House cats - killers?

[WriterDom]

I had a mice problem once and they would both catch them and play with them until they died of exhaustion. The male exotic was really great at catching them but the female would take over.

There is a big male at the animal shelter who kills mice with one bite and leaves them there. He's kind of a guard cat and has lots of mice to kill. The guys there just happened to like the cat and saved it from an early death. So he gets to roam free and has even attacked some dogs.

 

[Yasashii_Kaze]

So it all comes down to whether your magically gigantisized house cat has a maternal nature or not? In that case, Willow would try to groom me, and Stormy (the grasshopper mutilator) would eat me. Slowly. I really believe that the domestic cat is the closest most people will ever get to safely "owning" a wild carnivore. Bug-wise, having two cats on duty in the house this year over last summer has been amazing. I can leave the back door open all day on a buggy day and the house is insect-free within just a few hours after closing the door. I don't believe commercial insect repellent is as effective. The down side is having two furry creatures streaking back and forth across my bed in the middle of the night chasing some poor bug that's managed to evade them longer than everything else.

I guess I'll just remain happy that they're pint-sized and therefore mostly harmless to me.

 

[satindesire]

The down side is having two furry creatures streaking back and forth across my bed in the middle of the night chasing some poor bug that's managed to evade them longer than everything else.

*dying laughing at the visual* I know what that's like!

 

[PertPerth]

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

My brother's dog is a husky - and has killed 2 sheep (much to the disgust of me and my parents). I'm sure he could easily over-power my brother when he's sleeping (or passed out!), but doesn't. Good dog.

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

So very true. My cat is the least aggressive cat I have ever met. And he still managed to 'play' with a cockroach to death...in 2 hours. The poor bug was missing 1/2 it's body, so I flushed it down the toilet. The cat wasn't impressed that I took away his "toy" and moped for the next hour.

 

[graceanne]

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.

The last cat we had I got because of the rats. We had huge rats, and my landlords wouldn't do anything about it. They just kept telling me to put poison out, which I wouldn't because my son was 9 months old and crawling everywhere.

That cat moused for every house on the block. No one had mice or rat problems after that. I miss her.

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

I can't sleep with cats - I'm too allergic. I won't even let them on my bed.

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.

My cat, Tiara, would eat everything but the head, and that she would leave in the kitchen.

My mother would SCREAM.

The down side is having two furry creatures streaking back and forth across my bed in the middle of the night chasing some poor bug that's managed to evade them longer than everything else.

Oh, lord. Been there, done that.

But only when K's not home. He sucks the bugs up in the vacuum cleaner.

 

[satindesire]

Okay, people need to start putting pictures of their kitty cats up like right now.

 

[Sayyid]

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've heard this before but is there proof it's true, or just an urban legend.

 

[WriterDom]

I've heard that cats will eat a dead person if they have nothing else to eat. As long as they don't eat a live me I don't care. My cats think I hung the moon.

 

[Sir_Winston54]

I've heard that cats will eat a dead person if they have nothing else to eat. As long as they don't eat a live me I don't care. My cats think I hung the moon.

• First sentence quoted because I've heard it too.
• Second sentence QFT.
• Last sentence... hmmm...

WD? What do you think might happen if they find out you *didn't?*

 

[Recidiva]

Okay, people need to start putting pictures of their kitty cats up like right now.

Here's a video of one of our kitties. Alas she is no longer with us. But no meat product was safe in her presence.

"I Can Haz Turkey?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmvarKnSQQE

My only contribution is choked giggles in the audio.

 

[JMohegan]

My first encounter with a cat, I was walking down the street with my sister taking food to a new neighbor, per my mother's instructions.

We got to the new neighbor's house and there, right smack in the middle of the sidewalk, lay a fat, fur-covered blob of arrogance, basking in the sun. The only part moving was its tail, which swung back and forth in a languid motion that was at once mesmerizing and extremely obnoxious.

I said, "That's a nasty-looking animal. Why would someone want that thing for a pet?"

My sister turned to me, with all the indignation that her 4 year old self could muster, and declared: "It's NOT nasty, it's a kitten, and it's beautiful!"

