve Territory
- Jake Mendel recounts two cat fights over his backyard that established turf claims through confrontation and standoffs.
- Tuxedo initially won a fight in the yard, then later the cats had a prolonged stare-down through the chain-link fence that resolved the dispute.
Hour-Long Stare-Down As Symbolic Fight
- Jake describes a long stare-down where Tabby sat at A and Tuxedo at B with the fence between them for almost an hour.
- The confrontation functioned symbolically: the first to retreat would concede the other's adjacent territory.
Home-Field Advantage Explains Outcomes
- Jake reasons the stakes differed because Tabby faced higher loss if he lost in his own yard, creating a home-field advantage.
- Both cats apparently inferred this risk distribution by vocal signaling and adjusted their behavior accordingly.
