"The smallest feline is a masterpiece" - Leonardo DaVinci
The point, I believe, that DaVinci is making is that by definition any size cat is worthy of praise in both its completeness and detail. All parts; its face, its fur, its behavior, all contribute to the dignity a cat deserves. The detail in the face of a cat is astounding. Individual stalks of hair (fur) arranged into patterns that would defy duplication by man. Perfectly round eyeballs, whiskers that are unique to each cat, both in number and arrangement. The ears complete with their internal lining of fur (used to screen out dust, I suppose). Muscular ears, individually controlled. One may be trained forward (in the same direction the eyes are facing) to identify objects in view and the other may be pointed in the opposite direction (and part of its attention is 'listening' to all activities not in direct view).
Maybe DaVinci started with his observations of a full sized cat and then extrapolated down to the smallest cat possible. Maybe he simply made observations of a kitten. Either way, I believe he got it right, Cats are a masterpiece.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Rule #1 - Wash
All you have to remember is Rule #1: When in doubt, Wash. - Paul Gallico
Cats, when not sleeping or practicing the oldest cat trick - misdirection - are probably washing. They must awake from sleep feeling dusty or dingy because within minutes (it seems) they begin the first washing ritual of the day. Somehow the act of sleep must allow dust or dirt to settle on them unknowingly. And when they discover this feline travesty, they naturally remedy it post haste! Though not completely sure, I'm pretty certain that they clean areas where its not possible for gravity to be responsible for placing dust or anything for that matter. But to a cat, the cause of problem is purely secondary, with the primary concern being its removal. So, they quietly (most of the time) set about they business of licking until that urge disappears.
Its interesting to watch a cat go about its daily rounds. Periodically, it will just stop in mid-stride just to give a few well placed licks before it can continue. Does it 'feel' the dust on itself or just how does it know? No matter, the cat knows and that is enough.
Cats, when not sleeping or practicing the oldest cat trick - misdirection - are probably washing. They must awake from sleep feeling dusty or dingy because within minutes (it seems) they begin the first washing ritual of the day. Somehow the act of sleep must allow dust or dirt to settle on them unknowingly. And when they discover this feline travesty, they naturally remedy it post haste! Though not completely sure, I'm pretty certain that they clean areas where its not possible for gravity to be responsible for placing dust or anything for that matter. But to a cat, the cause of problem is purely secondary, with the primary concern being its removal. So, they quietly (most of the time) set about they business of licking until that urge disappears.
Its interesting to watch a cat go about its daily rounds. Periodically, it will just stop in mid-stride just to give a few well placed licks before it can continue. Does it 'feel' the dust on itself or just how does it know? No matter, the cat knows and that is enough.
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