General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: wil3ur on December 11, 2017, 10:21:51 AM
Title: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: wil3ur on December 11, 2017, 10:21:51 AM
I witnessed my girlfriends cat sneak up onto a ledge behind he other cat, position itself in the lamp light, and do a diving attack from a high 6'oclock position out of the "Sun". I commented that Kitty is a fighter ace and is following Dicta Boelcke. She looked at me like I was "special". :noid
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: BFOOT1 on December 11, 2017, 11:50:31 AM
:rofl
Need to start painting ‘kitties’ on his tail
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: Vraciu on December 11, 2017, 12:01:42 PM
Hilarious. :rofl
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: Gman on December 11, 2017, 12:55:28 PM
Cats are one of natures best hunters. One of very few animals that train to kill just for sport, and will kill and not eat that kill, polar bears, the dolphin family, and just a few others have been noted for this. Just got my father a Russian Blue cat for $25 from the local SPCA, it's been hilarious watching it the past couple of weeks. A neighbor has a cat that kills a bird a day pretty much, anything on 4 legs that can kill birds = fighter pilot quality IMO.
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: Vulcan on December 11, 2017, 12:57:54 PM
cats are just targets for dogs to chase.
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: Skuzzy on December 11, 2017, 02:01:46 PM
Everything about a cat is geared towards hunting, killing, and decimating the prey. Not sure how many species of animal are obligate carnivores, but the cat is one. Thankfully, the domestic cat is limited to small prey.
I have two cats. Brother and sister. She is tiny. 8 pounds, and at that she is a bit heavy, but she is quick. Her brother, on the other hand, at 16 pounds, and skinny (front legs measure 12" long from inside the arm pits) but built like a tank. He shoulder blades are thick and massive, while his haunches are crazy muscular.
They are a hoot to watch. She'll come flying through the living room and slap his head while flying over him, sending him rolling. Then he will get up and just sit there. The next time she comes by, you see her rolling across the floor into the kitchen.
Between them both, she is the hunter. He is clueless and has the worst case of ADD I have ever seen. I have seen her go flying through the air to nab a fly (I think the buzzing bothers her).
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: Vraciu on December 11, 2017, 02:07:25 PM
^^^^ LOL
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: Wiley on December 11, 2017, 02:11:10 PM
Canines don't particularly concern me until they get up into the 100+ lb area. An ill tempered house cat can ruin your day quite easily.
Pound for pound, cats are way scarier than most other creatures you encounter on a day to day basis.
Case in point: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIoOJKLHeY0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIoOJKLHeY0)
Wiley.
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: Karnak on December 11, 2017, 08:38:05 PM
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: Skuzzy on December 12, 2017, 06:02:17 AM
Cats have many ways to hurt you. It is the nature of being a hunter/killer.
The bacteria, in their claws, is enough to send many people to the hospital with one swipe. We keep Neosporin around just for those scratches. Best first aid treatment for a cat scratch EVER!
Here is my little guy at 4 months old. He was not near done growing. I think it gives you a sense of his size. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=390860.0;attach=28991)
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: Nefarious on December 12, 2017, 06:50:51 AM
Cats have many ways to hurt you. It is the nature of being a hunter/killer.
The bacteria, in their claws, is enough to send many people to the hospital with one swipe. We keep Neosporin around just for those scratches. Best first aid treatment for a cat scratch EVER!
Here is my little guy at 4 months old. He was not near done growing. I think it gives you a sense of his size. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=390860.0;attach=28991)
Last year while playing with my cat I got a scratch on my hand, no big deal, until the next day when my hand swelled up to the size of something you see in a cartoon. I wound up in the emergency room so they could pump me full of antibiotics. Love my two cats, Petey and James.
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: Skuzzy on December 12, 2017, 08:43:38 AM
Yep, I do not fool around with any cat scratch. As soon as it happens, I wash it and hit it with Neosporin.
By the way, cats, domestic or wild, do not kill for the sake of killing. There are three reasons a cat kills.
