Those alligators are fed by humans and by the looks of them, fed fairly often. I would wager that the first 'gator was fed recently and is more interested in lying in the shade and letting his meal digest than playing with the feisty cat. The irritated gator walks off to the pond where he can be at peace.
The others gators emerge from the water and as you can see the one closest to the camera walks right up to the human in a very unthreatening manner. Probably looking for a treat. So he was hungry, but still not hungry enough to bother eating the cat.
Now the cat is a regular fixture at that place. He knows the 'gators, the humans love him and the cat knows what he can get away with. But if the people stop feeding the 'gators for a week then you might see a different reaction from them when kitty comes out to play.
The moral: pick your fights wisely. The cat was able to look heroic and fierce by pestering the sluggish well-fed 'gator.
Thanks for you comment, BTS! Some good observations. Raises some questions, though. I think a good lawyer would object, saying "assumes facts not in evidence." :) 1. How do you know those gators are fed by humans? 2. How can you tell they were fed recently "by the look of them?" 3. How do you know the cat is a "regular fixture" and knows the gators?
All of these things COULD be true, but how do you know they ARE true?
You suggest that the cat knew he could "get away" with it. But that's a typically human conceit -- and one that quite often gets humans injured or killed. It generally comes from having "gotten away with it" once before. But we have no evidence that this is the case here. Are there videos of the cat doing the same thing on each of three prior days, showing increasing boldness each time?
Certainly, the confrontation might have been different if the conditions had been different. That's always true. But what remains is a MUCH weaker, smaller cat facing down a pair of MUCH larger, stronger gators. Why didn't the gators just go ahead and kill him and be done with it? And why did the cat confront them in the first place? The gators certainly weren't "prey" for the cat, were they? How does the cat's territory (including the cat's humans) play a role?
Your suggested moral may have some broad merit, but in this case seems to cynically suggest that you should only "fight" when you're sure you're not really at risk. But that's more posturing than fighting, no? And it's the philosophy of a bully, wouldn't you say?
In the video the cat shows us that you can look like a hero in the right circumstances. The cat is not upset. It's ears are not back. It is not arching it's back and it's hair is relaxed. The cat knows what it is doing. The gator is sluggish. Most reptiles are sluggish when it is cold out, too hot out, or right after they have had a big meal. The 'gator is at home in the water and that is where it retreats to. But it could, if it wanted to, do a quick dash and try to snatch the cat in it's jaws. Alligators can sprint like that for a few dozen feet.
The cat is indeed posturing. Playing a game that it thinks it can win (until the 'gator misses a meal or three). Wild cats, ones that actually have to worry about catching their own food and ones that worry about getting eaten themselves, are elusive. They hide. Especially from people. That cat is comfortable around people.
Take any cat into unfamiliar territory and you will see a very cautions creature. Go ahead and try it and see what happens.
My suggested moral is one means of many impress observers. Sometimes you need to impress others to win them to your cause. Such tactics could indeed be used by bullies, but they could also be used by an oppressed party to gain support in a struggle. Just like a sword can be used by a marauder or a defender.
Thanks your comment. Not sure I'd agree with all your points, but it's an interesting take on it. Your observations on the cat's condition are accurate, s far as I can tell. I've seen this same attitude in cats I've known. Their hunting behavior, more than fighting behavior. But the cat certainly shows no fear -- puffed-up fur or the like.
One thing I draw from it is the power of commitment. The cat has it; the gators don't.
The unpredictable aggressor has the advantage in a fight?
ReplyDeleteAh, Maestro, Boo is the name of my uncle's Arabian. That was a serendipitous final phrase.
ReplyDeleteNot a bad guess, Anonymous.
ReplyDeleteUnpredictability can be an advantage, certainly.
But does that apply here?
Who is unpredictable? How?
And who is the aggressor? Why?
adam
Chose your fights. It's not worth it to fight a bully cat. So turn and walk away.
ReplyDeleteThose alligators are fed by humans and by the looks of them, fed fairly often. I would wager that the first 'gator was fed recently and is more interested in lying in the shade and letting his meal digest than playing with the feisty cat. The irritated gator walks off to the pond where he can be at peace.
ReplyDeleteThe others gators emerge from the water and as you can see the one closest to the camera walks right up to the human in a very unthreatening manner. Probably looking for a treat. So he was hungry, but still not hungry enough to bother eating the cat.
Now the cat is a regular fixture at that place. He knows the 'gators, the humans love him and the cat knows what he can get away with. But if the people stop feeding the 'gators for a week then you might see a different reaction from them when kitty comes out to play.
The moral: pick your fights wisely. The cat was able to look heroic and fierce by pestering the sluggish well-fed 'gator.
Thanks for you comment, BTS! Some good observations.
ReplyDeleteRaises some questions, though. I think a good lawyer would object, saying "assumes facts not in evidence." :)
1. How do you know those gators are fed by humans?
2. How can you tell they were fed recently "by the look of them?"
3. How do you know the cat is a "regular fixture" and knows the gators?
All of these things COULD be true, but how do you know they ARE true?
You suggest that the cat knew he could "get away" with it. But that's a typically human conceit -- and one that quite often gets humans injured or killed. It generally comes from having "gotten away with it" once before. But we have no evidence that this is the case here. Are there videos of the cat doing the same thing on each of three prior days, showing increasing boldness each time?
Certainly, the confrontation might have been different if the conditions had been different. That's always true.
But what remains is a MUCH weaker, smaller cat facing down a pair of MUCH larger, stronger gators. Why didn't the gators just go ahead and kill him and be done with it? And why did the cat confront them in the first place? The gators certainly weren't "prey" for the cat, were they? How does the cat's territory (including the cat's humans) play a role?
Your suggested moral may have some broad merit, but in this case seems to cynically suggest that you should only "fight" when you're sure you're not really at risk. But that's more posturing than fighting, no? And it's the philosophy of a bully, wouldn't you say?
Thoughts?
Thanks again for your comment!
aac
In the video the cat shows us that you can look like a hero in the right circumstances. The cat is not upset. It's ears are not back. It is not arching it's back and it's hair is relaxed. The cat knows what it is doing. The gator is sluggish. Most reptiles are sluggish when it is cold out, too hot out, or right after they have had a big meal. The 'gator is at home in the water and that is where it retreats to. But it could, if it wanted to, do a quick dash and try to snatch the cat in it's jaws. Alligators can sprint like that for a few dozen feet.
ReplyDeleteThe cat is indeed posturing. Playing a game that it thinks it can win (until the 'gator misses a meal or three). Wild cats, ones that actually have to worry about catching their own food and ones that worry about getting eaten themselves, are elusive. They hide. Especially from people. That cat is comfortable around people.
Take any cat into unfamiliar territory and you will see a very cautions creature. Go ahead and try it and see what happens.
My suggested moral is one means of many impress observers. Sometimes you need to impress others to win them to your cause. Such tactics could indeed be used by bullies, but they could also be used by an oppressed party to gain support in a struggle. Just like a sword can be used by a marauder or a defender.
Watching animals can teach us so many things.
Thanks your comment.
ReplyDeleteNot sure I'd agree with all your points, but it's an interesting take on it.
Your observations on the cat's condition are accurate, s far as I can tell. I've seen this same attitude in cats I've known. Their hunting behavior, more than fighting behavior. But the cat certainly shows no fear -- puffed-up fur or the like.
One thing I draw from it is the power of commitment. The cat has it; the gators don't.
aac