What's new pussycat?
November 4, 2011 10:47 AM Subscribe
Cat, meet CAT! Photos of a mountain lion meeting Zeus, an 11 year old Maine Coon cat, only separated by a sliding glass door. Mountain lions are fairly common in Colorado, and as people develop in their territory, we'll see more and more encounters. A list of fatal cougar attacks in North America. Some facts about Puma concolor.
Well fine, screw you then. I'll go hang out with statue cat. Statue cat understands me.
posted by Naberius at 10:53 AM on November 4, 2011 [35 favorites]
posted by Naberius at 10:53 AM on November 4, 2011 [35 favorites]
I think the coon may be thinking "Huh, the statue came to life. Good for it."
posted by DU at 10:54 AM on November 4, 2011 [19 favorites]
posted by DU at 10:54 AM on November 4, 2011 [19 favorites]
Main Coon is thinking "Pfft, I could take you, I just don't wanna."
posted by The Whelk at 10:54 AM on November 4, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 10:54 AM on November 4, 2011 [4 favorites]
this is already my favorite thread today.
posted by sweetkid at 10:55 AM on November 4, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by sweetkid at 10:55 AM on November 4, 2011 [2 favorites]
THIS IS AWESOME. MADE LIFE WORTH LIVING. WILL USE ALL CAPS FOR THE REST OF THE DAY TO CONVEY HAPPINESS.
posted by josher71 at 10:57 AM on November 4, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by josher71 at 10:57 AM on November 4, 2011 [5 favorites]
SOON
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 10:57 AM on November 4, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 10:57 AM on November 4, 2011 [4 favorites]
I'm always astonished how similar house cats are to the big cats.
posted by splatta at 10:58 AM on November 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by splatta at 10:58 AM on November 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
Rick.
Rick.
Rick.
I have some relatives coming to visit.
posted by BigHeartedGuy at 10:59 AM on November 4, 2011 [77 favorites]
Rick.
Rick.
I have some relatives coming to visit.
posted by BigHeartedGuy at 10:59 AM on November 4, 2011 [77 favorites]
Oooh! Missed it by that much!
posted by blurker at 11:00 AM on November 4, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by blurker at 11:00 AM on November 4, 2011 [3 favorites]
I'm always astonished how similar house cats are to the big cats.
Pumas are actually "little cats" - they're more closely related to housecats than they are to lions and tigers.
posted by murphy slaw at 11:00 AM on November 4, 2011
Pumas are actually "little cats" - they're more closely related to housecats than they are to lions and tigers.
posted by murphy slaw at 11:00 AM on November 4, 2011
Last year my dog did this with a bear. She was MUCH more concerned than this cat seems to be.
Cute pictures. I will show my better half, who appreciates cuteness far more than I do.
posted by Stagger Lee at 11:03 AM on November 4, 2011
Cute pictures. I will show my better half, who appreciates cuteness far more than I do.
posted by Stagger Lee at 11:03 AM on November 4, 2011
WHAT COLOR IS THE COUGAR? GOLD? NO! BROWN? NO! RED? NO! THE ANSWER IS TAWNY .
posted by specialagentwebb at 11:04 AM on November 4, 2011 [14 favorites]
posted by specialagentwebb at 11:04 AM on November 4, 2011 [14 favorites]
I did the web design/whatever for the Cougar Fund a few years back, they have some good info published on their pages.
posted by maxwelton at 11:05 AM on November 4, 2011
posted by maxwelton at 11:05 AM on November 4, 2011
Aw man, you gotta watch out for those. Travel in a group and don't let a man lag behind an... wait. Oh, yeah, you mean those cougars. Alrighty, yeah.
Funnily enough, the advice to driving them away is about the same.
1. Don't turn your back
2. Make eye contact
3. Make a ton of noise and look like a crazy person
posted by Slackermagee at 11:08 AM on November 4, 2011 [6 favorites]
Funnily enough, the advice to driving them away is about the same.
