Nearly all of us know about cats mimicking a snake’s hiss as a way of defending themselves. The snake is obviously known throughout the animal world as a dangerous creature. The whole defensive measure is based on that. It is also based on the sound of the snake.
The interesting thing about the cat is that it also mimics the snake’s appearance when curled up asleep.
I am referring to domestic tabby cats. The cat in the collage above is a small/medium sized wild cat, the ocelot, but it has a tabby-type coat. You don’t refer to wild cats as having tabby coats but they are. And the ocelot’s high contrast markings very much mimic the coiled snake.
It has been suggested that the tabby coat is not simply the best form of camouflage but that it goes a step further and is an imitation of the camouflage markings of a snake.
When a cat is sleeping it is vulnerable to attack. A large bird such an an eagle might see a curled cat as a snake and steer clear. Certainly in the wild, the ocelot curled up on a tree-stump looks uncannily like a snake from a distance. And the when the cat hisses, spits and wags his tail like a rattle snake the predator is suitable convinced.
See a magnificent serval hiss.
Photo originals descending order:
The wonders of nature. Very interesting.
Hi Jude, thanks for visiting and commenting. There is actually a lot of information on this site about cat behavior. The search box will find it. There are many decent books about cat behavior but they tend to be a little bit boring for me. I agree, if you live near a main road you have to keep your cat inside. The British don’t like to do it. In the US it is common. If you have garden space a catio is a nice compromise.
https://pictures-of-cats.org/our-new-cat-enclosure-or-catio.html
I’ve had my own little cat, Zowie, for almost five years, so gaining a small insight into her actions and what’s behind them is, to me, well overdue. Unfortunately, in the book I read, it doesn’t really go into the differences between an outdoor domestic cat and an indoor cat. I do know an indoor cat has more sounds as opposed to an outdoor. I know that one all too well LOL
A lot of people refer to me as ‘cruel’ for keeping Zowie indoors, but I live less than 20 feet from a main road where three cats have already been found this year. I’d rather spend money on good things for her, such as cat gyms, noisy balls (which are hidden from 9 pm-8 am!), and of course the good food.
So if you know of any other reads about cat behavior that are more indepth, I’d be very grateful. Jude xxx