Wildlife, living next to nature

[orthodoc]

So the buzzsaw experience should be on my bucket list?

I can't help it if cats just love me. Or maybe it's the fact that the kittens I bred were handled from birth and intensively socialized, and turned out to be adorable, people-loving balls of fluff.

Cats do have a different psychology than dogs. You can't attempt to dominate a cat and have anything good happen. Unlike dogs, cats will ramp up the aggression if you become aggressive. Their brains are just wired differently.

Cats are more like toddlers. Redirect, time out, remove from the scene ... they respond to cause and effect as long as it's not direct aggression that throws them into fight mode.

[xoxoxoBruce]

That's how kittens play, suddenly they're all teeth and claws. That's what they do with each other, and you if your handy when they get the urge. I've also had them climb me when I was leaning against the kitchen counter talking with someone. Those sharp little claws go deep, and anything you do to mitigate the carnage only makes things worse.

[fargon]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Those sharp little claws go deep, and anything you do to mitigate the carnage only makes things worse.

That is when you stop playing with them.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Like a buzz saw, you can't stop fast enough, and you stopping doesn't necessarily mean them stopping. They'll stop when they get bored, but in the meantime they can do considerable damage. Older cats are a little faster stopping, but cat or kitten, if they've decided to climb you they won't stop half way without serious opposition. Of course once the claws are dug in, I don't want them to stop and think about it.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Drop Bears! Drop Bears everywhere!

[orthodoc]

You've been hanging out with the wrong cats, man ...

[xoxoxoBruce]

Normal cats, not raised like a bunch of pussies Canadian cats.

[Carruthers]

Not quite in the same league as big cats and wolves, but we do have a breeding pair of Peregrine Falcons in the locality. Their favoured nesting location is a cliff face.
We have something of a shortage of cliffs in Buckinghamshire but we do have an acceptable man made substitute.
For several years a nesting platform has been provided on the County Council HQ buillding in Aylesbury. It is an architectural abomination but the Peregrines seem quite happy there.

You can see the webcam here: Aylesbury Peregrines

Aylesbury's Peregrine Falcons Lay First Egg Of The Year

Should you wish, the architechural abomination can be viewed here: Street View.

[Sundae]

No! Is old enough now to be a folly (Pooley's).
I love it.
You have to learn from your mistakes, and to learn from them they have to be visible.

From miles and miles and many miles around.

[Carruthers]

Originally Posted by Sundae

No! Is old enough now to be a folly (Pooley's).
I love it.
You have to learn from your mistakes, and to learn from them they have to be visible.

From miles and miles and many miles around.

Some years ago it was rumoured to be sinking.

I'm still waiting...

[xoxoxoBruce]

That's big plus for Aylesbury. Most large cities here have peregrines nesting on tall buildings. Like Aylesbury, pigeons supply unlimited food.

[orthodoc]

Absolutely. The Cathedral of Learning in Pittsburgh has a pair of nesting peregrines. A few years ago a second pair attempted to move in lower on the tower ... the first pair killed them.

But the original pair apparently successfully raise young each spring. There are local ordinances protecting them.

[orthodoc]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Normal cats, not raised like a bunch of pussies Canadian cats.

Ha! Apparently you've never met any Canadian cats. We raise 'em wild and smart, feisty and opinionated. Canadian pussies are very difficult to tame, although utterly worth the effort.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Canadian cats? No. Canadian pussies? Plenty. Half my father's family live in the Kingston Ontario area.
However, your description of kitten behavior doesn't jibe with dozens I've raised or met, south of the 49th parallel.

[orthodoc]

You can only have met feral or poorly socialized kittens, seriously. Cats have to be socialized just like dogs. Imagine trying to cuddle up to a feral dog. Probably wouldn't go well, no? So why do we criticize poorly socialized kittens and cats?

Cats who are socialized from birth are immensely human-oriented. I've raised numerous generations; this is my experience. I've gotten breeding kittens from other breeders, and they were (with only one exception) never as well socialized as mine. I put the time in. Again, consider how much time we spend with puppies and young dogs. If you spend the equivalent time with a young cat, you'll have a loyal companion who loves you every bit as much as a dog, but is FAR more intelligent.

eta: besides: dogs can't purr.