I'm saying that assuming animals do things because it feels good is perhaps a useful shortcut for pet owners, but it oversimplifies the business of motivation.
Ask a person if they feel good waking up at 3:00 am to feed a baby. Or feel good changing a diaper. Motivations, even in cats, are complex.
Motivations, especially in cats, are complex.
I'm deliberately not including people.
Also, there can be competing motivations as well as strength of motivation.
No question it can be complex, but I just don't buy the sick nursing cat as an example of any kind of virtue or self-sacrifice.
Bioogical attachment to children seems to be lower in at least some H. sap. compared with, say, bears.
Feels better than letting them HOWL!!!!