1) Food. When they kill for food, not much is left of the kill. 2) Defense. If attacked, they will defend themselves. An odd thing about this. If it another cat, then they may not kill as cats have an instinctive respect for the Alpha cat. FYI, a wounded cat is to be feared. Their instinct to preserve themselves will override everything. 3) Territory. All cats are very territorial. They mark their territory and will kill to protect it. When a cat rubs against your leg, that is not a show of affection. They are marking you as their territory. Will they attack to protect you as their territory? Probably not. Sometimes the marking is just cautionary and/or instinctive.
He has the sweetest and most trusting disposition of any cat I have ever had. Good thing too. If he had turned out to be ornery, then we probably would not have any furniture left. :)
Loves to play more than any other cat I have ever had. He will play fetch and loves to slide around on the wood floors. When he sleeps, he is out like a light and always has his toy nearby. As big as he is, he would not do well in the wild.
She, on the other hand, is a very nurturing cat and a very intense protector of him.
They get along great together and take turns playing "predator/prey". She almost always wins, whether she is predator or prey. In a straight line, he is faster, but when it comes to weaving through obstacles, she will just blow him away.
Oh, names, his is "Jag" and hers is "Shelby". Why?
Well, because Jags were always trying to catch Shelby's, and she can go from 0-100-0 in a blink of an eye. :)
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: morfiend on December 12, 2017, 02:32:17 PM
It usually takes a good dog to deal with a cat!
I have owned 1 or 2 of those dogs, and they were terriers!
Years ago I had a hybred Siamese cat,he was all black with blue eyes and loved to be up high as possible,often sitting on top of the fridge. He was quite the hunter and brought home snakes,rabbits,squirrels and many birds. Then I got my first Bullterrier pup,I was worried the cat might seriously hurt or even kill my dog so I kept them separated. After a month or so I decided they had to learn to live together but watched the pup like a hawk so the cat didnt hurt it.
After a few weeks the pup would "go fetch the cat" she would grab the cat and drag him back to me,the cat would just submit to the dog because she was so powerful. I came home from work one day to find the dog and cat playing but the dog was actually killing the cat,she didnt know her own strength and had the cat by the throat!
I put a stop to the nonsense right there! I didnt want my dog to kill my cat! Funny part is the cat was bigger than the dog at the time,dog weighed more but cat was bigger!
When I was a kid we had an Airedale,she was a cat killer but then she killed anything that was in her territory and moved!
:salute
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: Wiley on December 12, 2017, 02:59:25 PM
The one that got me was the day our one barn cat brought home a weasel. She was a helluva hunter.
Wiley.
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: bustr on December 12, 2017, 03:06:21 PM
I have four boys, if they are indoor cats, keep their claws trimmed. I have to take Warfarin\Cumadin everyday and have a vested interest in trimming claws. If you have reaction problems from cat scratches you probably have issues with those specific bacteria or an allergy to them. If I get lazy and don't trim claws regularly, I end up with punctures from them hopping on and off me along with scratches that leave scars when they decide to suddenly launch and go galloping off into the house. I have scratch scars on my shoulders from what every cat owner goes through. "NOOOOO, I don't want you to put me down......." I have more T-Shirts with holes in them from just that alone.
Here are my boys....Domestic Longhair, Main Coon, California Spangled, Norwegian Forrest cat. Spangelds, they talk 24x7, even in their sleep. His stripes didn't turn into spots so didn't conform to the breed standard of looking like a miniature Leopard. Used to have a Turkish Angora male that hunted dogs and try to kill them. He brought me a whole live possum litter once. Out door cats can get really scary and expensive vet bills.
(https://s20.postimg.org/p9j324e0t/boys2016.jpg)
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: Skuzzy on December 12, 2017, 03:21:22 PM
Mine are just mutts. The offspring of ferals.
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: bustr on December 12, 2017, 03:49:47 PM
Before the housing bubble popped, there were a lot of people breeding in my area. So many of the shelters ended up with non-conforming breed dumps to get ready for the next litter. I think I've done my part for animal rescues if those four loafers are any measure...... :lol
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: Gman on December 12, 2017, 06:23:34 PM
Heh, good posts Skuzzy/etc, always makes me laugh, seeing cats hone their hunting skills, especially with another cat, or even dog. That's a huge cat for 4 months, how much does she weigh now?
