Why the cat wags her tail: The mystery of animal play

Why the cat wags her tail: The mystery of animal play

Here's a puzzle: how could evolution favour such a costly, frivolous and fun activity as animal play? In Cheshire, a fox is poised to pounce on its mate when a badger bursts from a bush. The badger starts chasing the fox, which keeps leaping away, finally distancing itself. Then the fox suddenly turns back, approaches cautiously, and jumps sideways, facing the badger head-on. Back arched, head low, it stops, remains still. After a pause, the bad…