>Jim Sharkey <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Alberto Monteiro wrote:
> >Which animal is he talking about in this sentence? > >I don't know > >of any successful cat-like animal that "has mostly > >forsaken its predatory heritage" Some folks don't realize that their cute tabbies still belong to 'the tribe of tiger,' and might revert to killing prey at any moment. OTOH, my Lihleete enjoys the chase, but rarely kills anything except for insects; she has brought me unharmed hummingbirds and bats, which I then released. > As Granny Weatherwax says, "If cats weren't so cute, > we would realize > what nasty little bastards they are." UNtrue! <serious> I have a friend who was *saved* by her cat (I'm sure I posted the story several years ago), and have had terminal patients whose lives were bearable because of their pet cat(s). No doubt unattached cats are only interested in their food and own comfort, but cats bonded to their humans _behave_ as if they are distressed when their human is in pain (soft mewing, following their human about closely, grooming or 'patting'**), 'mourn' when their human is away for long periods of time (frex refusing food and play), and greet the returned one with enthusiasm and what I would call joy: tail-up, ears up, whiskers forward, mewing and purrs, bouncing like Tigger, etc. **'patting' - While cats will smack each other with paws in play or in anger, or hold a kitten down (to groom it) with paws, I have never seen one 'pat' another like human-bonded ones do. It is a very deliberate touching of a sheath-clawed paw, usually to skin rather than clothing, frex face or hand. I think it is a learned behavior, imitating us. > Jim > The only cat I like wears a stovepipe hat Maru Hmm, methinks this could be tied into the whole betrayal discussion in the Judas thread: he comes, incites the children to do 'wrong,' silences the fish of conscience, and just before disaster strikes in the parent's return, whisks away all evidence of wrongdoing... Debbi I Am Too Happy Enough! Maru ;-} __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