My father's new monster, been a great addition for him since my mother died last month. She came from an abusive home and environment, and was allowed out to roam free at the SPCA, but had been taken home twice by others, and returned. She would hide, which made her unattractive to keep I guess. She hid on us for a couple days too, but gentle coaxing, lots of cat treats, and patience, has yielded a very friendly and trusting cat for my father. Now you can't get her down off his bed, I catch him talking to her quite a bit now, again, she's been great for him. I ordered the best cat food that the vet recommended, both hard and soft, and she has obviously put on about 2 or 3 lbs from her skinny condition when I picked her up. She also has begin playing with the cat condo and toys I bought for her, all good signs she's going to be OK. Best $25 I've spent in a long time, the effect that small amount of money has had on my father is incredible. That small fee included all her shots, the first vet visit free/paid for by the SPCA, in addition to them having already spayed her. She's 18 months old, and I hope is with my father for a long, long time.
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: Vraciu on December 12, 2017, 07:16:05 PM
My brother had a cat...relentless hunter. Was sitting out in the front yard chatting with my mom one day and it started raining feathers. That cat had vulched a Whitewing Dove right over our heads.
Another time he was sunning himself in the grass beside the house. A grackle flew right over his location fairly low. POW! Grabbed him right out of the air like a Wirb with a PK.
Don’t know what happened to him. One day he just stopped coming home.
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: ghi on December 12, 2017, 07:24:35 PM
I watched the interview bellow posted on other site, about toxoplasmosis transmitted to humans from cats . Never heard about this diseases, I grew up.eoth cats around the house. I understand only recently the mechanism of transmission and effect on humans was understood. The old crazy ladies sharing the house with dozens of cats are actually nutz affected by this parasite. It's interesting what a complex evolutionary trick is used by toxoplasma gondii manipulating and sacrifing the mice/rat host behaviour just to perpetuate and multiply.
"The infection toxoplasmosis is caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii and is widely spread. It's estimated that 30-50 per cent of the global human population are carriers. Cats are the parasites' main host, but the infection is also spread among other animals, including humans. A series of studies have previously shown that the parasite affects the brain of infected rats so that they lose fear of cats and even become attracted to cats' smell, making them an easy prey. This is how the parasite is spread onward, by ensuring that the rat is eaten by a cat. Toxoplasmosis is life-threatening to people with impaired immune systems and to unborn fetuses, but causes only mild symptoms in healthy individuals. However, there are studies showing that mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, depression and anxiety disorder are more common in people who are carriers of Toxoplasma gondii. There are also studies indicating that the parasite may affect aggressive or risky behavior."
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: Skuzzy on December 13, 2017, 06:27:48 AM
GMan, his healthy weight is about 16 to 18 pounds. He is a very lean and muscular cat. His sister, at 8 to 10 pounds, is a bit chunky.
Between the two, she is far more instinctual than he is. She does things like try to bury her food dish after she eats (cats in the wild do that to leave no trace behind for predators to track). She is a very patient hunter, stalking her prey until she can make the kill with as little movement as possible.
She also parkours off vertical surfaces to prevent losing speed when chasing her prey (all too often Jag is the prey). She manages her energy very well. She successfully bounces from one wall to the other when chasing Jag down the hallway, until she is next to him and then she lands the kill shot as she flies over him to the wall.
Although he has recently started flipping over on his back and sliding along the floor to take her out of the air.
I keep trying to get video of them in action, but then they get obsessed with the camera.
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: BFOOT1 on December 13, 2017, 07:12:49 AM
GMan, his healthy weight is about 16 to 18 pounds. He is a very lean and muscular cat. His sister, at 8 to 10 pounds, is a bit chunky.
