Here’s a lion looking for a little attention. You see the way he’s on his back, signaling to the zookeeper that he’s ready for his foot massage? Alex Larenty, a British zookeeper who cares for Jamu in a lion park outside of Johannesburg, South Africa, says Jamu has total trust in him.
“Trust me, though, you need to know what you are doing, and our relationship is one that has built up over the last six years.” Larenty adds, “Jamu won’t just let anyone touch him the way I do.” Perhaps you recognize Jamu? The 550-pound cat stars in a British TV show called ‘Wild at Heart’ on ITV.
Pumpkin Treat
Big Cat organizations that care for and rehabilitate wildcats will sometimes give the beasts treats and toys for mental stimulation. This white tiger is certainly relishing its treat. As a bonus, cat caretakers will insert a chunk of meat inside the pumpkin as an even more delightful treat. It’s fun to watch the cat try to figure out where the scent of delicacy is coming from.
When the cats first find the pumpkin, they will kick it around like a ball and begin to check it out. Their mouths are so large that a tiger can pick up and carry an entire pumpkin with its powerful jaws.
The King of the Beasts Poses for a Picture
If you have a cat at home, you may have noticed it will occasionally drop to the floor and roll around, rubbing its back against the carpet. And if you can easily interpret cat language, you would know that your cat is feeling relaxed, safe, and secure, and is quite possibly asking for a little affection.
Big cats are no different. And doesn’t he look sweet? Albeit, choosing to give a playful rub to 600 pounds of muscle, talon-like claws, and razor-sharp sabers may not seem as inviting as petting a little house kitty.
The Annual Weigh-In
Here's Heidi standing tall, reaching the 6-foot mark on the large ruler she is standing next to. Heidi is an Asiatic lion who lives at the London Zoo. Her height and weight are being recorded. The zoo shares the statistics they gather at the annual event with zoos all over the world.
Heidi is eight years old. She was born in 2011. She’s a talker. So, if you hear some roaring, it’s probably her. She's also the most motherly of her female littermates and likes to groom the other females.
Stalk and Pounce
Stalking and pouncing are part of every cat’s predatory instinct. The hunting instinct is very strong, and it is similar in every feline. Since cats are inveterate nappers who conserve energy, they will sit and stare at their prey (or toy) for hours, sometimes, before moving in on it. Cats do not want to exert a lot of energy chasing their prey. They want to get into the perfect position and pounce on it in one fell swoop.
Kittens, at just nine weeks old, have mastered the characteristic pounce. All cats will settle into their back legs before commencing the leaping pounce, and wiggle their rear ends in preparation. As funny or cute as it looks, this preemptive wiggle is crucial to making the leap successful. Knowing your cat’s natural behavior can make playtime more fun.