Page 17 - World of Animals - Issue #30

Cats: from tigers to tabbies

Cats in our culture

Wild cats have fascinated humans for
centuries. They have been both regarded
as gods and feared immeasurably
Lions are well known for living in prides,
but aside from these and groups of
feral cats, wild cats are usually solitary
creatures. Their secretive and elusive
nature has meant they have been
both worshipped and feared in equal
measures throughout history. In Mumbai,
tales have been told about the struggle
to live alongside the ‘living-ghosts’: the
elusive leopards who stalk through the
villages at night. Many live in fear in
China’s northeastern villages from the
increasing number of Siberian tigers and
panic is spreading across the Hazara
region of Pakistan, where man-eating
leopards are attacking those who
wander too far into the forests.
Yet it wasn’t just the Ancient Egyptians Fierce hunters
who considered cats as gods. In China,
the goddess Li Shou was depicted as The incredible hunter that makes up for its small size with bravery
a cat and considered the guardian of This cat is small, cute, and almost looks like their small size, there are accounts of black-
families and protector of crops. Black someone has let their pet out to roam the footed cats fiercely defending their territory

cats were believed to chase away evil savannah. But don’t be fooled. Legend has it from humans who stray too close. Come
ghosts and fairies in Poland, in Greek this kitty can take down a full-sized giraffe with nightfall, they keep busy by stalking rodents
mythology the goddess Hecate used the one swift bite to the jugular. This probably isn’t and small birds. They can take down 14 small
cat’s form to escape a monster, and the true, but goes some way to describing their animals in a night, making them one of the most
Norse goddess Freya rode in a chariot character. Courageous and confident despite successful feline hunters.

drawn by cats.

BELOW Fishing cats have a Fishing cats
short layer of dense hair near
the skin that stops water getting
through, keeping them dry in The water-loving cat that would
their swampy surroundings
put your fishing skills to shame

Most cats are renowned for their hatred of
water, avoiding it at all costs, and unwilling to

take a bath. The fishing cat is unusual in this

respect. As it relies on a diet of fish, it has taken
to swimming the wetlands of Southeast Asia,
northern India and Sri Lanka. A life spent in
the swamps has meant this cat has evolved to
become a strong swimmer. They wade through

the mangroves, catching fish by either scooping
them out of the water with their paws, or by
plunging their heads below the surface.
“A life spent in the
swamps has made this
cat a strong swimmer”

17

012-020_Tigers_to tabbies.indd 17 03/02/2016 15:03