Between the two, she is far more instinctual than he is. She does things like try to bury her food dish after she eats (cats in the wild do that to leave no trace behind for predators to track). She is a very patient hunter, stalking her prey until she can make the kill with as little movement as possible.
She also parkours off vertical surfaces to prevent losing speed when chasing her prey (all too often Jag is the prey). She manages her energy very well. She successfully bounces from one wall to the other when chasing Jag down the hallway, until she is next to him and then she lands the kill shot as she flies over him to the wall.
Although he has recently started flipping over on his back and sliding along the floor to take her out of the air.
I keep trying to get video of them in action, but then they get obsessed with the camera.
If we ever do another AH Convention you should bring the cats along, so we may study their tactics!
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: OldNitro on December 13, 2017, 10:25:21 AM
Ya know, cats are sadistic. They will wound an animal, but not kill it. Just so they can torture it for a while! I have vid of 3 cats, taking turns torturing a Bluejay, that was bold enough to steal their catfood!
Kitty kills! Feline gun camera! I have many of those pics.. If I can make them work here..
https://imgur.com/ABzduuJ(http://)
GRRRR :furious OK, how do I make the pic show in the post, instead of just the link???
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: Skuzzy on December 13, 2017, 10:34:44 AM
Well, I tried to set it for you, but apparently it does not work with the site you are using.
For real images just wrap the image tags around the link.
Cats do what cats are meant to do. They hunt and kill. They protect their territory. They are merciless about it. Welcome to nature.
Cats do not "torture" animals. They will take the time to use an animal to keep themselves physically in shape in order to be the hunter/killer they are. It is just they way they are made. It is instinctive and brutal. From your perspective it is "torture", from their perspective it is a necessity for survival.
In a home when cats "play" with each other they are actually taking turns playing hunter/prey to keep their skills sharp.
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: OldNitro on December 13, 2017, 10:50:30 AM
Thanks Skuzzy, I'll try that..
Rgr, I know it it is not really sadistic, just natural for them.. LOL, but it sure looks that way!
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: Skuzzy on December 13, 2017, 11:01:57 AM
There are a number of things which could be going on in that picture.
My first thought is the cat is taking the potential kill to a safe place to finish it off and eat it. Cats are most vulnerable when they are eating as they have their head down so they look for safe places to consume their kill. It is instinctive for outdoor cats.
If the kill is outside their territory, they will drag it back there as well to avoid confrontation with whatever animal has marked the territory they are in.
A cat who can chase down a squirrel has some serious skills. Be a good farm cat.
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: OldNitro on December 13, 2017, 11:17:02 AM
They'll sit next to a mole hole, and listen.. When they see the dirt come pushing out the top, they pounce.. Ram their front leg down the hole and yank the mole right out.. Amazing!
And if they can't catch the mole, they dig open the hole, and pee in it! :evil: Out of spite, I assume!
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: Shuffler on December 13, 2017, 05:28:30 PM
Cats have many ways to hurt you. It is the nature of being a hunter/killer.
The bacteria, in their claws, is enough to send many people to the hospital with one swipe. We keep Neosporin around just for those scratches. Best first aid treatment for a cat scratch EVER!
Here is my little guy at 4 months old. He was not near done growing. I think it gives you a sense of his size. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=390860.0;attach=28991)
The true Cat Scratch Fever (Adenitis sp?) I had that from my ex wife's cat.
For some reason a clueless cat jumped the fence into my back yard one day and was caught and gutted by my previous Black Lab. The cat was rather large but my lab was 118 lbs. I believe he was around 15 years old at the time and had no problems.
That was Zeek. He liked to ride in the back of my truck and we would go on drives to Galveston and other places so he could check around. At 17 I had to put him down. Cancer was taking him and he was too old to survive an operation. Buried un the largest oak in my back yard. He still rides with me every day..... his collar is on my trucks rear view mirror.
My current lab can chase down squirrels. He is at 100 lbs and can leap a mile or cut on a dime. He is still young.
