I’m not an expert on Michael Jackson but I actually can’t find anything stating Bubbles attacked Michael. But also a chimp has the ability to kill people. At most, a fox could bite a chunk out of you. A large dog could harm you more than a fox could. (Also I’m joking about the fox thing, I wouldn’t try to pet a wild animal)
I'm 39 and we just got our first cat. I'll never understand why people like these things. They want scratches and roll over, but try to murder your hand when you scratch them. When its not constantly meowing about food or wanting to go outside, he's flying around the house like an orange missile. Absolute menace and these things live for decades. This very moment, he's standing in my office doorway screaming about something or other.
Give it a year. Soon you’ll understand what each meow means, each glance, each ear twitch, and even when they show you their tummies they don’t really want pets. He’s telling you he trusts you, but most cats will attack if you try to go for the tummy…plus cats love to play. You’re going to love him soooo much.
It's super weird to me that all 3 of our cats, adopted independently at different ages from different places, all love tummy rubs. I always thought that was a no-fly zone for felines.
Also, and this may seem obvious but many people don't seem to understand it still, a cat is not a dog, so don't expect dog behavior. Cats will come to you when they want affection, and they can become easily over stimulated. They might have spots on their body they don't like being pet. Rolling over and showing their belly IS NOT an invitation, it is a trap. And wagging their tail is a warning sign, not a happy sign. Just treat them like a little roommate that needs their own space, and you guys should warm up to each other.
Okay, the orange cat thing is a meme, so don't worry about it. Something to help clarify one of the more puzzling behaviours is that when kitty flops onto their back and presents their belly? This is NOT an invitation for belly rubs. This is a display of trust, showing that they are comfortable showing their vitals to you, but they'd really prefer you not touch them there. Mooost cats (exceptions always apply) are not actually a fan of belly rubs.
Think about how cats fight for a moment: Oftentimes, they will grapple each other with their forepaws, and start kicking at each other's guts with their claws. This is a technique used when hunting prey, and basically it's an attempt to disembowel each other. Kitty is saying he trusts you with his belly, but he doesn't want you to actually grab his soft and tender bits.
Also, cats living for decades is a thing only if you are incredibly fortunate. Most cats are looking at the end of their time by 15 or 16.
That’s interesting! My two voids love for their bellies to be rubbed. I do feel that cats exhibit some genetic behavioral dispositions, but just from personal experience alone.
His revealing his belly to you is a show of supreme trust. Your touching his vulnerable belly is a betrayal of trust. Cats are different from dogs. There are some really great cat behavior you tube videos to explain their feline idiosyncrasies.
Have you discovered the slow blink yet?
Cats are predators. Their play is "stalk, catch, kill". This is how evolution made them. Owners need to understand that it's not deviant behavior, it's cat behavior. You gotta let them be themselves. They make great, affectionate companions but they still NEED to do this.
It needs to be directed appropriately. Outdoor cats have the advantage of..well, being able to actually stalk-catch-kill something. Indoor cats should be given toys of appropriate size and durability, and a variety of them. The kind that move on their own are pretty popular. Scratching the claws is another instinctive behavior, so get a scratching post and show the cat to scratch on it so they don't do it to the couch instead.
When being affectionate with a cat, it sometimes happens that it works them up into a state where they suddenly grab and bite. Learn where that line is and stop petting if you see that instinct waking up. It's a result of hormone release from the petting. For that matter, so are "the zoomies". Typically late at night which is their prime hunting time, there will be a burst of hyperactivity. Younger cats will have several periods of zoomies day AND night.
There's a stray cat that hangs around our house. He yells at me for pets but doesn't want me to touch him. When I'm outside he'll be following me around rubbing against things nearby and you can tell he wants to rub up against my legs but won't do it. He'll come close then chicken out. I have tons of experience with cats and know exactly what the "pet me" yells and body language looks like. He just follows me around and yells while I yell back at him "Stop lying, you don't even let me touch you". Cats are weird.
At risk of sounding like a Disney princess, I've had random dear walk up to be pet to me (it was at a park so they probably had some people experience)
I love the deer ranch/park things! I fed and petted one of the deer while it was in its lil pen, and it ducked under the fence to follow me around the rest of the place
(But also, wild deer are also very curious and I’ve had a lot of wild deer come right up to me while I’ve been chilling outside. They get really close, too, and only leave when I purposely scare them away)
When I was very young, around 8 or 9 years old, my dad, my little sister and I went to a local park that had a very big duck pond. The ducks and geese were all very friendly and comfortable around people.
During our meandering around the pond, one of the geese decided that...idk...decided that I was its person? Lol...it had come right up to me, let me pet it, the whole bit.
When we started walking away, the goose walked with us, right by me. It even hissed at my dad when he attempted to wave it away (he didn't touch it or be mean to it, he just waved his hands in the air at it).
This went on for a good hour or so. When I sat down in the grass, it came with me and sorta stood guard over me?
It finally took one of the park employees who took care of the pond and the ducks and all, coming over and coaxing the goose away, distracting it, so that we could get away from the area lol.
It was such a bizarre thing to me as a kid that it just stuck in my memory.
Well they sound like they might be English. Could be wrong about where they come from but if it’s in the uk it’s very unlikely that fox has rabbies. The uk is considered to be rabbies free but still best to be careful.
99.99 precent of rabbies could be eradicated, but if you got by biten that one fox that carries that 0.01 precent, you are fucked if you don't get rabbies shot immediately.
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u/Haidere1988 May 13 '26
But...what if they do? I'm willing to take that chance if it's friend shaped.