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Natural Cats
By peace | April 25, 2008
Cats are free spirits. They are dedicated, body and soul, to the thrill of the chase. They are not driven to hunt by hunger alone but by instinct, more or less regardless of whether their quarry is edible or not.
This is my first time taking picture of cats on tree. When I was young, I saw cats climbing trees, but after I moved house, I no longer see cats, nor think of them anymore.
At the library, I found this book, Natural Cats, written by Chris Madsen, the author of over 30 history, conservation and pets’ books.
She wrote:
“Happy animals make cheering company, and we can all use some of that. A happy cat makes a perfect friend too. It won’t pretend to like you if it doesn’t honestly feel in the mood; it will listen to your problems patiently without ever interrupting with smart advice; you can confide your darkest secrets and it won’t tell a soul. And it’s good to come home to a warm body who’ll give you a rub and welcome you with a happy trill, even when you’ve a frown on your face and your hair looks terrible….
The very first cat I remember was Mimi, a tabby born under a redundant railway carriage mysteriously marooned in a meadow on the Isle of Wight. Her son, the inimitable Chester, moved in the very best circles; his beat on the tiles of Belgravia gave him a direct view into Buckingham Palace’s secluded gardens. This was one cat that really might — and surely did — look at a Queen. Chester taught me to speak cat and, I suspect, a lot about respecting my betters. I couldn’t have written this book without him.”
No wonder the name ManChester United.
That evening, I was so filled with awe, the cat on the tree just looked like any other wild cats, the tiger, leopard and so on, on the tree, how cool it is… a very nice scene and picture indeed. And the cat just stayed up there on the tree for so long, as long as more than 10-15 minutes, for as long as I was there. The cat can move its ears when I talked, and it is very alert on the tree, watchful of its surroundings.
I never like cats, never, but only dogs. But somehow, it is so strange, that I am ‘led’ to learning more about cats. And it is my duty to tell you about cats, as we learn together, and we become better people.
Sixty million people keep cats in the USA. Seven million in Britain are cat owners. More people are keeping cats than dogs. After thousands of years co-existing with people, cats still have not lost their wild side. They are still the same natural, beautiful, sensual animals that the Ancient Egyptians adored.
Cats generally sleep during the day and hunt at night or in twilight. Their eyes see little colour but are acutely aware of movement, especially in dim light; stereoscopic vision enables them to measure distance accurately. Their large, mobile ears can detect, identify and locate the faintest sounds. They use their keen sense of smell for hunting, for selecting fresh and wholesome food, and for identifying other individual cats. Whiskers add an extra sense for accurate work at close quarters.
A cat’s body is built around a muscular, supple spine, ending in a long tail which it uses for balance or signalling. Hooked retractable claws serve for climbing and hunting; if they fall, cats have an uncanny talent for landing on their feet. All cats can swim if they have to .
Stalking is an economical method of hunting. Adult cats don’t waste energy dashing around. Typically, a cat stalks its prey until it is near enough to pounce and get a grip with its claws. Cats can be extremely dexterous, flicking fish out of water and even snatching birds and bats in flight, but their main prey is rodents. Their long, sharp canine teeth pry the victim’s neckbones apart to sever its spinal cord. After feeding, the rough tongue is used to remove all traces of blood that might otherwise attract flies and bacteria.
Topics: All Posts, Animals, Pets |
April 25th, 2008 at 10:57 am
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