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: Kanth on December 13, 2017, 07:19:42 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/ABzduuJ.jpg)
from within imjur, right click on your image and in that right click menu go to 'open image in new tab'..if that image then has an extension .xxx like .jpg or .bmp or .gif then you can copy that address hit the insert image button and place the address in between the beginning and ending image tags.
maybe resize the image
to dynamically resize the image you can edit your opening [img tag to read something like [img width=200 it will then maintain the aspect ratio of the picture (without specifying height) but still resize it.
https://imgur.com/ABzduuJ() <---image tags go on either side of the address and typically the image has to end with an extension that is an image format like .jpg , .png or .gif or .bmp
GRRRR :furious OK, how do I make the pic show in the post, instead of just the link???
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: Skuzzy on December 14, 2017, 06:03:17 AM
The true Cat Scratch Fever (Adenitis sp?) I had that from my ex wife's cat.
For some reason a clueless cat jumped the fence into my back yard one day and was caught and gutted by my previous Black Lab. The cat was rather large but my lab was 118 lbs. I believe he was around 15 years old at the time and had no problems.
That was Zeek. He liked to ride in the back of my truck and we would go on drives to Galveston and other places so he could check around. At 17 I had to put him down. Cancer was taking him and he was too old to survive an operation. Buried un the largest oak in my back yard. He still rides with me every day..... his collar is on my trucks rear view mirror.
My current lab can chase down squirrels. He is at 100 lbs and can leap a mile or cut on a dime. He is still young.
Dogs are great until they have to go vertical, then the cat wins. Referring to chasing squirrels and other rodents.
We had both on the farm I was raised on. The dog was the herder, the cat was a mouser.
One area a cat simply blows a dog away is night hunting. Those nocturnal rodents did not stand a chance against our mouser. She'd be laying in the floor and raise her head up. Take a sniff, and then head out the door. A couple minutes later a dead rodent would be on the porch.
Together, they were a formidable force. When they were not protecting the farm, they would play together. It was a hoot to watch.
But you cannot beat a dog for loyalty or protection. Cats are instinctive animals. They really have no allegiance to humans. The best you can with a cat is earn its trust. Then they might let you scratch their belly. Earn the trust of a dog, and you have a friend for life who will put your safety ahead of their own.
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: Greebo on December 14, 2017, 06:29:44 AM
There was a BBC wildlife program on a few years ago which featured a mother peregrine falcon teaching her offspring how to hunt on the wing. She struck a pigeon in mid air, hurt it enough to slow it down a bit and then let it go. Her brood then took it in turns to try to kill the same bird but were unsuccessful.
What surprised me was the similarity of the tactics employed by the birds to fighter tactics. The mother falcon swooped down into the pigeon's low six o'clock, attacked from below and behind and the pigeon never saw her coming. Her inexperienced young however failed to get into the pigeon's blind spot and each time at the last second their prey either dumped lift or executed a break turn into the attack causing the falcon to miss.
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: OldNitro on December 14, 2017, 07:26:05 AM
Thanks Kanth, for the more detailed info, I'll figure it out eventually..
Yes, we live in a rural area, livestock are common.. When you have livestock, you have feed.. Where you have feed, you have rodents! Our cats get lots of hunting practice.. The cat with the squirrel is Scotch, pic taken in August, 8 months old! For a cat, that's a teenager..
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: Becinhu on December 14, 2017, 12:17:20 PM
My cats aren’t hunters. My male only ever killed one mouse and he chewed it to death. He was the alpha of the house though. 3 cats and 2 dogs. My dachshund wouldn’t walk down the hall if he was in it and my jack Russell would try to displace him as supreme ruler....never worked. As soon as my male cat would stand up the dog would run. I was always worried when my male cat would make an escape because he had zero fear of dogs.
Now that jack russell can hunt. Catches birds out of the air, stalks and kills moles and voles.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: Skuzzy on December 14, 2017, 12:44:24 PM
Generally speaking, male cats are not the hunters. The female cats are. The male cats are the protectors and will stay with the group while the females go out and procure food.
Some subtle cues about this. In a multi-cat home the male cats may protect the toys and keep them away from other cats. The female cats will observe that behavior and, on occasion, try to take one of the toys to test the skills of the male.
