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.
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.
Big Cat Foot Rubs
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.
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.
'Will You Give Me Milk if I Stand?'
If you look at the photo closely, you’ll see a small carton of milk in the zookeeper’s hands. The tiger is looking at it intently with his mouth open to increase its sense of smell. All cats do this. Inside a cat’s mouth is an additional olfactory organ that allows the cat to taste-smell the environment.
All kitties can stand, just like this tiger. It makes them appear larger when warding off a threat. Notice how it makes the tiger as tall as the zookeeper. But it is also a sign of playfulness and a way to get attention. This tiger is clearly hoping to get the attention of that bottle of milk. House cats will stand to receive a treat, and that is exactly what this massive feline is doing.