Friday, June 03, 2016
The cat and the cobra.
In the
living world animals have an inherently specific relationship with certain
other animals. Some of these relationships are well known, such as in the
proverb the early bird catches the worm, the children school lesson cats catch
mice, the photographers favourite shot of the eagle snatches the fish from the sea, or the wasp keeps the spider in the larder.
Many as these deadly encounters of prey and
predator relationship that are commonly known, there are yet more others that offer
more interest, suspense and entertainment in the telling of such encounters. The fight
between the mongoose and the snake is one such spectacular show, and although
it is known that the mongoose more often carries away the snake in its mouth
the result of every encounter is not certainly predictable. The snake needs
only one bite to win while the mongoose has to duck and reach up to bite the
snake’s head. It is a battle relying on speed and acuity, and a misstep or
superior judgement usually settles the outcome of this stance and strike
maneuver for as long as it takes.
Then there
is the cat, domestic or feral, black or white, and its colour does not matter.
Cats catching mice is legend, but a cat fighting a cobra is yet another tale
worth telling. A cobra is a snake, but a cat and a mongoose are of different
make-ups. A mongoose is spritely, agile and shifty, whereas a cat appears
sedate, dreamy and vain. Its other drawback is that a cat bites downward, it
does not jump to bite. Yet, one may also bet that a cat often takes the snake
away in its mouth for food.
A cat and
cobra fight does not offer the same excitement and suspense as the mongoose and
the snake, but it shows about animal adaptability for survival. A cat’s
forepaws are like a human’s hands, and each paw has powerful sharp claws. And
the cat plans its own fight. More often it appears nonchalant, sitting idly by,
looking away or circling the cobra. The cobra has to raise its head and recoil
to strike, but usually it gets smacked on the head instead. Yes, smack, like
the powerful badminton sport racket smash. Four thick sharp nails landing on
armoured skin; whether there is damage or not it would be hard to tell, but a
smack is a smack, and one more smack is an added smack.
The cat is
wise and patient; it does not hurry to the kill; it takes its time. And the
cat’s strategy is cool; it smacks and it waits. Seemingly a smack inflicts no
injury on the cobra, but patience hands its reward. The cobra has to recoil to
strike and its strike is very swift and quick, yet the cat can retract or smack
in response. And at one point the cat
will execute the coup de grace, smacks and bites and ending the battle. Then
the cat takes the cobra home, clasping the head of the cobra in its mouth and
hurries away with the cobra trailing along.