If you ever notice feral cats. They aggregate. At night the males will stay behind and protect the young ones while the females go hunting. During the day, all bets are off. They may move as one group, they may not.
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: ROC on December 14, 2017, 01:06:55 PM
My male cat is the hunter. He catches, and toys with, the mice. They can't get away. My old female cat? Well, she brings bottle caps to the front door. Has for 15 years, not a bottle cap in the neighborhood is safe.
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: Skuzzy on December 14, 2017, 01:12:25 PM
And there is always one. With domestic cats it will just depend on the cat. Instincts have been trampled on a bit, in some breeds.
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: morfiend on December 14, 2017, 02:50:52 PM
Roy, Both my Siamese and his buddy an angora were trained!
Fritz,the angora would play fetch,shake a paw and come and give me a kiss on command,Blue the Siamese would play fetch and would jump up on my shoulder on command. It wasnt easy to train them but you can get them to repeat things if they persevere there is a reward in it for them!
As I said it takes a good dog to handle a cat but all bets are on the dog if it's a large enough terrier.Terriers were bred to rid vermin and often the vermin was bigger than the dog!
As for vertical,my bullterrier could sit in front of me and jump over my head, I had her grabbing sticks as high as 7 ft. and no squirrel dared come in her yard,there was this suicidal squirrel that would taunt my bully.The silly thing would climb down a tree and try to stay just out of reach,one day I was out with the dog and the next thing I know she had that squirrel,it's in a better place now!! :devil This was all done without a sound!
:salute
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: Skuzzy on December 14, 2017, 02:58:10 PM
You can absolutely train a cat. It does take patience and the right cat with the a calm demeanor.
I had a Himalayan who was really easy to train. I had another Himalayan which was insanely hard to train. Between the two we have right now, the girl has been pretty easy to work with. The boy is damn near impossible to work with. He ADD makes it difficult.
And I am not so sure I want to break him, which is a risk when training them. He has a very trusting spirit and a crazy level of curiosity. He just makes us laugh all the time with his antics and he does not have a destructive bone in his body. He is just a happy kitty.
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: eagl on December 14, 2017, 04:24:52 PM
My male cat is the hunter. He catches, and toys with, the mice. They can't get away. My old female cat? Well, she brings bottle caps to the front door. Has for 15 years, not a bottle cap in the neighborhood is safe.
I had a cat who was a stone-cold killer of plastic bags. For a couple of years there would be a small neat pile of sandwich bags near the back door most mornings. She was nearly deaf (breeding issue I suspect since she was almost pure white) and we got her when we found her hiding terrified in our garage. She hated being picked up but liked us enough to stick around. One day she didn't come back, and I suspect the neighborhood owl or a dog snuck up on her one night. Being mostly deaf and brilliant white is tough for a cat.
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: wil3ur on December 14, 2017, 05:07:22 PM
My youngest is a hoarder of liquor bottle caps. He senses their presence (I think he just smells whiskey on me and knows there's a cap somewhere). He then furiously attacks them at 3AM. :cheers:
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: Curval on December 15, 2017, 06:45:23 AM
My sister has 4 Main Coon cats. They are massive.
One of them wandered into the next door property where 2 Ridgebacks live and the dogs cornered the cat and attacked it.
They came close to killing the cat. It was pretty torn up and had deep puncture wounds a few of which perforated it's bowel. At one point one of the dogs had the cat's head in its mouth and the other had the cat's rear end in its mouth and they were trying to rip it apart.
Cat had to go to the emergency obviously. But, while at the vet a dog was brought in. A Ridgeback. It was a MESS. The face was ripped to shreds and part of its nose was hanging off.
Too close to call who actually won....but given that it was 2 vs 1 I have to give it to the cat.
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: Skuzzy on December 15, 2017, 08:56:08 AM
Maine Coons are massive cats. I think my Jag has some Maine Coon in him given his size and features.
