Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/09/09

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Dearest of companions
From: frank theriault <knarf.theriault@sympatico.ca>
Date: Tue, 09 Sep 2003 07:26:15 -0400
References: <19DEE99C-E24C-11D7-8787-000A9578C446@ncable.net.au> <3F5D0F6B.ED978A43@rabinergroup.com> <Pine.SOL.4.56-L.0309090920580.20638@hedvig.uio.no> <3F5DACE0.3080507@hemenway.com>

Hi, Jim,

The cat, as you likely know, is acting instinctively.

I read a book on cat behaviors by (I'm pretty sure it was) Desmond Morris.  Basically,
cats have very ambiguous views of us masters.  Sometimes they view us as their cat
parents, and are completely subservient to us (like at feeding time).  Other times,
they view us as incredibly large, stupid kittens, and their parenting instincts kick
in, and they try to teach us to be cats.  They can't figure out why we can't hunt on
our own, and, as if we were kittens, are beginning to teach us to hunt.

That's what a cat is doing when it catches prey, and brings it to us live.  It wants
us to play with that live prey, so we too can learn to hunt.

It has little to do with whether we scold them, or quietly take the poor little
animals away, or make a big fuss about it.  The cats are going to continue their
instinctive behavior until either the supply of prey is cut off (ie:  stop letting
them go outside), or until we as the giant stupid kittens, joyfully play with the
prey, kill it and eat it, thus showing the cat that we're ready for the next step,
which would presumably be going on an actual hunting expedition, where we will be
expected to catch and eat our own prey.

Problem is that cats are such expert hunters that solutions such as bells and other
warning devices may cut down on their hunting success a bit, but it won't do so
completely.  So, if a cat can catch 10 birds a day (which they easily could if they
wanted to), and you've cut that by even 90%, they'll still catch one, and bring it
back home.

One of our cats was declawed (to protect furniture, not to prevent hunting), and the
darn thing still cauthg all sorts of birds.  She was fat and lazy (so we thought), and
we used to joke that the birds used to fly into her mouth as she yawned.

I know that's not a solution, but rather an explanation...

cheers,
frank

Jim Hemenway wrote:

> Well, and since we're a bit off topic here, perhaps you cat people can
> help me.
>
> Our cat, Snowshoes, (I wanted to name her Bigfoot but was outvoted)
> http://www.hemenway.com/Snowshoes.jpg
>
> ...brings at least one live mouse into our home every week and presents
> them to us as some sort of offering. She drops the mouse and then sits
> at our feet meowing and seemingly expecting one of us to catch, (and
> eat?) the mouse.... we can't.
>
> Bells don't work as she manages to destroy them all... and I've fastened
> them quite securely.  Her collar and rabies/leukemia tag always remain
> but she somehow manages to remove either the clapper or other needed parts.
>
> Any new ideas?
>

- --
"Jazz is about capturing the moment"
- -Herbie Hancock


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Replies: Reply from "Jack McLain" <jmclainaz@comcast.net> (Re: [Leica] Dearest of companions)
In reply to: Message from Alastair Firkin <firkin@ncable.net.au> (Re: [Leica] Dearest of companions)
Message from Mark Rabiner <mark@rabinergroup.com> (Re: [Leica] Dearest of companions)
Message from Daniel Ridings <daniel.ridings@muspro.uio.no> (Re: [Leica] Dearest of companions)
Message from Jim Hemenway <Jim@hemenway.com> (Re: [Leica] Dearest of companions)