1. Don't turn your back
2. Make eye contact
3. Make a ton of noise and look like a crazy person
posted by Slackermagee at 11:08 AM on November 4, 2011 [6 favorites]
"You're a kitty! Yes you are! And you're sitting there. Hi kitty!"
posted by villanelles at dawn at 11:10 AM on November 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by villanelles at dawn at 11:10 AM on November 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
When I hear the word "puma", all I can think of is Tommy Smothers obsessing over the word while comically digressing from some old folk song (something about the risks of building a railroad through the mountains). If I find that Smothers Brothers performance, I'll post it here. Poomah!
posted by oneswellfoop at 11:10 AM on November 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by oneswellfoop at 11:10 AM on November 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
Poomah!
"Charles Moffit... I feared not."
posted by JHarris at 11:12 AM on November 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
"Charles Moffit... I feared not."
posted by JHarris at 11:12 AM on November 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
Slackermage: I googled the names of the adults listed in the fatalities page. Your advice did not work for at least two of them.
A mother fought a cougar with a stick for over an hour to save her 6 year old son. Help arrived while she was still alive and fighting, and killed the cougar, but she was fatally wounded.
In another one, a group of cyclist had to bash a cougar over the head with rocks, sticks and bicycles before it let go of another woman it was dragging by the head.
Finally, the autopsy for a 35 year old competitive cyclist determined that he had died from the removal of organs from his chest and abdomen. No idea if there was a struggle in this one.
This were all fit able bodied young adults, killed by cats weighing less than 150 pounds.
posted by Ayn Rand and God at 11:16 AM on November 4, 2011
A mother fought a cougar with a stick for over an hour to save her 6 year old son. Help arrived while she was still alive and fighting, and killed the cougar, but she was fatally wounded.
In another one, a group of cyclist had to bash a cougar over the head with rocks, sticks and bicycles before it let go of another woman it was dragging by the head.
Finally, the autopsy for a 35 year old competitive cyclist determined that he had died from the removal of organs from his chest and abdomen. No idea if there was a struggle in this one.
This were all fit able bodied young adults, killed by cats weighing less than 150 pounds.
posted by Ayn Rand and God at 11:16 AM on November 4, 2011
Best part is when he goes back to tell Mommy all about his adventure. Mommy was there, too.
posted by likeso at 11:18 AM on November 4, 2011
posted by likeso at 11:18 AM on November 4, 2011
This demonstrates how much territory means to cats -- the Maine Coon is entirely at ease, whereas the cougar displays relatively submissive body language (ears pinned back, lowered head and body). We are witnessing the "whoa, I didn't know this was your seat, no trouble man!" of the kingdom of felis.
My cats encountered a deer once, in much the same way. Both of them immediately started making the "I'm staring at a bird" chirp, as if they were convinced they could catch and eat that thing if only that infernal window weren't in the way. Instinct >= size, I guess.
posted by vorfeed at 11:18 AM on November 4, 2011 [12 favorites]
My cats encountered a deer once, in much the same way. Both of them immediately started making the "I'm staring at a bird" chirp, as if they were convinced they could catch and eat that thing if only that infernal window weren't in the way. Instinct >= size, I guess.
posted by vorfeed at 11:18 AM on November 4, 2011 [12 favorites]
If that was my house, I'd be buying thicker glass right now.
posted by tommasz at 11:24 AM on November 4, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by tommasz at 11:24 AM on November 4, 2011 [2 favorites]
Are any of you thinking, well, that may be a problem for people out west, but not me, I'm east of the ol' Mississip? Are you? Well, sorry about that.
posted by Halloween Jack at 11:27 AM on November 4, 2011
posted by Halloween Jack at 11:27 AM on November 4, 2011
If that was my house, I'd be looking for a different house.
posted by Eyebeams at 11:27 AM on November 4, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Eyebeams at 11:27 AM on November 4, 2011 [2 favorites]
Funnily enough, the advice to driving them away is about the same.
1. Don't turn your back
2. Make eye contact
3. Make a ton of noise and look like a crazy person
4. Don't blink. Blink and you're dead.
posted by randomination at 11:29 AM on November 4, 2011 [14 favorites]
1. Don't turn your back
2. Make eye contact
3. Make a ton of noise and look like a crazy person
4. Don't blink. Blink and you're dead.
posted by randomination at 11:29 AM on November 4, 2011 [14 favorites]
Both of them immediately started making the "I'm staring at a bird" chirp, as if they were convinced they could catch and eat that thing if only that infernal window weren't in the way. Instinct >= size, I guess.
