|
Cats are among the best hunters in the animal kingdom. They use
hidden claws to catch their food. Cat claws have extremely sharp
points, which makes them useful for fighting and climbing. Their
claws are hidden inside their feet, so they don’t get worn down as
dogs’ claws do. Cats’ long whiskers are used to detect the width of
tunnels and burrows. Without whiskers a cat cannot tell whether its
body will get through a narrow gap.
Cats have an excellent sense of smell that helps
them to know what is going on around them.
A cat ready to fight will show what weapons it has. It opens its
mouth to show how big its teeth are. It swipes the air in front of
its enemy’s face to show how big its claws are.
A cat that is hissing or baring its teeth, swishing its tail or
growling is angry or frightened. It might give you a nasty scratch
or bite if you go too close.
HOW TO SAY 'HELLO' TO A CAT
Cats are usually friendly to humans, and say “miaow” when they see
somebody they like. They may also stare at humans.
Don't stare at a cat if you want to become her friend. Let her
first
sniff
your clothes and hands. Better still, let her put some of her secret
scent on you by rubbing her chin and head against your leg.
Cats like to have their fur stroked from their
heads to their tails. This is the way they groom themselves to make
their fur smoother and more beautiful.
How to hold a cat
First make sure that you have said “hello”
properly. If the cat does not try to get away, she is not afraid and
so it is safe to pick her up. You might find that not only are you
holding the cat, but the cat is holding you! Sometimes cats use
their claws to hold onto humans. They do not mean to hurt.
Support the cat with one hand behind her front
legs and one hand behind her back
legs. It doesn’t really matter if her tail is held in or out
of your arms. If the cat struggles, try hugging her closer to you.
If this doesn’t work, she may be getting upset and it is best to
place her back on the ground.
Kittens can be picked up
by the scruff of the neck only if their bottoms are supported with your
free hand.
As they become older and heavier, kittens will feel very
uncomfortable if they are not supported this way.
Be very careful not to drop kittens—they can be
quite wriggly.
|
