For you cat fans

[GaryE8 6]

I think it's really important for people to connect with other animals. This cat I'm taking care of does what my dog does - she tries to get a read on me while I try to get a read on her. Sometimes, I'm really amazed at how we can get to some basic understandings with other species so different from us in their own natural histories.

Cats, dogs, I don't care. I think if we're in a space where we can do it, we should try to have companion animals. I love fishkeeping, and I try to figure fish out, but mammals are better company.

Raccoons and skunks? NO. There I draw the line. The dog and I just went out on a dark night, and when she spotted the movement of a wild animal of some sort, the first thing she did was make eye contact with me. If you stop without taking that for granted and think about it, that partnership between 2 very different species in facing a potential problem is really something.

 

[Fishmanic47 163]

does anyone walk their cat on a leash. Might be a good idea if you plan on letting your cat out on its own so it can get used to staying on the sidewalk.

 

[Rusty_Shackleford46 162]

I think it's really important for people to connect with other animals. This cat I'm taking care of does what my dog does - she tries to get a read on me while I try to get a read on her. Sometimes, I'm really amazed at how we can get to some basic understandings with other species so different from us in their own natural histories.

Cats, dogs, I don't care. I think if we're in a space where we can do it, we should try to have companion animals. I love fishkeeping, and I try to figure fish out, but mammals are better company.

Raccoons and skunks? NO. There I draw the line. The dog and I just went out on a dark night, and when she spotted the movement of a wild animal of some sort, the first thing she did was make eye contact with me. If you stop without taking that for granted and think about it, that partnership between 2 very different species in facing a potential problem is really something.

Funny you mention this. It's weird Betty came up twice on the same day. But she totally nails it.



I've always wanted a pet crow or raven. Smart smart birds.

 

[GaryE8 6]

I've known two wild crows where a connection developed between us. Right now, among the many wild deer that wander through, there's a young male who took a shine to my dog when she was a puppy, and who seems to have decided I'm okay because of my being with her. He'll sometimes approach and stare at me curiously. He isn't mooching for food (a lot of cruise ship tourists feed the deer) and he always has a slightly aggressive way to him, but he's aware of me. I like to go out back and just slot in as one of the local beasts. Really, that's all we are.

Now, why did a fawn want to play with a puppy? That in itself is something.

I've had interactions with fish. Some Cichlids have responded when I imitated their body language by using my hands as "fish". Some fish have learned to recognize beyond the usual food source thing, and watch me. I can't know what they think, but with some species, something's going on. The power of observation is a survival tool, and I can't imagine it wouldn't have evolved early. It works, after all. Whatever knots we tie ourselves in try to be special and to define intelligence so only we have it, intelligence of various sorts must have evolved early.

Most crows seem to be like most people - they do what they do til they're done. But I've run across a few that stuck out for their curiosity and problem solving.