One of my cats made this noise at the big yellow backhoe that was tearing up my neighbor's driveway. I'm sure if I'd opened the front door, there would be workmen scrambling to safety from the upside-down backhoe being rapidly shaken back and forth, wheels and hydraulic hoses flying off in every direction.
posted by FishBike at 11:29 AM on November 4, 2011 [12 favorites]
One of my cats made this noise at the big yellow backhoe that was tearing up my neighbor's driveway. I'm sure if I'd opened the front door, there would be workmen scrambling to safety from the upside-down backhoe being rapidly shaken back and forth, wheels and hydraulic hoses flying off in every direction.
posted by FishBike at 11:29 AM on November 4, 2011 [12 favorites]
I know the cougar would kill me, but I want to snuggle it. This is an impressive mechanism for getting human prey.
posted by jeather at 11:32 AM on November 4, 2011 [20 favorites]
posted by jeather at 11:32 AM on November 4, 2011 [20 favorites]
For whatever reason the Wildlife service in Oklahoma has always taken the hard stand that there are no long tailed cats in Oklahoma and those that think they see them are just mistaking bobcats for cougars.
This past Wednesday, one was hit by a car on a highway in the smack middle of the state. No word yet on how the Wildlife Deptpartment plans to explain this one away.
Maine Coon - you are awesome!
posted by domino at 11:33 AM on November 4, 2011 [2 favorites]
This past Wednesday, one was hit by a car on a highway in the smack middle of the state. No word yet on how the Wildlife Deptpartment plans to explain this one away.
Maine Coon - you are awesome!
posted by domino at 11:33 AM on November 4, 2011 [2 favorites]
I love how unconcerned the house cat is!
That's not a house cat. Maine coon. HUGE difference. Nothing fazes those suckers. Nothing.
posted by blucevalo at 11:34 AM on November 4, 2011 [4 favorites]
That's not a house cat. Maine coon. HUGE difference. Nothing fazes those suckers. Nothing.
posted by blucevalo at 11:34 AM on November 4, 2011 [4 favorites]
Maine Coon cat = Honey Badger of cats.
posted by Jumpin Jack Flash at 11:39 AM on November 4, 2011 [13 favorites]
posted by Jumpin Jack Flash at 11:39 AM on November 4, 2011 [13 favorites]
I took a backpacking class years ago, and for one of the classes a state park ranger came in to talk about mountain lions and other wildlife dangers in our local area (San Diego, CA). His non-serious advice for the best defense against mountain lion attack if you're going hiking: Always go with someone smaller than yourself. Since I'm 6'-5", I like to tell that story to new people I go hiking with just before we hit the trail.
posted by LionIndex at 11:39 AM on November 4, 2011 [7 favorites]
posted by LionIndex at 11:39 AM on November 4, 2011 [7 favorites]
Okay not a cougar, but two weeks ago a local photographer caught a lynx kitten crossing US Hwy 129 near the NC/TN border. Yay kitties!
posted by workerant at 11:42 AM on November 4, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by workerant at 11:42 AM on November 4, 2011 [2 favorites]
I assume I'm not the only one waiting for BitterOldPunk to weigh in on this....
posted by mudpuppie at 11:43 AM on November 4, 2011
posted by mudpuppie at 11:43 AM on November 4, 2011
There were tons of cougar sightings within the city limits of my town (pop. 375,000) this past summer, and a toddler was attacked and killed by one up on the west coast, about 100 miles from here. When out in the woods we definitely make sure our 9-year-old keeps close to us.
posted by KokuRyu at 11:43 AM on November 4, 2011
posted by KokuRyu at 11:43 AM on November 4, 2011
as if they were convinced they could catch and eat that thing if only that infernal window weren't in the way.
One of my cats does this.
When he's looking at the neighborhood children.
posted by Cyrano at 11:51 AM on November 4, 2011 [8 favorites]
One of my cats does this.
When he's looking at the neighborhood children.
posted by Cyrano at 11:51 AM on November 4, 2011 [8 favorites]
His non-serious advice for the best defense against mountain lion attack if you're going hiking: Always go with someone smaller than yourself.
