Comments on: fishing cat

fishing cat

naxosaxur — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 16:18:45 -0800

forum.ma.ru thread on a russian couple who adopted and are raising a fishing cat in their home. Seventy-nine pages of awesome photos of the cat playing, eating, and hunting. Babelfish translation of thread starts here (NSFW warning: many visceral pictures to make animal cruelty activists [and vegetarians] squirm, and one picture of lady taking a bath with bigcat in murky water).

By: matteo

matteo — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 16:27:12 -0800

look at that fucker's head -- it doesn't even look like a cat, it looks like a tiger coming soon on mefi: Russian Couple Tragically Mistakes Siberian Tiger For Kitty, Is Eaten

By: notmydesk

notmydesk — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 16:28:47 -0800

That's crazy. Someone's gonna lose their face at some point. (And, I'm a vegetarian, I don't have a problem with animals eating other animals. In fact, I don't really even have a problem with people eating animals. I just don't eat animals myself.)

By: brundlefly

brundlefly — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 16:29:40 -0800

Gorgeous animal. Never heard of these things before. Thanks, naxosaxur!

By: RufusW

RufusW — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 16:30:31 -0800

I want one.

By: borkingchikapa

borkingchikapa — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 16:33:01 -0800

I'm glad that woman is naked in one picture.

By: fire&wings

fire&wings — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 16:37:48 -0800

Wow. That thing is beautiful....but also weird. It's eyes are too close together and it looks like it has a big nose somehow. It almost looks like a bear in some shots.

By: phi phi

phi phi — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 16:38:04 -0800

That house is a breeding ground for bacteria.....

By: twiggy

twiggy — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 16:40:03 -0800

Anybody made it to pages 13 and 14? Holy chicken destroyer...

By: bim

bim — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 16:48:12 -0800

I think that gal could learn something from the Sigfried and Roy experience. Wild animals aren't pets. Sooner or later, things are going to take a bad turn IMHO.

By: annaramma

annaramma — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 16:48:27 -0800

That's an amazing animal, it's surreal to see it in a domestic setting. Second that notmydesk.

By: runkelfinker

runkelfinker — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 16:56:00 -0800

My favourite is.

By: theredpen

theredpen — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 16:56:57 -0800

That seems unsafe, yet cool. I particularly like the photos of it eyeing the table with food on it, then the table being cleared, then the gigantic cat lying down and licking the table. I also thought it was great when they got the leopard-print sheets. Something funny about a cat liking water. Our domestic versions get upset about a drop or two.

By: theredpen

theredpen — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 16:57:23 -0800

I bet they don't have the same problems with squirrels and mice that we do!!

By: brundlefly

brundlefly — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:01:00 -0800

Or fish.

By: rxrfrx

rxrfrx — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:01:09 -0800

theredpen, a regular-type cat will take care of that nicely.

By: StrasbourgSecaucus

StrasbourgSecaucus — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:02:53 -0800

i think the white cat in the ad at the bottom is the best pic:

By: theredpen

theredpen — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:03:44 -0800

I know; my cat is old. Occasionally she leaves one in the toilet but she can't get the ones in the attic. I am considering a fishing cat, or perhaps a lion, to deal with rodents when we have to get a new cat.

By: fire&wings

fire&wings — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:05:55 -0800

That little cat is brave. Well worth viewing until the end.

By: dhammond

dhammond — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:07:40 -0800

It's eyes are too close together and it looks like it has a big nose somehow. It almost looks like a bear in some shots. catty!

By: HyperBlue

HyperBlue — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:09:06 -0800

WTF where do these people shop?

By: Slarty Bartfast

Slarty Bartfast — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:10:50 -0800

Anybody made it to pages 13 and 14? Holy chicken destroyer... Well, I'm off to buy my cat a live chicken right now. My poor, neutered, indoor kitty deserves to have that experience at least once in her life.

By: brundlefly

brundlefly — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:10:59 -0800

I know! Those wall tiles are ridiculous!

By: Slarty Bartfast

Slarty Bartfast — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:12:08 -0800

"neutered kitty..... her life" that doesn't fit, does it?

