Presumably the TV size increase when we went from CRTs to plasmas and LCD panels around the same time was a big factor.

Is this real? Would make a fascinating study.

Based on anecdotes it seems like it. Older generations always seemed to think pets had no idea what was going on when viewing a TV to the point of ignoring it. I'm assuming their body language suggested so.

Nowadays people open up koi pond videos on phones and let their cats play with it. But like you mentioned, it would be interesting to see a study on it.

The framerate didn't increase. It was still 60 or 50 Hz. The resolution did increase, but so did the size. The typical angular resolution stayed pretty much constant, I think.

CRT is not always emitting light but LCD always emitting, maybe is it the difference for cat?. CRT SlowMo videos on Youtube helps understanding.

Most video content has been at 25-30fps which is incredibly visible to most people when compared to 60fps. Those videos of cats playing with phones are rendered at 60fps.

60fps annoys me, I prefer cinematic 30fps :) High framerate us good for games, eye candy videos, but for stuff with narrative. The soap opera effect is killing me, especially when source is converted.

Note to self: don't type on mobile.

Up until now this part of the thread was about TVs engaging pets (or not). Not mobile phones engaging pets (or not). Maybe you misread?

The comment you replied to was about phones.

I guess we both misread... It was about TV first, mobile secondary.