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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Deneb on June 7, 2005, at 19:56:38
I just saw a bizarre interaction between a racoon and a cat in the backyard!
Both the racoon and the cat were walking along the top of the wooden fence. They were face to face about 1.5m away from each other.The shape of the fence was:
.......l
.......l........C........R
-----l --------------
.......lC is where the cat was
R is where the racoon was
Where "l" meets "-" is the intersection between the two fences
Ignore the ...'s, I couldn't figure how how to put in spaces between the letters, if someone knows, please tell me :-)
Also, the R and C should be much closer to the -----Both the racoon and the cat wanted to walk along the same spot on the fence. The cat did not seem afraid. The racoon seemed a little afraid. Can anyone guess what happened?
Posted by Larry Hoover on June 7, 2005, at 21:17:15
In reply to Interaction between racoon and cat, posted by Deneb on June 7, 2005, at 19:56:38
> Can anyone guess what happened?
Cat jumped over raccoon.
Posted by Deneb on June 7, 2005, at 21:23:47
In reply to Re: Interaction between racoon and cat, posted by Larry Hoover on June 7, 2005, at 21:17:15
> > Can anyone guess what happened?
>
> Cat jumped over raccoon.Hehe...that would have been something, eh?
Sorry, that didn't happen. :-)Any other guesses?
Posted by anastasia56 on June 7, 2005, at 21:28:49
In reply to Re: Interaction between racoon and cat » Larry Hoover, posted by Deneb on June 7, 2005, at 21:23:47
ahhh, racoon ran away?
Posted by Larry Hoover on June 7, 2005, at 21:34:49
In reply to Re: Interaction between racoon and cat » Larry Hoover, posted by Deneb on June 7, 2005, at 21:23:47
> > > Can anyone guess what happened?
> >
> > Cat jumped over raccoon.
>
> Hehe...that would have been something, eh?
> Sorry, that didn't happen. :-)
>
> Any other guesses?Cat and raccoon got up on hind legs and did Broadway-style dance routine?
Posted by Deneb on June 7, 2005, at 21:41:24
In reply to Re: Interaction between racoon and cat, posted by anastasia56 on June 7, 2005, at 21:28:49
> ahhh, racoon ran away?
Nope :-)
Posted by Deneb on June 7, 2005, at 21:42:57
In reply to Re: Interaction between racoon and cat, posted by Larry Hoover on June 7, 2005, at 21:34:49
> Cat and raccoon got up on hind legs and did Broadway-style dance routine?
Hehe...close, but no :-)
Posted by Deneb on June 7, 2005, at 22:17:18
In reply to Interaction between racoon and cat, posted by Deneb on June 7, 2005, at 19:56:38
Neither the cat nor the raccoon left the fence at any time. :-)
(Thanks Larry...I thought I'd spelled (or is it spelt?) raccoon incorrectly :-) )
Posted by rainbowbrite on June 8, 2005, at 0:12:12
In reply to Re: Hint, posted by Deneb on June 7, 2005, at 22:17:18
Ok so Im really really curious! My guess is that they fall in love and...try to make catroons....so im right arent I?
Posted by Deneb on June 8, 2005, at 1:15:20
In reply to Re: Hint, posted by Deneb on June 7, 2005, at 22:17:18
Animal psychology is somewhat involved here! LOL
I don't know if it is just me, but I was shocked to such a seemingly complex reaction. :-)
...ok, maybe it wasn't THAT complex...but still...
Posted by Sarah T. on June 8, 2005, at 1:42:17
In reply to Interaction between racoon and cat, posted by Deneb on June 7, 2005, at 19:56:38
> Can anyone guess what happened? >
Hmmm. . . well, did this happen during the day? Raccoons are nocturnal animals and shouldn't be out during the day. If you see them when it's light out, and/or if they are acting "out of character" or too docile, or if they don't run (or waddle) away, they might be sick. They might have rabies, which is always, or almost always, fatal. My guess is that the raccoon had rabies and bit the cat. If the cat were human, it would be undergoing a series of painful anti-rabies shots. I hope you stay away from both the cat and the raccoon.
Posted by Deneb on June 8, 2005, at 11:25:33
In reply to Interaction between racoon and cat, posted by Deneb on June 7, 2005, at 19:56:38
Ok, I'll stop teasing everyone. :-)
Both the cat and the raccoon where on the same fence.
Both where walking towards each other.
When they got to be about 1.5m from each other, both stopped.
The cat seemed relaxed. The raccoon on the right seemed a little intimidated.
The raccoon cautiously takes a few steps forward, then backs up. The raccoon then, get this...manages to TURN ITSELF AROUND while still on the fence.
The raccoon then BACKS UP slowly and steadily towards the cat!
The cat doesn't seem to know what to make of this.
The cat stays put but withdraws it's body into a semi-sitting position as the raccoon slowly approaches the cat tail first.
The raccoon doesn't slow it's approach towards the cat.
When the two are about ½ a metre from each other, the cat then decides to move to the intersection of fences and walks up along the north fence.
The raccoon now passes the cat!You guys should have seen it! It was very strange! My guess is that the raccoon was afraid of being attacked by the cat. To show that it did not want a confrontation, the raccoon decided to approach in a submissive way...no eye-to-eye contact. The cat didn't know what to make of this, but had to move as a big fat raccoon made it's backwards feat. The cat probably figured that the raccoon was not going to stop backing up so had to move away.
Anyways, that's my take on it. Any better explanations?
Posted by Larry Hoover on June 8, 2005, at 11:31:35
In reply to Re: What happened, posted by Deneb on June 8, 2005, at 11:25:33
> The raccoon then BACKS UP slowly and steadily towards the cat!
Was the raccoon's back-up warning beeper defective?
> The cat doesn't seem to know what to make of this.
Ahhh, that explains it. The beeper *was* defective.
Lar
Posted by KaraS on June 8, 2005, at 17:07:01
In reply to Re: What happened, posted by Deneb on June 8, 2005, at 11:25:33
> Anyways, that's my take on it. Any better explanations?
I don't why those particular two animals reacted the way they did, but I have observed racoons and cats getting along quite well. In the last place I lived there were a lot of racoons running around. Many of us had cats as well. One woman used to walk her Maine C*on cats on leashes. The raccoons used to observe them and then would get closer and closer until they'd regularly interact in a friendly manner.This woman had one cat that was used to going out by itself. She had a flap door for it to go in and out of her apartment. One day she came home to find a raccoon in her living room with her cats.
K
Posted by Larry Hoover on June 8, 2005, at 17:11:48
In reply to Re: What happened, posted by Deneb on June 8, 2005, at 11:25:33
Posted by Gabbi-x-2 on June 8, 2005, at 17:58:25
In reply to Re: What happened, posted by KaraS on June 8, 2005, at 17:07:01
This is the end of the thread.
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