[Leica] About dogs and cats

[sonc.hegr at gmail.com (Sonny Carter)]

http://www.arkive.org/fishing-cat/prionailurus-viverrinus/image-G17843.html

On Mon, Mar 16, 2009 at 8:43 PM, Lawrence Zeitlin
<lrzeitlin at optonline.net>wrote:

> As some of you may know, I am an avid boater and spend much of my
> recreational time on the water. I was recently asked about what makes a
> better boat pet, a cat or a dog. Here is my answer, posted on a boating web
> site:
>
> - - - -
>
> Many of us have boat dogs but since most boats have limited living space,
> a cat might make a more reasonable boat pet. Cats are generally quiet, self
> tending, chase away rats and roosting gulls, and, if you are lucky, warm
> and
> cosy. We have had dogs and cats aboard. While I admit that dogs are
> admirable
> creatures and certainly more intelligent than cats, they can't be trained
> to use
> a litter box. Better for a house and yard than a boat.
>
> We have fond memories of our Norwegian Fishing Cat. It loved to swim and
> was
> hard to keep out of the water. These cats were bred in Norway and Iceland
> and
> were trained to help fishermen capture the "one that got away." When a fish
> slipped off the hook, the cat would leap off the boat and with its webbed
> feet,
> "pounce" on the escaped cod or mackerel and bring it back. As a reward, the
> cat would get to eat an occasional fish.
>
> Olaf, our Norwegian Water Cat, spent his younger years aboard a fishing
> smack, diving in to retrieve the one that "almost" got away. In a typical
> day he
> would catch a dozen or more large fish, bringing them back to the boat. He
> more
> than earned his keep. But the cold water takes its toll.
>
> Our cat was retired after ten years of honorable service. Cat fishing is a
> young feline's game. My wife's uncle sent Olaf to us to live out his
> remaining
> years. He had developed arthritis and was retired to the balmy climes of
> upstate New York. Most of the fish he ate came out of cans. Olaf spent his
> summers
> paddling around our pond with an occasional jump into the Hudson River from
> our
> boat. Every few days we would throw him a couple of herring so he would
> feel
> at home.
>
> Olaf passed away quietly in has sleep, aged 21, after consuming 6 cans of
> brisling sardines. He had a smile on his whiskers and his breath smelled
> like a
> cannery. I can picture him today in Feline Valhalla attended by 70 nubile
> female kitties gorging on smoked salmon with a cream cheese chaser. It
> would be
> hard to find a more suitable boat pet.
>
> -----------------------
>
> For those that doubt the story of the Norwegian Fishing Cat, here is a
> passage from the Encyclopedia of Cats. Lumpkin, Susan and Seidensticker,
> John. 1991.
> Great Cats Majestic Creatures of the Wild. Rodale Press, Pa. Pgs 40, 172,
> and
> 173.
>
>
> THE   FISHING   CAT:   A   MOST   UNUSUAL   FELINE
>
> APPEARANCE / SIZE:
> This cat has a deep-chested body and comparatively short legs.
> The front toes are partially webbed and the claws protrude slightly, even
> when fully retracted. Small rounded ears are set well back on the large,
> broad
> head. The fur is short and course with gray or olive-brown background,
> covered
> with small black spots. A male weighs 24 to 27 pounds, while the females
> are
> smaller and weigh 13 to 16 pounds. The tail is unusually thick and muscular
> near
> the base, and is less then one-third of the animal's head and body length.
>
> HABITAT / DISTRIBUTION:
> This cat is usually associated with areas of thick cover near water, in
> marshes, mangroves, and densely vegetated areas along rivers and streams.
> It has a
> discontinuous distribution in Asia. It is found in Southwest India, Sri
> Lanka,
> countries of the southern Himalayas, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Thailand, Burma,
> China, and the islands of Sumatra and Java. Despite this broad range, the
> real
> distribution of this animal is quite limited as the species is strongly
> tied to
> areas of suitable wetland habitat.
>
> DIET:
> These cats have been seen in the wild crouching on rocks and sand banks
> using
> a paw to scoop out fish. They have also been observed seizing fish with
> their
> mouths. They have also been reported to dive deeply for prey. Their
> powerful
> build and strong swimming ability enable it to take a wide range of prey.
> They
> are said to be able to kill calves, dogs, birds, small mammals, snakes,
> snails, and of course fish.
>
> The Fishing Cat belongs to the Panthera lineage within the Feline Felidae
> family. It is classified under the scientific name Felis Viverrina.
>
> --------------------------
>
> Here is a quote from the Norsk Skovkattering, Danmark, a Danish cat
> fanciers
> magazine.
>
> "There are many similarities between the Forest Cat and the Norwegian lynx.
> The most apparent of these is that they are both big, long-legged cats with
> large ruffs, and tufts at the tips of their ears. Moreover they both like
> water,
> and the stories of swimming Forest cats who catch their own fish in lakes
> and
> rivers are innumerable. Locals often refer to them as "Water Cats" or
> "Fishing
> Cats." The Forest cat evidently utilizes the same methods as the Norwegian
> lynx when it goes fishing."
>
> ---------------------------
>
> So there are two theories about the origin of the Norwegian Fishing Cat.
> The
> first is that some cat loving Norwegian sailors brought a few breeding
> pairs
> of the fishing cats home from trips to Asia during the 1800s. Over the
> years
> the cats acclimated themselves to Norwegian weather but retained their
> fishing
> instincts. Although Norway is quite far north, the West coast is washed by
> the
> Gulf Stream and the winter weather is surprisingly mild. This is especially
> true of the Lofoten Islands, the prime fishing area. The second theory is
> that
> the Fishing Cat is simply a variation of the Norwegian Forest Cat or
> Norwegian
> Lynx who adapted to a more marine environment. Or perhaps they are both the
> same species. I'm sure DNA testing could tell.
>
> Larry Z
>
>
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>



-- 
Regards,

Sonny
http://www.sonc.com
http://sonc.stumbleupon.com/
Natchitoches, Louisiana
USA