I think, pound for pound a cat should be able to take a dog simply due to the many ways a cat can shred their victims. Everything about a cat is designed around the ability to rip flesh apart and do it quickly.
Then again, I have never seen a dog and cat fight. So I could be full of it.
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: mbailey on December 15, 2017, 02:44:10 PM
My wife has a Maine Coon. I say my wife, because it loves her.....me, well lets just say he tolerates my existence somewhat....actually now that I think of it, just like my wife.
His name, P.Sherman 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney Australia. (don't ask)
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: Skuzzy on December 15, 2017, 03:57:52 PM
My wife has a Maine Coon. I say my wife, because it loves her.....me, well lets just say he tolerates my existence somewhat....actually now that I think of it, just like my wife.
His name, P.Sherman 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney Australia. (don't ask)
For some crazy reason, that name rings a bell.
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: morfiend on December 15, 2017, 05:49:01 PM
Maine Coons are massive cats. I think my Jag has some Maine Coon in him given his size and features.
I think, pound for pound a cat should be able to take a dog simply due to the many ways a cat can shred their victims. Everything about a cat is designed around the ability to rip flesh apart and do it quickly.
Then again, I have never seen a dog and cat fight. So I could be full of it.
No I say that's a fair assessment! I have seen too many dog and cat fights,as a kid my parents owned a resturant and as a result we had plenty of cats about the place. Most were feral cats and helped control the rodents,we had some rats that even the toughest cat wouldnt tackle and thats why we had the airedale. Problem was the dog didnt like cats and would try to kill them if she could catch one. We also had a Shepard and it got tore up by a cat,lost the right eye,had a spilt ear and part of it's nose tore off. Like you said cats can use several weapons at the same time! I saw the airedale kill a couple cats and it always went the same way,dog jumps on cat,grabs it by the back and breaks cat;s back with a violent shake! She never got tore up and most the cats tried to climb a tree or pole to get away!
:salute
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: Becinhu on December 15, 2017, 09:21:31 PM
My wife has a Maine Coon. I say my wife, because it loves her.....me, well lets just say he tolerates my existence somewhat....actually now that I think of it, just like my wife.
His name, P.Sherman 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney Australia. (don't ask)
That all started because Nemo touched the butt.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: Skuzzy on December 16, 2017, 07:16:00 AM
Ahhh, that's it! Thank you, it was driving me crazy.
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: Gman on December 16, 2017, 07:32:04 PM
Speaking of massive cats, anyone ever see any of these Savanah cats, ranked from F1 to F5? I saw an F3 once from a breeder up here, it looked like a 7 month old Cheetah, it was HUGE about 15 inches tall they told me. I can't imagine how big the largest size must be. Expensive too, but highly intelligent.
I've really come to enjoy cats again in the last few weeks, so many of their natural activities and behaviors and interesting to watch. Sure sleep a lot though, my father's new cat sleeps 2/3 of the day, and plays at 100% the other 1/3, and eats 2x a day for 5 minutes each feeding. She'll flip over on her back in my lap and let me rub her stomache on command now, pretty impressed for a cat that wasn't returned a few times to the SPCA for being a hider and not affectionate enough. I'm glad we've been patient with her, as she's turned out to be a real blessing for my father at a perfect time.
Unlike dogs - we got a Belgian Malnois pup earlier this year, cats really do take care of themselves. Pop left the door to the room for her litter box closed by accident 3 nights ago, when he woke up, she had used the bath tub and went right by the drain on her own. Smart, and instinctive, I was really impressed with her having done this. She also had been trying to let him know he said, for 5 hours all through the night she jumped up by his head and spoke in meows that he had never heard before. Incredible how intelligent they can be...and he's just had her 1 month.
What do others feel about 2nd cats? I've heard and read that it makes cleaning easier for cats, having another one around that can do hard to reach places, and I've seen this behavior in the past too IIRC. She is a young cat, not even 2 yet, and I'm thinking maybe a 2nd one may be a good idea, and that if so, sooner than later may be better. Advice?