By: theredpen

theredpen — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:13:06 -0800

Wait until you see the whole cows (?) piled up outside their door. I'm sort of impressed with how laid-back these Russians are ... my germ-phobia is barely letting me look at the pictures.

By: StrasbourgSecaucus

StrasbourgSecaucus — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:17:18 -0800

holy shit

By: edgeways

edgeways — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:22:41 -0800

That white mouse on page 17 looks pretty resigned.

By: the_bone

the_bone — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:24:36 -0800

In Soviet Russia, cat fish for YOU! in all seriousness, this is an awesome link.

By: edgeways

edgeways — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:27:14 -0800

You know I don't think I'd do this, the simularities between a floating penis and some twitching rodent strikes me as quite small to a feline, and with a feline of this calaber, well... humm

By: namret

namret — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:28:19 -0800

I think the man is taking a chance having the fishing cat watch him in the bath tub.

By: Bugg

Bugg — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:32:23 -0800

Things like this always remind me of that dude that lived with the grizzly bears in Alaska. Yeah, it didn't work out so well.

By: DragonBoy

DragonBoy — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:32:58 -0800

Don't these people have American Idol to distract them from doing interesting things like this?

By: snofoam

snofoam — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:34:11 -0800

luckily, the black cat has lasers in its eyes.

By: snofoam

snofoam — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:36:49 -0800

whoa, they got a raccoon, too! and a decent amount of meat.

By: Mayor Curley

Mayor Curley — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:39:44 -0800

HE HAF BIG CAT IN BATHROOM, SEE HIS HUY! I LIKE!

By: gottabefunky

gottabefunky — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:42:04 -0800

OMG TEH CUTE!!!

By: jamesonandwater

jamesonandwater — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:42:52 -0800

Wow. Excellent post.

By: GoodJob!

GoodJob! — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:47:12 -0800

House cats are the most creepiest animal known to mankind.

By: smackfu

smackfu — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 17:53:31 -0800

This one is my favorite. It could be on a motivational poster titled "Dominance".

By: clockzero

clockzero — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 18:21:31 -0800

Fucking awesome! Thanks, naxosaxur.

By: Arch_Stanton

Arch_Stanton — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 18:44:32 -0800

Countdown to Ceiling Fishing Cat photoshop...3...2...1...

By: NotMyselfRightNow

NotMyselfRightNow — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 19:07:05 -0800

This is what happens when Ceiling Cat pops his head through that hole one too many times.

By: redteam

redteam — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 19:07:58 -0800

It's all in Russian.

By: jamjam

jamjam — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 19:22:36 -0800

Amazing. Half again as big is a lot more than half again as scary. As a kitten, its face was almost exactly like an adult domestic cat's, and here I was thinking our cats aren't really domesticated. If you'd like cat in your tub that makes you feel a bit less like running nakedscreaming through the house, try a Turkish Van.

By: sidereal

sidereal — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 19:23:08 -0800

Babelfish will sorta translate it for you. Wow, great post, what a beautiful animal. I want one. Want want want. omg chicken I wonder what kind of sound it makes, if any? Does it Meow Really Loud? MEOW. Cough like a lion? Or something you've never heard, like "gnrreeeeEEEEEEeeeeoooughbipbip"? Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and my little kitty is laying on my chest staring at me. I don't think I would like it if Fishing Cat did that. With or without the yawning. Jesus.

By: prostyle

prostyle — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 19:53:03 -0800

That's pretty wild, kind of like having a wolf dog... risky business. Good thing my swimming cat is of another variety.

By: furiousthought

furiousthought — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 20:08:57 -0800

Aw! Wow. I love that it's such good friends with their domestic cat. Eight-year-old me is insanely jealous.

By: Alvy Ampersand

Alvy Ampersand — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 20:31:31 -0800

They forgot to post the pic taken immediately after this one, where the fishing kittens are shoulder deep in the soft, succulent belly of their brave but doomed nurse. Remember: Every time you ~~masturbate~~ bring a large, wild animal into your home, that large, wild animal will kill and eat your other pets.

By: sp dinsmoor

sp dinsmoor — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 20:35:38 -0800

Ceiling cat's Russian cousin.