Then she stepped forward slowly, cooing, "hi, kitty kitty!" Bent over to pet the cat, and with a motion so fast you could hardly see it, the animal raked its claws all the way down her arm, drawing blood from three lines in my sister's flesh.

That was the first and only time in my life that I've ever kicked an animal. It was also the beginning a very long, and extremely hostile, relationship between me and that feline. I hated that cat, and that cat hated me. It was a mutual, and really obvious, loathing.

 

[Sir_Winston54]

My first encounter with a cat, I was walking down the street with my sister taking food to a new neighbor, per my mother's instructions.

We got to the new neighbor's house and there, right smack in the middle of the sidewalk, lay a fat, fur-covered blob of arrogance, basking in the sun. The only part moving was its tail, which swung back and forth in a languid motion that was at once mesmerizing and extremely obnoxious.

I said, "That's a nasty-looking animal. Why would someone want that thing for a pet?"

My sister turned to me, with all the indignation that her 4 year old self could muster, and declared: "It's NOT nasty, it's a kitten, and it's beautiful!"

Then she stepped forward slowly, cooing, "hi, kitty kitty!" Bent over to pet the cat, and with a motion so fast you could hardly see it, the animal raked its claws all the way down her arm, drawing blood from three lines in my sister's flesh.

That was the first and only time in my life that I've ever kicked an animal. It was also the beginning a very long, and extremely hostile, relationship between me and that feline. I hated that cat, and that cat hated me. It was a mutual, and really obvious, loathing.

Your sister probably loved the beast, and it her, right?

 

[JMohegan]

Your sister probably loved the beast, and it her, right?

Her reaction wasn't loathing; it was fear. She was absolutely terrified of all things feline for many years.

 

[Sir_Winston54]

Her reaction wasn't loathing; it was fear. She was absolutely terrified of all things feline for many years.

That was the other possibility, but I've often seen kids and animals bond amazingly, despite an "unfortunate" beginning. I hope she got over the fear, though. Cats are often quite good owners of their people.

 

[JMohegan]

That was the other possibility, but I've often seen kids and animals bond amazingly, despite an "unfortunate" beginning. I hope she got over the fear, though. Cats are often quite good owners of their people.

She eventually got to the point where she could tolerate a cat's presence in the room at a friend's house.

As for owning one - ha. No.

 

[satindesire]

Here's a video of one of our kitties. Alas she is no longer with us. But no meat product was safe in her presence.

"I Can Haz Turkey?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmvarKnSQQE

My only contribution is choked giggles in the audio.

O

M

G.

Gtfo. That was the cutest thing evar.

I have youtube videos with my kitties too.

 

[Recidiva]

O

M

G.

Gtfo. That was the cutest thing evar.

I have youtube videos with my kitties too.

We have had three. First one was stranded as a kitten and was tiny enough to get stuck under our fence, where my son rescued her. "Sinta" - Cherokee for kitty. She grew up to learn how to pee on things (like mommy's chair when she gets kicked out) when she's irritated, and has a pounds per square inch on the sternum thing going not to be believed. She likes to do harm with super-feline paws and this weird thing with pressure I can't explain. She thinks one day she can open up door knobs if she just gets it exactly right. You can hear her trying by throwing herself against closed doors. She's got the height, but not the dexterity, but she's still trying.

The video is of Shadow, who got her name because she was constantly in danger of dying from being trampled and she'd stick to your feet like your shadow. She got rescued by me because she kept hiding behind me or behind the wheel well of my car, so I couildn't walk and couldn't drive when I was outside for fear of killing her. Then she looked at me and tried to meow, but no sound came out except something sounding vaguely like "ee-ee" softly because she couldn't meow. During her lifetime she managed to drag every piece of meat that was left unattended into some dark corner where we'd then find it two weeks later from the trail of ants. Ewww.