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: Skuzzy on December 17, 2017, 06:32:46 AM
A multi-cat household can be tricky. Typically siblings are preferred as they have grown up accepting the scent of the other cat. Introducing a second cat into a home where a single cat has had time to claim the territory can take some time and patience.
Some cats will willingly accept a second cat, others will not. Even siblings can be hit and miss.
Normally two females are better than two males, as the males tend to want to establish Alpha leaving one to be dominated. One male and one female, as long they are neutered can work well as the different sexes have unique rolls in a clowder.
Cats will clean each other in a futile attempt to eradicate the scent of the other animal from the home. Usually they need their own litter box, but sometimes they will share. Again, the scent thing.
Overall, indoor cats do better with another cat around. It gives them another animal to practice their hunting skills with and to keep physically fit. If a single cat has already formed a bond with a human, there can be jealousy if the new cat gets attention as it taints the marking from the original cat. Just have to watch how everyone interacts.
On the subject of maintaining weight, many breeds will self-maintain their weight, while others have to have food metered to them. If you find you have a mix between the two, you have to watch them eat or the one who is not maintaining weight will eat the other cats food. We have that situation with our two. They are siblings, but she is a tubby thing, while he is lean and mean. He will also leave his food for her to eat. It is a pain in the tush at feeding time.
Speaking of food. The cat food industry is a despicable industry. They do not hesitate to include ingredients known to be bad for cats. Two in particular are widely used and should be avoided for the long term health of the cat. Guar gum and carrageenan are both used as gelling ingredients in many foods.
Unfortunately, guar gum inhibits protein absorption in a cat. Cats need a lot of protein for all thier organs and to maintain muscle mass. Carrageenan is a known carcinogen to cats.
Hard food, in general, is not a good food for a cat either. Think about how cats live in the wild. They eat fresh kills. Cats do not drink a lot of water as they get most of their moisture from the blood of their kills. Cats also need taurine to maintain their eyes. Taurine is found in fresh red meat, poultry, eggs, some dairy, and shellfish. However, when any of that is processed into hard food it destroys the natural taurine. That is why you see taurine added as an ingredient.
I learned all this when I lost a cat to CRF (chronic renal failure). Turns out the food we fed her brought it on. If you Vet recommends hard food for a cat, then that Vet has been bought and paid for by the cat food industry. It is a slimy industry. There are many Vets who do not like cats. Just beware of that.
It has gotten so bad here, a new market has opened up for Vets who only treat cats and that is it.
Ok, I'll get off my soapbox now.
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: mbailey on December 18, 2017, 02:11:07 PM
Thankfully the naming didn't happen around the time of Inglorius Bastards
:rofl :rofl :rofl
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: OldNitro on December 21, 2017, 07:47:42 AM
OK, lemme try this picture insert6 deal again.. Hope it works this time!
Wishbone, showin off with a nice fat field mouse!(https://i.imgur.com/tUTLLVo.jpg?3)
Oops, "My that's a big one!" 4000x3000 doesn't work! Second try, much better, lol!
x600 high pics seem to work good!
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: Skuzzy on December 21, 2017, 08:24:43 AM
WTG Wishbone! He looks very pleased with himself.
Title: Re: Dicta Boelcke in Nature
Post by: bustr on December 21, 2017, 05:21:41 PM
If you have indoor outdoor cats, you will have territory problems with males and vet bills even if they are neutered. My 4 males are indoor only and neutered. Indoor only cats never fully mature and stay kitten like most of their lives. That's how they get along together and don't really establish territories as much as favorite sleeping spots, they become a pride of kittens with you as the parent cat who has to be the parent cat. You have to get them as kittens or not much older than 6 months yet to start with. You can always add another kitten into a group of indoor only cats, not an adult cat.
Don't mistakenly believe when your indoor outdoor cat gets elderly, that when you bring him indoor permanently because he's loosing more fights than he wins, that he will ever become an indoor only cat mentally. He also won't take kindly to you getting him a friend either. Indoor only cats need a friend or friends unless you are ready to be "it" 24x7. You owe them that much since you have decided to imprison them for life to have a pet around.