House cats - killers?

[graceanne]

So Kaze and I were having a discussion that she was evidently having with her Daddy recently, and I thought I'd share. Aren't you lucky?

Did you know that the house cat is the most successful hunter of all the cats, with something like a 95% success rate?

My stepmom's cat used to tear the legs off spiders on one side, and then watch them spin in circles. Kaze's cat tore the legs off a grasshopper and was letting it drag itself away, then stopping it and bringing it back.

So, what do you think? Would fluffy turn on you and eat you if s/he was as big as a tiger or lion?

 

[Cattypuss]

I'm a dog-person, and I'm glad I am!!

 

[FurryFury]

Yes, a cat would hunt and kill me if they were big and hungry enough. I'd also have to be small or weak enough. It's the nature of the cat. Whereas a dog would usually have to get a pack together to hunt, usually, either would chase, hunt and kill for fun and food.

When it comes down to it, people also will chase, hunt and kill for fun and food though, so, what?

 

[Cattypuss]

Many pet dogs are already big enough to kill their owners, but choose not to lol.

 

[Recidiva]

They're recreational killers. They like playing with and torturing their food.

Case and point is all the lizards I try to rescue off the back porch from my cat who just likes to watch 'em struggle for a while.

Geoffrey Chaucer:

Lat take a cat and fostre hym wel with milk
And tendre flessch and make his couche of silk,
And lat hym seen a mouse go by the wal,
Anon he weyvith milk and flessch and al,
And every deyntee that is in that hous,
Suich appetit he hath to ete a mous.

(My apologies to spell checkers. But it's Chaucer.)

ALL of my cats would eat me if they were bigger, hungry or just bored.

 

[FurryFury]

Many pet dogs are already big enough to kill their owners, but choose not to lol.

Right. I've edited.

 

[Recidiva]

Many pet dogs are already big enough to kill their owners, but choose not to lol.

But dogs are loyal and can be trained...

Cats...aren't and can't.

 

[graceanne]

(Remember, I'm a cat person - this is all hypothetical and for fun.)

Yes, a cat would hunt and kill me if they were big and hungry enough. I'd also have to be small or weak enough. It's the nature of the cat. Whereas a dog would usually have to get a pack together to hunt, usually, either would chase, hunt and kill for fun and food.

When it comes down to it, people also will chase, hunt and kill for fun and food though, so, what?

I don't cahse, hunt, and kill!

I let K do it for me!

They're recreational killers. They like playing with and torturing their food.


ALL of my cats would eat me if they were bigger, hungry or just bored.

Isn't that kind creepy, though?

I guess the decision that Kaze and her daddy came to was that they hoped their cat wouldn't play with them. Cats are mean! lol

 

[FurryFury]

But dogs are loyal and can be trained...

Cats...aren't and can't.

Mine are and are but if I dropped dead tomorrow and they had no food, I would be totally cool with them eating me. They know that.

 

[FurryFury]

Yep and anyway, torture - play, the difference is???

They're recreational killers. They like playing with and torturing their food.

Case and point is all the lizards I try to rescue off the back porch from my cat who just likes to watch 'em struggle for a while.

Geoffrey Chaucer:

Lat take a cat and fostre hym wel with milk
And tendre flessch and make his couche of silk,
And lat hym seen a mouse go by the wal,
Anon he weyvith milk and flessch and al,
And every deyntee that is in that hous,
Suich appetit he hath to ete a mous.

(My apologies to spell checkers. But it's Chaucer.)

ALL of my cats would eat me if they were bigger, hungry or just bored.

 

[Recidiva]

Isn't that kind creepy, though?

I guess the decision that Kaze and her daddy came to was that they hoped their cat wouldn't play with them. Cats are mean! lol

It's nature. All of my kitties were sick and sad and teeny strays when I found them. I knew they'd grow up into entitled killers.

But that's just me. I'm okay with it.

They're cute when they sleep.

 

[Recidiva]

Mine are and are but if I dropped dead tomorrow and they had no food, I would be totally cool with them eating me. They know that.

Yup. It'd be nice if they waited until I was dead and didn't plot it out themselves, but they're smart little buggers.

 

[graceanne]

They're cute when they sleep.

