Cats and Deer

[TXBryan]

For cat staff people; do your cats have a special relationship with your local deer?

We are currently staffing four felines and they all seem to have a special relationship with the local deer population. Arthur is not yet a year old and he and this little two and a-half year old buck seem to have a friendship.

 

[kozmic]

The feral cat that adopted us always had some very entertaining interactions with our local deer. Sometimes curiosity, sometimes foot stomping, sometimes playful sparring, but always a great viewing of nature at it's finest.
Sadly, we put him down in early spring. He lived his life on his terms and managed to survive the perils of country life for 12 years. Of course the local mouse, mole, vole, flying squirrel and baby rabbit populations have flourished.

 

[jeffrefrig]

When the “cat people” lived across the street the deer & their cats had no issues with each other. Even the fawns would kinda play together. My last dog hated both species. Actually this girl chases the deer out of the yard, and somehow she came back to the back door with a cat’s tail in her mouth. No tail bone, just about half of the skin & hair part. I have no idea. Cats usually will kick an average dog’s butt.

 

[steelslaver]

One of our cats plays with the deer that hang out around the place. He will stalk and pounce on their legs and they shake him off. I have seen them nose to nose

 

[Glenn R. McMannly]

Never had a use for cats.

Growing up they were a little girl’s animal. Good for keeping rat population on the farm down and not much more.

Men trained hunting dogs and took care of them. Much smarter than any cat. I’ll take a blue tick healer trained for pointing bird any day over one.

 

[30-30remchester]

Had a small kitten that would play with a 2-point mule deer buck. Somewhere we have a picture of the kitten rolling in the dirt, directly under the buck while the deer was bent down looking at the kitten. They would jump and chase each other. The kitten would crawl up an Aspen tree and they would be nose to nose. When the kitten went higher up the tree, the deer backed off till the cat came down. As a young buck already knew cats above in trees are danger.

 

[kamloops67]

Never had a use for cats.

Growing up they were a little girl’s animal. Good for keeping rat population on the farm down and not much more.

Men trained hunting dogs and took care of them. Much smarter than any cat. I’ll take a blue tick healer trained for pointing bird any day over one.

Thanks for clearing that up for us
My dad was a hard as nails cowboy/millwright/machinist he rode bulls roped steers and stomped rude people when necessary
Most men never see the day where they’d equal him
And he loved cats

 

[steelslaver]

Dogs have masters and cats have staff. Take a real smart man to train a cat. Just about anyone can train dogs. A completely untrained lion will kill most dogs with no help from any humans and unless they are a in a well trained pack and a have a human working them dogs never kill lions

 

[Rustyt1953]

Never had a use for cats.

Growing up they were a little girl’s animal. Good for keeping rat population on the farm down and not much more.

Men trained hunting dogs and took care of them. Much smarter than any cat. I’ll take a blue tick healer trained for pointing bird any day over one.

I may need to do a chromosome check as I have had an affinity for cats since I was a yonker.

In almost 45 yeas Ruthie and I have rescued over 30 cats. The amount of joy they have imparted into our lives is incalculable.

If I had the space and wherewithal I would empty the shelters and take them all in.

 

[Alk8944]

Like it or not , real men love CATS

Dogs eat underwear, cats don't.

 

[chuckie]

The Mrs. and I started fostering cats for a local cat rescue org about a year and a half ago. So far we have fostered 12, we find it rewarding to know they are going to a good home.

 

[gjgalligan]

I have had an affinity for cats since I was a yonker.

What or who is a yonker???

Tried a search but about all I could find is "somebody from Yonkers NY"

 

[TXBryan]

Never had a use for cats.

Growing up they were a little girl’s animal. Good for keeping rat population on the farm down and not much more.

Men trained hunting dogs and took care of them. Much smarter than any cat. I’ll take a blue tick healer trained for pointing bird any day over one.

The OP was about whether your cats had a relationship with your local deer. It wasn't about how you feel about cats but we are deeply grateful we know where you stand on dogs vs. cats (BTW I love bird dogs).

Animal behavior experts have identified strengths and weaknesses of feline vs. canine "intelligence." The primary conclusion is that they "are different" and both are adapted well for their respective ecological niches. To say that one is "smarter" than the other cannot be supported by any empirical evidence.

Bryan

 

[vt_shooter]

Never had a use for cats.

Growing up they were a little girl’s animal. Good for keeping rat population on the farm down and not much more.

Men trained hunting dogs and took care of them. Much smarter than any cat. I’ll take a blue tick healer trained for pointing bird any day over one.

You just never got to know one! My wife hated cats, since being introduced to them, and getting to know a few, she loves 'em.

 

[oldbrownhat]

...My dad was a hard as nails cowboy/millwright/machinist he rode bulls roped steers ...

Cue the famous 1999 EDS Cat Herders ad:
(And they used real cowboys)

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTwJzTsb2QQ[/ame]

If I had the space and wherewithal I would empty the shelters and take them all in.

As my gf (she of mega-moggies "Izzie" and "Charlie-of-Epic-Whiskers/Curb Feelers") likes to say, "There will be many bis-cu-its for you in heaven."

As to the original question, my black cat, Smudge, is afraid of everything and everyone, but I've seen him sit out in the field while deer munch on the vegetation less than 10' away.

 

[45Smashemflat]

Can’t speak to cats, but my Dad’s miniature Dachshund would chase a deer from one side of the yard to the other, then stop. The buck would poke his horns at him and chase him back. Then they would swap again and he would chase the deer again. They would do this for several mornings for a few minutes each day.

 

[Rustyt1953]

What or who is a yonker???

Tried a search but about all I could find is "somebody from Yonkers NY"

A John Wayneism meaning "kid". Uttered by "Big Jake" McCandels In 1971.

 

[S42N8]

What or who is a yonker???

Tried a search but about all I could find is "somebody from Yonkers NY"

Will defer to Rustyt1953’s command of the King’s English, but I suspect the term is “younker” - a youngster.

YOUNKER Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

 

[soFlaNative]

A John Wayneism meaning "kid". Uttered by "Big Jake" McCandels In 1971.

I've seen the term spelled the same in more than one book by Louis L'Amour.

 

[arjay]

My sisters Maine coon had a lot of fun with the local deer and her one eyed cat was chased into the cabin by a young lion a few years back.That cat has to be on her 8th or 9th life by now lol