Other version: You don't have to out run the mountain lion. You only need to be faster than at least one other person you're hiking with.
posted by webhund at 11:56 AM on November 4, 2011
Other version: You don't have to out run the mountain lion. You only need to be faster than at least one other person you're hiking with.
posted by webhund at 11:56 AM on November 4, 2011
Mountain Lions sure are beautiful animals.
posted by Jibuzaemon at 11:57 AM on November 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Jibuzaemon at 11:57 AM on November 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
Wow, I just noticed that I made an eponysterical post...
posted by Eekacat at 12:07 PM on November 4, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by Eekacat at 12:07 PM on November 4, 2011 [5 favorites]
And this is why my Mom carries a loaded weapon when she goes outside at night. A cougar left them a scat "message" on their porch, just to let them know he was around...
posted by kamikazegopher at 12:11 PM on November 4, 2011
posted by kamikazegopher at 12:11 PM on November 4, 2011
Okay not a cougar, but two weeks ago a local photographer caught a lynx kitten crossing US Hwy 129 near the NC/TN border. Yay kitties!
Awesome. I was impressed by this photo of a cougar crossing the highway during the wildfire we had this summer -- everyone knows they live around here, but sightings are rare.
posted by vorfeed at 12:17 PM on November 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
Awesome. I was impressed by this photo of a cougar crossing the highway during the wildfire we had this summer -- everyone knows they live around here, but sightings are rare.
posted by vorfeed at 12:17 PM on November 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
I love the Maine Coon. All "Yeah, you BETTER run." And the mountain lion all "Man, that's a tough sumbitch. I'm not messin' with him."
posted by Rev. Syung Myung Me at 12:32 PM on November 4, 2011
posted by Rev. Syung Myung Me at 12:32 PM on November 4, 2011
I know the cougar would kill me, but I want to snuggle it.
I know just what you mean: they have the same basic proportions as a regular cat, only bigger. And they can purr (unlike lions and tigers), it would seem that other than the mauling and killing, they'd be awesome pets.
Then I realize that as I'm sitting here, typing this, my smallish Siamese has effectively taken over the more than half the bed by virtue of her aggressive ability to sleep wherever she wants. A cougar would be awful, because of a 9 pound cat can displace a full grown adult, what could a 150 pound kitty do?
Plus, it would totally change the dynamics of cat-attacking-the-blanket-monster-that-is-my-feet game to something a bit more terrifying.
posted by quin at 12:36 PM on November 4, 2011 [7 favorites]
I know just what you mean: they have the same basic proportions as a regular cat, only bigger. And they can purr (unlike lions and tigers), it would seem that other than the mauling and killing, they'd be awesome pets.
Then I realize that as I'm sitting here, typing this, my smallish Siamese has effectively taken over the more than half the bed by virtue of her aggressive ability to sleep wherever she wants. A cougar would be awful, because of a 9 pound cat can displace a full grown adult, what could a 150 pound kitty do?
Plus, it would totally change the dynamics of cat-attacking-the-blanket-monster-that-is-my-feet game to something a bit more terrifying.
posted by quin at 12:36 PM on November 4, 2011 [7 favorites]
Metafilter totally changes the dynamics of the cat-attacking-the-blanket-monster-that-is-my-feet game.
posted by onhazier at 12:57 PM on November 4, 2011
posted by onhazier at 12:57 PM on November 4, 2011
I think cats can either purr or roar, not both. As someone who lives in a sixplex, it's probably best that my pets don't roar. (I can just see the askmefi questions, though. "My neighbour's cat roars all day, and my parrot has lost its feathers. What can I do?")
I think that if you had a 150 pound cat, you'd need two king size beds, and you'd get a quarter of one of them. You'd just have to hope that the cat didn't want to sit on your stomach or head and knead you. A painful and yet adorable way to die.
posted by jeather at 12:59 PM on November 4, 2011 [2 favorites]
I think that if you had a 150 pound cat, you'd need two king size beds, and you'd get a quarter of one of them. You'd just have to hope that the cat didn't want to sit on your stomach or head and knead you. A painful and yet adorable way to die.
posted by jeather at 12:59 PM on November 4, 2011 [2 favorites]
Jesus, how big a dog do you need to keep a 150 lb. kitteh in line?
posted by KingEdRa at 1:00 PM on November 4, 2011
posted by KingEdRa at 1:00 PM on November 4, 2011
Oh, and Halloween Jack, here are more recent articles about Mountain Lions on the East Coast.
