The much-anticipated return of Olympic star Simone Biles and the rest of the Team USA Gymnastics squad kept viewers huddled in front of their screens during the first week of the Paris 2024 Olympics as they captured medal after medal. However, it wasn't only fans who were invested in the impressive gymnastics routines.

Videos emerged since gymnastics started of people's cats glued to the screen. These felines gave Team USA Gymnastics, who won gold in the Women's All-Around final, their undivided attention through every apparatus. Some cats were also caught pawing at the screen both tenderly and aggressively.

For example, one white cat named Goose was sitting on the TV stand transfixed by Biles completing her beam routine. In the recent clip posted by TikTok user @goosecommasilly, Goose stared down her every move with his eyes bulging at of his head with amazement. Then the paws started coming out as other gymnasts flipped and twirled.

More From Newsweek Vault: Compare Affordable Pet Insurance Plans

Several videos showed similar behaviors as cats followed gymnasts around and around while the athletes soared through their bar routines and tumbled across the floor. But why?

Certified cat behaviorist Dr. Rachel Geller spoke with Newsweek about this phenomenon and the explanation is quite simple: Gymnasts mimic the moves of prey.

"Cats are highly reactive to motion," Geller said.

As natural-born hunters, cats live for the thrill of the chase. A cat's natural prey drive is triggered by movements, particularly those that are unpredictable.

More From Newsweek Vault: The Top Rewards Credit Cards for Pet Owners

Geller explained that prey will stop and start at different times or play dead to try and trick hunters. And, although gymnasts aren't prey to cats, their "explosive movements" bring out the natural hunter in them.

For example, on the floor exercise, a gymnast will run, flip to unbelievable heights and stick the landing. They pause, reset and twirl some more. The stop-and-go routines mimic a prey's movement. The same goes for bars.

"In bars, they have all those movements and then they go between the bars, hold a handstand," Geller said. "The very exciting linear movement is very appealing to cats."

All their impressive flips and tricks aren't just to leave viewers with their jaws on the ground, but, unbeknownst to the gymnasts, they also fill a need to feed the feline's hunting instincts. Geller said it isn't a bad thing since cats feel their happiest when they're hunting.

But with the gymnastics portion of the Olympics over, there are other ways to keep a cat feeling like a hunter. Geller suggested turning on the cat TV or playing with a cat toy, such as a fishing pole, in a way that might mimic the prey's movement. Move it up and down, hide it, pause and let your cat catch the "prey" at the end of the toy.

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.