Kinda like . . . children . . .

 

[Recidiva]

Kinda like . . . children . . .

Who are ALSO going to grow up into entitled...well, if not killers, non-room-cleaners.

Which is somehow worse.

 

[graceanne]

Who are ALSO going to grow up into entitled...well, if not killers, non-room-cleaners.

Which is somehow worse.

They don't grow into that - they're born that way.

 

[satindesire]

I really admire a cat's instinct to hunt. It keeps my house clear of mice, spiders, other creepy crawly bugs, and various pests like lizards, scorpions, and etc.

My family is safer because they keep the pest population down. I owe them hugs and kisses for that, at the least.

 

[Recidiva]

I really admire a cat's instinct to hunt. It keeps my house clear of mice, spiders, other creepy crawly bugs, and various pests like lizards, scorpions, and etc.

My family is safer because they keep the pest population down. I owe them hugs and kisses for that, at the least.

I live in Florida and I haven't seen a live palmetto bug in years.

That's saying something.

 

[satindesire]

I live in Florida and I haven't seen a live palmetto bug in years.

That's saying something.

*nods* Totally. Cats have been so successful in my opinion, because we noticed they were pretty damn good at killing things that we didn't want around us, a long time ago.

I think that's kind of awesome the way that all worked out. Now we have useful, beautiful AND loving companions that help us. What's better than a pretty cat that kills bad things for you and still loves to cuddle up in your lap?

 

[Netzach]

So Kaze and I were having a discussion that she was evidently having with her Daddy recently, and I thought I'd share. Aren't you lucky?

Did you know that the house cat is the most successful hunter of all the cats, with something like a 95% success rate?

My stepmom's cat used to tear the legs off spiders on one side, and then watch them spin in circles. Kaze's cat tore the legs off a grasshopper and was letting it drag itself away, then stopping it and bringing it back.

So, what do you think? Would fluffy turn on you and eat you if s/he was as big as a tiger or lion?

They absolutely would. Doesn't make me like them less. Still keeps the mice out of my house.

 

[FurryFury]

It's nature. All of my kitties were sick and sad and teeny strays when I found them. I knew they'd grow up into entitled killers.

But that's just me. I'm okay with it.

They're cute when they sleep.

I agree. Seriously, I'm away right now missing the HELL out of my 'lil killers! First thing I want to do when I get home is cuddle them.

First of course, I will clean up thier boxes, fix up the food and water, give them special treats and food, unpack and THEN cuddle them if they aren't too pissed at me.



One reason why I have trouble sleeping when I'm away is because I have no cat in my arms!

 

[shy slave]

If a cat is trapped in a room with a dead person it will eatthem (face first), once you are dead, you are meat.

If a dog is trapped with a dead person it has to be desperate before it resorts to eating you.

Next time a cat comes in, twirls around your legs and licks your hand, think about how much happier he would be if you were dead, it means a bigger meal for him!

 

[Netzach]

If a cat is trapped in a room with a dead person it will eatthem (face first), once you are dead, you are meat.

I admire that.

 

[WriterDom]

I've seen and read about cats living with many small creatures and befriending them. My big girl was a feral cat who raised a litter of kittens on her own and she has never killed anything outside. At first she would stalk squirrels to within a foot but she never tried to kill one. Now if she were hungry I'm sure it would be a different story. She's just sweet and not a killer.

 

[Netzach]

That's awesome, WD.

My boy is the sweetest snookums, but he'd torment and sit on a mouse for hours if we let it continue. Ew.

 

[ecstaticsub]

I had one cat who would catch baby bunnies and carry them home like baby kittens. She would just watch and lick them gently. Unfortunately I had another cat who was an amazing hunter who would steal the baby bunnies and eat everything but the hind legs.

I watched that same hunter vertical jump 4 feet into the air and catch a flying bird that had escaped from her. She also managed to catch birds from a tiny, no more than 3ft wide by 4 ft long porch 3 floors up. SHe never once fell off.

What she was best at was catching moles and other lawn destroying mammals. One of our neighbors even borrowed her for a week to clean up their lawn.

For the first time in over 45 years I am cat-less. Our last one passed away a month ago. I'm not sure if we will get another. I miss them. (and their hunting abilities)