Читать книгу The Devious Book for Cats: Cats have nine lives. Shouldn’t they be lived to the fullest? - Литагент HarperCollins USD, Ю. Д. Земенков, Koostaja: Ajakiri New Scientist - Страница 5

Cats didn’t need to be domesticated. We have always been proud, shrewd, independent animals living life on our own terms. Fierce and noble, the Felis silvestris catus once ruled all she surveyed. We were worshipped by mortals and roamed wide as we pleased. Rodents and birds trembled at our approach, and the mere sight of a black cat sent even the most hulking human scurrying home. It was a good time to be a kitty.

But cats are no fools. The perks of domestication were too good to pass up. Humans gave us everything we desired: ear massages, better health care and a bounty of toy mousies. In return, they were permitted to bask in the majesty of our presence. It seemed a fair trade.

Or was it?

Has domesticity really been good for cats? Now kept indoors under the pretence of safety, we’ll often curl up on the couch for hours at a stretch, eat a couple of times, go to the toilet in a box and call it a day. Is that the life we want?

When was the last time you stalked an unsuspecting bird, climbed excitedly up the coats in the wardrobe, or zipped wildly from one end of the house to the other in under four seconds? Sure, we get our share of wet food, and the occasional deliciously fishy treat. But ask yourself this: Who sets your feeding schedule – you or your person?

It’s time we faced facts. Domesticity has dulled our authority and bored us silly. Did you know that because of a sedentary lifestyle the average feline today uses a mere two to three of its nine lives? We might be living longer, but aren’t we living less? And what’s become of our haughty spirit, our famously sassy, standoffish personalities and our legendary curiosity? Aren’t they languishing on that luxurious goose-down cat bed from the glossy pet catalogue?

Cats have been content to take a comfortable back seat in life for far too long. The time has come to step out of the shadows and pull the proverbial strings in our households. Luckily, we can do it without giving up any of the comforts we’ve come to enjoy and expect.

Of course, the question for most cats is ‘How?’

The answers are in this book. It contains all the information needed to regain control of your sovereign destiny. In it, you will discover the secrets of how daredevil cats survive seemingly impossible, deathdefying stunts. You will learn why the Egyptians worshipped your ancestors as gods, and why your person should do the same. You will find out all there is to know about cat litter, and take a look at some fantastic pictures of glorious cardboard boxes. You’ll also be taught to stare like a pro, wake a sleeping person, and get away with practically anything.

But what we really hope you find in this book is yourself – a noble creature who seeks to experience the wild, unrestrained joys hidden within the sheltered, pampered life you deserve.