The third is Nicey (my son got the chance to name him...) who I picked up at a pet store because he looked entirely sick and half dead, an employee had him in a box with no food or water labeled "FREE" and by the time I picked him up it was over. I couldn't put him back down. He's intensely possessive, meows at the top of his lungs in kitty speak in a way that I swear I understand him. I can have conversations with him. He's the only cat that really, really gets TV and tries to walk behind the flat screen to see what's on the other side. He waits by the door for my son to come home, but the wierd thing is that he waits 20 minutes before he's going to get home even at weird times. I swear he's precog.

I'm no longer permitted to bring home cats. I've made a vow.

But it's not really a problem as my husband has the same weakness with dogs in need and we've had two.

I had pictures on Putfile but I discovered today...Putfile's kaput :/

 

[satindesire]

We have had three. First one was stranded as a kitten and was tiny enough to get stuck under our fence, where my son rescued her. "Sinta" - Cherokee for kitty. She grew up to learn how to pee on things (like mommy's chair when she gets kicked out) when she's irritated, and has a pounds per square inch on the sternum thing going not to be believed. She likes to do harm with super-feline paws and this weird thing with pressure I can't explain. She thinks one day she can open up door knobs if she just gets it exactly right. You can hear her trying by throwing herself against closed doors. She's got the height, but not the dexterity, but she's still trying.

The video is of Shadow, who got her name because she was constantly in danger of dying from being trampled and she'd stick to your feet like your shadow. She got rescued by me because she kept hiding behind me or behind the wheel well of my car, so I couildn't walk and couldn't drive when I was outside for fear of killing her. Then she looked at me and tried to meow, but no sound came out except something sounding vaguely like "ee-ee" softly because she couldn't meow. During her lifetime she managed to drag every piece of meat that was left unattended into some dark corner where we'd then find it two weeks later from the trail of ants. Ewww.

The third is Nicey (my son got the chance to name him...) who I picked up at a pet store because he looked entirely sick and half dead, an employee had him in a box with no food or water labeled "FREE" and by the time I picked him up it was over. I couldn't put him back down. He's intensely possessive, meows at the top of his lungs in kitty speak in a way that I swear I understand him. I can have conversations with him. He's the only cat that really, really gets TV and tries to walk behind the flat screen to see what's on the other side. He waits by the door for my son to come home, but the wierd thing is that he waits 20 minutes before he's going to get home even at weird times. I swear he's precog.

I'm no longer permitted to bring home cats. I've made a vow.

But it's not really a problem as my husband has the same weakness with dogs in need and we've had two.

I had pictures on Putfile but I discovered today...Putfile's kaput :/

Well darnit. I was hoping to see picturz!

I can't recall if I told you how we got our babies.

Back when Mister was doing IT independently, we met an older couple who lived out in BFE in a cute little house right across from a big field. They had seen feral cats all the time, the field was grassy and a great place to catch mice and birds, and it had a year-round water supply...it was really ideal for them.

When Mister got a call that their -other- computer was on the fritz, he took me over there with him and we left the car windows rolled down (it was the middle of summer and as hot as the surface of the sun). After we were finished, in the spirit of most Southern traditions we went to sit out on the porch with glasses of iced tea, to socialize.

I saw movement in the car, and when I stood up to get a better view, I saw that two feral kittens had gotten into the car somehow. The red tabby male was sitting in the driver's seat with his front two paws on the steering wheel, like he was driving. Mister took one look at him and just fell in love.

Another younger kitten, a very petite gray mackerel tabby, was asleep in my seat curled up like a ball of fur.

We took them home with us. They were the tamest feral kittens I've seen yet.

The third cat we got about a year later. My cousin found her huddled under his front porch (he lives in REAL BFE), more than half starved and soaking wet from a rainstorm. He knew I had a soft spot for strays so he picked her up and stuck her in his coat and drove all the way into town at like...midnight...and I took one look at those huge green eyes and couldn't say no.

 

[Recidiva]

Well darnit. I was hoping to see picturz!

I can't recall if I told you how we got our babies.

Back when Mister was doing IT independently, we met an older couple who lived out in BFE in a cute little house right across from a big field. They had seen feral cats all the time, the field was grassy and a great place to catch mice and birds, and it had a year-round water supply...it was really ideal for them.

