Are cats sickly little beasts?

[Edwardoka]

Don't understand to be honest.
God help us all if we were surrounded by a world of cat-like humans.
Be bloody lonely for a start.
In my opinion.

Being surrounded by a world of human-like humans can be bloody lonely too.

While your average cat is an instinctual psychopath that will hunt for sport and play with their prey, they do have some redeeming qualities.

It's not a trait usually associated with them, but I've known some cats who were better at being empathetic than any humans I've ever known.
One in particular used to be able to tell when I was feeling down and would later climb on the roof to come and see me.

A socialised cat is as good a judge of character as any dog, too.

 

[Mo1959]

Being surrounded by a world of human-like humans can be bloody lonely too.

While your average cat is an instinctual psychopath that will hunt for sport and play with their prey, they do have some redeeming qualities.

It's not a trait usually associated with them, but I've known some cats who were better at being empathetic than any humans I've ever known.
One in particular used to be able to tell when I was feeling down and would later climb on the roof to come and see me.

A socialised cat is as good a judge of character as any dog, too.

I’ve got a really good bond with my Siamese. She sticks to me like glue. Love her to bits. I get more pleasure from animals than people I think!

 

[Blue Hills]

While your average cat is an instinctual psychopath that will hunt for sport and play with their prey, they do have some redeeming qualities.

Thanks for this Ed
Good job this isn't in the NACAs yard

 

[gbb]

Then how do you explain all those knifed cats which fell victim to the Brighton cat killer? They clearly couldn't 'look after themselves'. If the cats in Brighton owed no allegiance to anyone, why did so many of them manage to crawl back towards their home while seriously or even fatally injured?

There are weirdos like that all over the place; cats, to their misfortune, seem to be 'attractive' to that sort of subhuman. I lived in a little village which had had one before I moved there - he was hounded out of the place many years ago, went to live in a nearby town and started up his nasty tricks again ...

Errr exceptions (i hope, i never heard if such cruelty round here) excluded, generally, cats are very self sufficient and dont 'need' us.
We had a few cats that took up residence near our factory some years ago. Im no cat lover (nor a hater i add) but i took pity on them when the temps were minus 10 one weekend. I took the previous nights bones from spare ribs in, thinking theyd be starving. I gingerly opened the workshop door sos not to scare them....and one was sat there ...with feathers spread all over its face from a recent kill.
It didnt need me (although they did eat the bones )

 

[Supersuperleeds]

When i look at my small town's facebook page there are three questions frequently asked. Which take-away do you recommend, where can i get my nails done and has anyone seen my lost cat.

the first and last questions may be linked

 

[Edwardoka]

Then how do you explain all those knifed cats which fell victim to the Brighton cat killer? They clearly couldn't 'look after themselves'. If the cats in Brighton owed no allegiance to anyone, why did so many of them manage to crawl back towards their home while seriously or even fatally injured?

There are weirdos like that all over the place; cats, to their misfortune, seem to be 'attractive' to that sort of subhuman. I lived in a little village which had had one before I moved there - he was hounded out of the place many years ago, went to live in a nearby town and started up his nasty tricks again ...

Cats can absolutely take care of themselves - they have adapted better to the constructed environment than pretty much any species except maybe seagulls or rats.

However, cats have also become accustomed to being around humans, which makes them vulnerable to the kind of person who is arbitrarily cruel to animals, in much the same way that animals without natural predators showed only curiosity when the first explorers found them - to their great detriment if not outright extinction - whereas most sensible creatures flee when they see us.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Cat's won't do push chairs either !

Maybe not, but believe it or not i know of a woman who's cat follows her when she goes out. One night she was down my local pub and there it was in the pub with her.🐯

 

[fossyant]

Never ever give cat's 'medicines' when you are just in boxer shorts. One of ours decided she didn't like it and jumped straight onto my back as I was crouched down, all 4 feet and claws into my bare back. Oh that hurt.

 

[Reynard]

I’ve got a really good bond with my Siamese. She sticks to me like glue. Love her to bits. I get more pleasure from animals than people I think!

Likewise me, with my terrible twosome.

They're wonderful company, and at least I don't have to do the "poo bag dangle" that dog owners do. Although I'm more inclined to say that the girls own me, rather than the other way round. They have me well trained. (Poppy - top & Lexi - bottom)

 

[Reynard]

While your average cat is an instinctual psychopath that will hunt for sport and play with their prey, they do have some redeeming qualities.

Actually, not strictly true. The reason why cats "play" with their prey, is to stun them to allow them to deliver the killing bite safely, while at the same time, avoiding being bitten. Ergo the splat-smack and the flip-into-the-air scoop.

As a solitary hunter, a cat can't afford to be injured through carelessness, and it's a case of discretion being the better part of valour. Small rodents will try and bite back if given the opportunity - I've seen and photographed that many times (they go for the toes) when observing my own cats.

 

[Mrs M]

Had cats for many years, all lived to a decent age, 15, 16, 19 and 20.
None of them insured apart from our current two.
Hardly cost anything apart from vaccinations, flea and tick control and Cattery bills for the hols.
Our first dog has cost us a lot and still just 9 months old.
Wouldn’t be without any of them now though ❤️
Cats rule the household 😼

 

[Accy cyclist]

Jason, the Blue Peter cat was the first cat i knew.

 

[Arrowfoot]

When I lived in the Middle East, the Westerners compound was divided almost into two halves - Europeans who generally let their cats out, and Americans who generally kept their cats in (until they escaped ...).

There was programme on BBC where they tracked pet cats movement around the neighbourhood and they covered fair distance in the night. It in their nature to cover their territory at night. I have come across cat owners that don't get it and keep them locked up. It really is not fair and you often see them at the window while dogs seldom do that.

 

[kayakerles]

I never had furry friends growing up, except for a parakeet. Okay, technically that was a feathered friend. 25 years ago I got a taste of living with cat. Now we're married and we have shared our various abodes with between 1 - 3 kitties ever since. Such a silly thread, “Are cats sickly little beasts?” Except that I knew I'd get to hear stories from other fellow cat-people, and meet some new vibrissae-ed faces.

Don’t care for cats? Don’t bring them into your life. Same for dogs or other people for that matter. We’re all free to choose. All of our kitties have been rescues. They've all brought more to our lives than anything money could buy. 👍🏻

For those of you other owned-by-kitties folk (you know who you are) here's our two older buddies… Benny, 14 yrs old…

Charlie, 17 years old…

💜🐱🐱💜

 

[vickster]

There was programme on BBC where they tracked pet cats movement around the neighbourhood and they covered fair distance in the night. It in their nature to cover their territory at night. I have come across cat owners that don't get it and keep them locked up. It really is not fair and you often see them at the window while dogs seldom do that.

Mine is free to go in and out as he pleases, but will still often sit at the window (the local kids like him). Think he’s really just a nosey bugger surveilling his kingdom 😄
Other favoured position (taken just now)