Electrostatics - Styrofoam peanuts clinging to a cat&#39;s fur due to static electricity.  The triboelectric effect causes an electrostatic charge to build up on the fur due to the cat&#39;s motions. The electric field of the charge causes polarization of the molecules of the styrofoam due to electrostatic induction, resulting in a slight attraction of the light plastic pieces to the charged fur. This is also the cause of static cling in clothes.