Mountain Lion Killed in Conn. had Walked from S. Dakota
Possible Mountain Lion Sighting in DC
Round Hill (VA) resident claims sighting of mountain lion
posted by onhazier at 1:02 PM on November 4, 2011
Mountain Lion Killed in Conn. had Walked from S. Dakota
Possible Mountain Lion Sighting in DC
Round Hill (VA) resident claims sighting of mountain lion
posted by onhazier at 1:02 PM on November 4, 2011
I think cats can either purr or roar, not both.
Except sometimes they scream.
posted by sweetkid at 1:14 PM on November 4, 2011
Except sometimes they scream.
posted by sweetkid at 1:14 PM on November 4, 2011
>how big a dog do you need to keep a 150 lb. kitteh in line?<
Start with Cerberus and work your way up.
posted by twidget at 1:18 PM on November 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
Start with Cerberus and work your way up.
posted by twidget at 1:18 PM on November 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
my mom's co-worker had a clear sighting of a mountain lion in northern new jersey.
its sooooo how I am going to die, some where in the sierras trying to snorgle a kitty....
posted by supermedusa at 1:30 PM on November 4, 2011
its sooooo how I am going to die, some where in the sierras trying to snorgle a kitty....
posted by supermedusa at 1:30 PM on November 4, 2011
The puma has fangs of death and a body as dense as steel...and the best it can do at a Maine Coon is swat at it and hiss? Bad cat!
posted by spamguy at 1:31 PM on November 4, 2011
posted by spamguy at 1:31 PM on November 4, 2011
The Beast in the Garden
"... the story it tells – of a community struggling to coexist with cougars, and of lessons learned from a tragic death – is more timely than ever.
Cougars (aka mountain lions, pumas, panthers) are returning to places they have not been for a century or more. This is exciting news, but it means that a growing number of Americans must learn to live with these potentially dangerous predators...."
Splendid book. Nobody thought it would happen 'til it did: deer move into urban areas. There, with no predators, they change from hiding in the daytime and browsing at dawn and dusk to browsing all day long. Then their predators come ....
posted by hank at 2:45 PM on November 4, 2011
"... the story it tells – of a community struggling to coexist with cougars, and of lessons learned from a tragic death – is more timely than ever.
Cougars (aka mountain lions, pumas, panthers) are returning to places they have not been for a century or more. This is exciting news, but it means that a growing number of Americans must learn to live with these potentially dangerous predators...."
Splendid book. Nobody thought it would happen 'til it did: deer move into urban areas. There, with no predators, they change from hiding in the daytime and browsing at dawn and dusk to browsing all day long. Then their predators come ....
posted by hank at 2:45 PM on November 4, 2011
3. Make a ton of noise and look like a crazy person
posted by homunculus at 3:17 PM on November 4, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 3:17 PM on November 4, 2011 [3 favorites]
I know just what you mean: they have the same basic proportions as a regular cat, only bigger. And they can purr (unlike lions and tigers), it would seem that other than the mauling and killing, they'd be awesome pets.
There was a small zoo near Norman, OK that got most of their animals from people who used to have them as pets. They had a couple of mountain lions, adopted and kept in the house when they were cute kittens. The guide said they were given up to the zoo after one of them decided that the ceiling fan was prey and attacked it, bringing it crashing to the ground.
posted by weathergal at 11:45 PM on November 4, 2011
There was a small zoo near Norman, OK that got most of their animals from people who used to have them as pets. They had a couple of mountain lions, adopted and kept in the house when they were cute kittens. The guide said they were given up to the zoo after one of them decided that the ceiling fan was prey and attacked it, bringing it crashing to the ground.
posted by weathergal at 11:45 PM on November 4, 2011
Funnily enough, the advice to driving them away is about the same.
1. Don't turn your back
2. Make eye contact
3. Make a ton of noise and look like a crazy person
Same as in town.
posted by MuffinMan at 3:28 AM on November 5, 2011
1. Don't turn your back
2. Make eye contact
3. Make a ton of noise and look like a crazy person
Same as in town.
posted by MuffinMan at 3:28 AM on November 5, 2011
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posted by LarryC at 10:52 AM on November 4, 2011 [5 favorites]