Animal magic?
I usually find The Big Question TV programme rather annoying – loads of people only too delighted with the sound of their own voice but I was intrigued recently where part of the discussion promised to be on whether animals have souls.
Now I don’t think anybody can actually claim to know the answer for sure but that you can witness that animals, tamed and in the wild, have feelings and emotions can’t be disputed. Observations from Jillian Miller, of The Gorilla Organization, about apes and primates were incredible.
She also told a story concerning a friend who had to suddenly evacuate her farm in Rwanda during the genocide in the 1990s. She was heartbroken not to have time to make arrangements for her pets and it was many months before she was able to return.
Yet on that return she was amazed that the cat came bounding out of nowhere followed by her Jack Russell dog: She believed the cat had obviously hunted for itself and the dog and kept them both alive… 
. Lovely story yet, with a little research I discovered that Jack Russells are hunters, so it’s just as likely the two worked together to help each other out…
The earliest animal story I remember was when I was about five and a ginger cat walked into the classroom. Teacher asked if anyone recognised it – it was mine (well, technically my big sister’s) and he must have followed me. He looked pleased to see me and I was allowed to pick him up and take him home, and got a glass of milk and a biscuit off a surprised Mum. Good wheeze, I thought and wondered if I could get him to make a habit of it – no such luck, of course: A cat will only do what a cat wants to do…
Any animal stories you want to share?
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About Linda MattacksDoing what you love, your bit for humankind and the planet (if that turns you on) and making a decent, let alone great living don't necessarily come in the same package! With a background of sales training, marketing and market/marketing research spanning decades, for individuals and companies across the world from micros to corporations, Linda's finally found her niche... and some truly fabulous collaborators. Female employer, employee or entrepreneur, if you're not seeing the fruits of your potential value in the marketplace why not talk to Linda? Call +44(0)7879 628 367
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8 Responses to Animal magic?
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I'm not sure about them having souls – but then I'd doubt that for humans too. But it seems to me that they have feelings and instincts and some animals seem to be far brighter and kinder than some people.
We used to have the most gorgeous Newfoundland dog, called Tasha, who was the sweetest and most good natured creature imaginable. She was also very stubborn and fond of her own way…but a complete softy. If an aggressive god barked or growled at her when we were out walking, she would just smile and wag her tail – but also very firmly place herself between it and us. We rescued a tiny Maine Coon kitten when Tasha was about five – and at first the kitten was terrified by this monstrous creature. Within two days though the cat was the boss, and used to snooze snuggled up to the dog. Tasha also made friends with a baby blackbird, who used to hop on the the side of her food dish in the doorway to kitchen, and pick out the meaty bits while Tasha lay there with her big paws on each side.
We are regular readers of New Scientist magazine in this house, and it's a standing joke that every week or two there is a news article which runs along the lines of 'New research proves animals are smarter than previously thought' or 'New research shows humans are not the only creatures who do x, y or z.'
Recently we visited the new(ish) gorilla house at London Zoo. One of the female gorillas there is past child-bearing. When we visited she was sat quietly by the glass watching everyone until a toddler started crying. At that point she became obviously bothered and moved around trying to see where the child was. It seemed to be a very obvious maternal reaction.
In the meantime the young silverback male gorilla was in a different part of the enclosure. Lots of people standing around by the glass looking at him and taking photos when very suddenly he ran up and banged hard on the glass making everyone jump and move back. He then looked extremely pleased with himself and you could almost see him thinking 'Gotcha!' as he ambled away and started ignoring everyone again.
“Any animal stories you want to share?” … where do I start?!! I grew up with cats and dogs and being an only child living in rural Ontario, didn't realise I wasn't a kitten or a puppy until I started school. My parents bred Boxer and American Cocker Spaniel dogs and I was just one of the pack.
I've had periods in my life when I was without a dog or cat (or horse) and they have been hard. Life just doesn't seem complete without animals when they have been such an intrinsic part of your life from Day #1. These days I have six furry jobs (3 x dogs and 3 x cats) only one of which is not a rescue, and many of my friends laugh at me for being such a sucker for a sob-story. The other day I was approached about a homeless cockerel (rooster) … but I thought even I as the ultimate animal lover probably couldn't control the desire to strangle the little bu**er were he to wake us up at dawn every day. So I resisted that temptation.
Linda recounted the story of the cat and Jack Russell Terrorist (as we call them – long story…) working together to hunt and forage. Not surprising there, as JRTs are probably better at rat-catching than most cats are.
And dogs and cats getting along and working together is nothing unusual. At one point I applied to be approved as a greyhound rehomer (and qualified) but fell at the last fence because I was concerned about greyhounds' instincts re: my cats, i.e. to the greyhound, small furry animals who run away from dogs and therefore should be chased and killed. Yet shortly after that I worked with someone who had a rescued ex-racing greyhound and whose cat used to curl up with it on the same bed, eat out of the same bowl, be the best of friends – and needless to say, the cat was the senior partner in that relationship.
Many was the tale my parents used to tell of our animals in Canada working as a team. At one point we kept some budgerigars and the dogs would knock the cages over, the cats would undo the catches, the birds would escape and all hell would break loose in a free-for-all with both dogs and cats trying to nail the birds. Fortunately the birds would always manage to get on to a curtain rail and escape, but after several such occasions began to suffer from stress related lunacy and happily were rehomed before they became birdy-basket cases.
If there was something attractive in the kitchen like a roast or carcass, the dogs would lean on the door until they forced it open, the cats would jump up on the worktop, knock down the quarry, and all would tuck in.
Much as having animals as pets can be challenging and expensive, for me life without them would be like living with one leg cut off – possible, but sad. Very sad.
Twitter: SuzeStMWrites
I totally agree Suzan, I grew up with dogs, went without pets for 3 years while I was at uni, and then in rented accommodation had rats until I was able to have cats once I got my own place. The thought of a home with no animals just doesn't compute for me.
Sorry, I know I shouldn't snigger, but the thought of an aggressive god barking really tickles my funny bone
LOL, one of those dreadful habitual typos. I did it in a story I submitted to a competition – in reverse, unfortunately
Years ago a workmate told me that two of her friends were upping sticks to South Africa but needed a home for their cats – lots of interest in the ginger one but none for the black one and they were brothers so they didn't want them split up.
Off we went to Ipswich where the black cat promptly appeared from nowhere and circled our feet. “He's never done that before – he hates strangers…” The ginger one turned up in his own time and back we came to London with our new additions to the family and to the delight of my partner's kids.
The two cats soon discovered the joys of the outdoors and proceeded to decimate the shrew population – usually in the early hours; usually bringing them indoors for the chase…
I don't know whether any of us has an immortal soul but if we humans do I certainly hope animals do, too
Twitter: Linda_Mattacks
lovely blog Linda…… i have 6 cats, i must admit i adore some more than other of them. but i think they do have feelings,they are clever creatures and unlike people think that cats are unfaithful and cheeky unlike dogs, i find cats actually faithful.
one of my cats gave birth to twins only, very similar the only difference is the noses, one pink we call pinky and one black nose we call minky. when they just started going out to the garden minkey came meuing at us while sunbathing and insisted on us to follow her, when we get where she wanted us we found her littel sister stuck on the top the tree needed our help, how cute………