Extraordinary Tails

Just for fun, we want to share the stories of three of the most interesting cats we’ve come across in our (virtual) wanderings…

Brave Jack the clawless cat…
It’s been long suspected by cat lovers the world over that moggies believe themselves superior to other animals, but this story takes that theory to a whole new level.

In a small town in New Jersey, USA, one feisty feline has proved that it really is about the size of the fight in the… cat. On 4 June, 2006, an adult black bear (which can weigh up to 270kg when fully grown) wandered into Jack the cat’s backyard.

Jack is a seven kilo, clawless tabby cat with a whole lot of heart. Unhappy with the prospect of sharing his stomping ground with the uninvited guest, Jack attacked the intruder, chasing the bear up a tree. Attempting escape only to be bailed up and chased up another tree, the bear remained in his arboury sanctuary, too terrorised to return to ground until Jack’s owner mercifully called him off so the timid bear could make his exit.

Mr Peebles – mini moggy
The holder of the Guinness world record for the all-time smallest feline is Mr Peebles, a teeny tiny tabby who was originally unloved due to his small stature. He was rescued by a vet who was making a house call to a dog who lived with Mr Peebles.

Upon asking whether she could take the kitty home with her, the vet was told, ‘Sure… if you can catch him.’ Mr Peebles was then given a much better life at the Good Shepherd Veterinary Clinic in Illinois, USA, where he became the resident pet and much-loved mascot.

Due to a genetic defect, Mr Peebles weighed in at under a kilo, was just 15cm long and could fit perfectly into a 200ml drinking glass. Sadly, Mr Peebles died in 2007, but while he was with us managed to fit a lot of love into that tiny little body.

Morry Monster – a survivor
Rescued from a field in Canada by his doting owners, Morry Monster is a cat who knows how to survive. But when his family’s apartment burned down in April 2010 and Morry Monster couldn’t be found, everyone feared the worst…

However, they shouldn’t have underestimated this fearless feline, who was found 16 days after the fire hiding out in the wreckage of the charred apartment. Morry Monster survived by drinking water out of the copper pipes in the basement of the building, and apart from a substantial weight loss, sustained no lasting injuries.

Images by fofurasfelinas, nationalgeographic.com and whyevolutionistrue