By: kosher_jenny

kosher_jenny — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 20:43:00 -0800

Woah. Those are some crazy Russians. And that is one ballsy house cat. Still, those are some cute kittens...

By: Civil_Disobedient

Civil_Disobedient — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 21:11:40 -0800

Not to be confused with the fisher cat from New England. Certainly less cuddly.

By: hototogisu

hototogisu — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 21:16:18 -0800

So, what makes an animal inherently wild? Why wouldn't a fishing cat raised as a house cat act mildly towards its owners? *totally confused*

By: Ritchie

Ritchie — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 21:37:08 -0800

You asked for it Arch_Stanton

By: MrZero

MrZero — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 21:39:35 -0800

Why wouldn't a fishing cat raised as a house cat act mildly towards its owners? It lacks thousands of years of domestication in its bloodline.

By: hototogisu

hototogisu — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 21:50:26 -0800

Obviously. I'm at a loss for exactly what genes are being domesticated out of the cat. Every house cat I've ever known has been a rapacious hunter and knave--honestly, what's different?

By: jouke

jouke — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 21:53:57 -0800

This reminds me of the NYT article about Savannah cats; cross between a domestic cat and an African Serval. Apparently they like to turn on the tap when you're away and play with the resulting water. And just mess about with your stuff. So, what makes an animal inherently wild? Why wouldn't a fishing cat raised as a house cat act mildly towards its owners? Domestication is partly a process of selection of the right genes; partly it presupposes some kind of basic behaviour in the species that fits in with domestication. A dog for instance has been bred for a long time to select behaviour that goes along well with living freely with humans. This domestication used basic behaviour that dogs have within groups of dogs in the wild. I think domestic cats extend kitten behaviour well into adult life just to manipulate (unwittingly) humans into providing food. So it's by no means certain that this cat will not attack its owners (as people have pointed out), eat small children or the domestic cat, etc. Great post btw; that's one beautiful fearsome beast. I wonder how a chance encounter with a dog would fare. Now it's just a question of time before people in the west will start breeding them (illegally).

By: quin

quin — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 22:09:38 -0800

I've seen my kitties play like this. The funny thing is that based on the posturing in this and several of the other pictures, i'm pretty sure Fisher Kitty thinks the black and white domestic is the boss. (Specifically, the way it's pulled it's head way back to avoid getting thwacked while reaching out to paw at the domestic.) All that being said; Awww who's a big kitty? whooo's a biiiig kitty?

By: maryh

maryh — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 22:33:40 -0800

Who's a sweet kissy kissy puddy tat?

By: Ynoxas

Ynoxas — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 23:27:38 -0800

Wow. Not my thing, but good on them. I guess. Put me in the "something bad is bound to happen" camp. Hopefully I'm wrong.

By: dabitch

dabitch — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 00:32:01 -0800

I'm in quin's camp. That fisher cat thinks he's the kitten and black house cat is boss. ah koochie koochie koo widdle-big kittywiddy

By: strawberryviagra

strawberryviagra — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 06:21:58 -0800

By: sidereal

sidereal — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 06:43:00 -0800

It's hard to tell from the translations and the missing dates on the photos, but it may be that black cat is fishing cat's surrogate mommy - I see black cat nursing fishing kittens. If this is the case, black cat is probably pretty safe.

By: snofoam

snofoam — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 07:28:24 -0800

re: domestication, i think it's a popular hypothesis is that dogs actually domesticated themselves, although i don't know that it's something that has been or could be proven. i think one reason was the speed with which they became domesticated was really quick and it made more sense that friendly dogs selecting to hang out with people would lead to domesticated dogs faster than people trying to domesticate wolves. i can't find the article where i read about this first, but the guy interviewed here thinks the dogs did it.

By: tommasz

tommasz — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 07:32:57 -0800

sidereal, I find it amazing how the fishing cat acts around its "mother'. It wouldn't seem unusual except for the fact it's HUGE in comparison. I guess cats don't consider size to be much of an issue.

By: sperose

sperose — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 07:42:07 -0800

Good god, I had a nightmare the other night about domesticated cats coming after me. .... Guess I'm not sleeping tonight either. Scary motherfucker.

