IIRC, the Mandarin word for owl translates literally as “cat-head eagle”

Let me add some missing aspects I’ve observed from watching owl videos:
- Both play with cat toys (I once saw a Bilibili video of a Great Horned Owl playing alongside a cat, unfortunately the creator removed the video so I’m unable to refer to it).
- Both meow (especially Eurasian and Great Horned eagle-owls who can also do “meeEEEh” sounds), not to mention how a deep hooting/call sometimes look like the owls’ equivalent of purring (especially the aforementioned species who can do booboobooboobooboo…booboobooo-OOOH!). Can also hiss (esp. newborns).
- Both are the most active during nighttime, making it look like the house (indoors and/or outdoors) is haunted when you hear strange noises, things suddenly falling from shelves and other paranormal-like phenomena.
- Both love tight cardboard boxes and other hidden places.
- Snowy owls, particularly, are the orange cats of the owls (they do lots of zooming and are very playful).

!superbowl@lemmy.world

Image is backwards. Cats are the false owls. 🦉

Who knew cats had rictal bristles!

🤔

Behold, Plato’s Kitty.

thanks Grok