When Mister got a call that their -other- computer was on the fritz, he took me over there with him and we left the car windows rolled down (it was the middle of summer and as hot as the surface of the sun). After we were finished, in the spirit of most Southern traditions we went to sit out on the porch with glasses of iced tea, to socialize.

I saw movement in the car, and when I stood up to get a better view, I saw that two feral kittens had gotten into the car somehow. The red tabby male was sitting in the driver's seat with his front two paws on the steering wheel, like he was driving. Mister took one look at him and just fell in love.

Another younger kitten, a very petite gray mackerel tabby, was asleep in my seat curled up like a ball of fur.

We took them home with us. They were the tamest feral kittens I've seen yet.

The third cat we got about a year later. My cousin found her huddled under his front porch (he lives in REAL BFE), more than half starved and soaking wet from a rainstorm. He knew I had a soft spot for strays so he picked her up and stuck her in his coat and drove all the way into town at like...midnight...and I took one look at those huge green eyes and couldn't say no.

Yes, it's very hard for me to say no...

Now I just think of the look in my husband's eyes the last time I said "yes" and so I make that sacrifice. Rips my li'l heart out though. There are strays all over the place now and we have two that are pretty much camping us. And they look like relatives of the ones we have...

But I think I've done my stray duty. At least that's what I tell myself. That and that I don't want to get divorced.

Here's some quick and dirty edits on kitty pictures I could find of Nicey in my arms and Sinta as a kitten on my shoulder.

 

[satindesire]

Here's some quick and dirty edits on kitty pictures I could find of Nicey in my arms and Sinta as a kitten on my shoulder.

AWWWW! *head esplodes from teh cute*

 

[graceanne]

That was the other possibility, but I've often seen kids and animals bond amazingly, despite an "unfortunate" beginning. I hope she got over the fear, though. Cats are often quite good owners of their people.

I was bit, twice, on my face by a dog. Once when I was two, and once when I was five. I think my mom handled it really well, because I've never been afraid of dogs. The dogs that bit me, yes, but dogs in general? Nope.

 

[JMohegan]

I was bit, twice, on my face by a dog. Once when I was two, and once when I was five. I think my mom handled it really well, because I've never been afraid of dogs. The dogs that bit me, yes, but dogs in general? Nope.

I don't think it helped that most of the kids (and even a few grownups) who saw my sister's bandaged arm responded with their own stories of being scratched by a cat - often, their very own pet.

What did your mom tell you about dogs?

I don't know what my mother told my sister, in the immediate aftermath. She was taken to the emergency room for a few stitches and a shot, and I was sent to Tommy G.'s house for the duration.

That night, my dad told us that cats, when outdoors, behave like wild animals - so we should always just leave them alone. When my sister announced that she'd never leave the house again, he told her that she didn't have to worry because cats wouldn't see her as prey, so if she left them alone they'd leave her alone too.

That last bit turned out to be only partially true. There was a portion of my mother's garden that this cat just loved to visit. It would jump onto our fence and then leap down and roll around in the plants, flailing its arms and legs and generally behaving like devil's spawn.

Cat learned the hard way not to do this when I was in the yard. But it had no respect for my sister or even my mother, and of course I wasn't there every second. My mother finally dug up that part of her garden, and the cat stopped coming back.

 

[Sir_Winston54]

Here's a video of one of our kitties. Alas she is no longer with us. But no meat product was safe in her presence.

"I Can Haz Turkey?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmvarKnSQQE

My only contribution is choked giggles in the audio.

How did I miss this earlier???

Comment: At least she was willing to try using a fork to eat...

 

[Recidiva]

How did I miss this earlier???

Comment: At least she was willing to try using a fork to eat...

My daughter did eventually give her some turkey after that performance. Mixed signals, I know, but...she's...so...cute...

 

[satindesire]

My daughter did eventually give her some turkey after that performance. Mixed signals, I know, but...she's...so...cute...

I don't mind my kitties eating my food as long as I'm done with it first.

Only one of the cats will eat human food, though, and she prefers carbs to anything else. Doughnuts especially.