By: Civil_Disobedient

Civil_Disobedient — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 07:59:21 -0800

I knew a woman who owned an ocelot. She would take it for walks in the city (yes, a city cat). It had a huge jeweled collar that, along with his pretty pelt, made him a walking status symbol. The owner almost always had scratches on her leg from when "kitty" got too frisky.

By: zusty

zusty — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 08:19:53 -0800

Yeah, Coppinger's a big proponent of dogs domesticating themselves (or at least placing themselves in a position to be domesticated); he's probably at least mostly right. It makes a lot of sense when you consider that it's really hard to have a breeding population you can select from for tameness (like the russian fox experiment) when the local wolves won't let you get close to them. The gist is that wolves discovered people's garbage as a food source, and thereby reduced their flee distance. That put them into contact with humans, and made them available as domestication candidates. Also, the fishing cat, if it's been raised from nursing-age in a house with people and its foster mom black cat, will almost definitely never give the people or the cat any trouble. It's imprinted pretty solidly on them. It might play rough, but it's not going to snap one day or anything. It might not be any fun around strangers, though.

By: Busithoth

Busithoth — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 08:53:24 -0800

awesome thread. that looks like a pretty happy feline. great stuff, thanks.

By: vito90

vito90 — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 10:45:02 -0800

Can kind of looks like Mussolini.

By: jamjam

jamjam — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 11:08:06 -0800

So is the essence of domestication retention of juvenile (if not infantile) characteristics, and does that make human beings a self-domesticated species? If so, how much further can it go?

By: aqueousdan

aqueousdan — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 12:19:25 -0800

I'm guessing from the translation that the other kitten died :0( FELEK!Spasibo after the the vopros.Vtoroy kitten was brother. Now already it does not exist Especially sad after a photo on the previous page of the two kittens looking at each other with the caption: But here is photo "how do you do, brother!" *gulps down lump in throat* Still, a couple of excellent mis-translations later and I was laughing like a donkey: "roofing to THE FACTORY OF STARS to descend?" "dismantlings in the house." "pancake, for the minute departed." Great post!

By: deborah

deborah — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 12:50:17 -0800

Awww! I want one!

By: evilelvis

evilelvis — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 13:08:54 -0800

Dude I would so get a leash and walk around outside with that thing.

By: dgaicun

dgaicun — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 13:35:15 -0800

Aww, big kitty givin wuv nibbows. Ha ha, ok kitty that's enough. . . enou. . . enough kitty. OW! OK, kitty enough! OH GOD!! AHHHHHH*gurgle*HHhhhhhnn*gurgle*nnn..n....

By: zusty

zusty — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 18:10:58 -0800

jamjam: Possibly! Coppinger definitely thinks that about dogs and wolves (specifically juvenilization; as in wolves have some motor patterns & abilities dogs don't, but dogs have more than wolf puppies). And since behaving more like a baby makes you friendlier, that's a good way to go about domestication. In regards to humans, eh, domestication generally means 'bred to live with humans', so that's a bit not-useful. If you mean we're neotenized, maybe so! There's sure some selection for that in women, at least. If that spreads to men, then it's Eloi all the way, I imagine.

By: etoile

etoile — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 13:12:44 -0800

jouke: Savannahs are the epitome of awesome, at least amongst easily-attainable breeds. They're absolutely huge (probably about the same size as fishing cat, but sleeker) and can hold their own against a dog in a fight.

By: artifarce

artifarce — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 15:08:59 -0800

http://foto.mail.ru/mail/devis60/131/i-159.jpg So says my daughter: Oooh, a jaguar catching fish in the BATHTUB. Kinda scary...and not cool." Awesome pictures. And very cool. ;)

By: artifarce

artifarce — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 15:11:45 -0800

The owner almost always had scratches on her leg from when "kitty" got too frisky. Sounds like what I had from my "domesticated" house cats... still have scars from scratches 10 years ago.

By: taosbat

taosbat — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 18:21:11 -0800

I'm just glad my old manx-boy never met a hella cat like that. He'd have said [in cat] something like, "What choo doin' in my yard, pink-nose-funny-ears?" I'm sure the result would have been similar to when he hit up german shepherds and racoons for trespass: an expensive visit to the vet. Well, and a manx cat happily satisfied with battle...