Cats interest me in many ways. Incidentally, I hate them. But although I'm a dog lover, I find the behavior of cats remarkable. They remind me of lions, tigers & other big feline predators. If you have seen a cat in pursuit of a mouse, You'll know what I mean. The same sharp claws, hungry eyes, needle sharp teeth & the very beautiful & attractive gait of a world class athlete. We have domensticated and tamed many animals. & they have forgotten how to be wild. Cattle for example. Dogs of course. Most horses. But not cats. The transformation of a cat from a lovey dovey pet that yearns for food & touch into a fierce predator at night must be seen to be believed.

If you ever notice a group of cats just ambling around or may be resting at midday, you would have noticed the remarkable similarity in the body postures & actions of the whole group. The famous NatGeo film in which three lions yawn one after another is a perfect example of what I mean. Desmond Morris calls it 'echo'. May be an extreme frequency of echo actions among cats is where the word copy 'CAT' originates.

Something interesting you can do to indulge in nature while still living in a crowded metro like Bombay is to watch a cat teach its kittens. You'll instantly know how crucial 'echo' actions and imitations are to animal learning. This is an entertaining excercise you can do even to learn a lot about us humans. Why a kitten jumps blindly after its mother on a slippery bark of a tree even after slipping off it several times is something that reveals a great deal about why babies cry first and laugh later. Of course, laughter is an acquired action, manifested only after observation of others while crying is an instinctive one.

Well, I'll continue my 'cat watching' & give you an update soon.