An Inquiry into the Nature of Communication Between Humans and Exotic Cats

DISCUSSION

Table of Contents

• Abstract

• Introduction

• Methods

• Data

• Results

• Discussion

• Credits

• About the Author

    Big cats and humans, together. The sheer concept causes alarm for many people. Laws exist in every state, some more stringent than others, restricting or otherwise limiting the amount of contact that humans can have with exotic cats. In some ways, it is a pity that people do not have the opportunity to experience the incredible sensation of entering their world. In other ways, it is a good thing because of the level of intricacy involved. Not everyone can communicate with a big cat, and that lack of communication can have lethal results.

    Humankind often touts its superiority over other species on the basis of its cognitive abilities. But even in our society, the big, the strong, and the quick are physical characteristics admired, desired, or envied. In nature, humankind cannot compete with the animal kingdom for specializations that allow survival at extreme temperatures, the formation of biological light in areas of darkness, or the elegance of sustained organic flight. Exotic cats are highly developed creatures with an incredible combination of desirable traits that make them the ultimate athletes in the animal kingdom. When all of nature comes into account, the only place that humanity can maintain superiority is in the species-created, species-exclusive microcosm commonly referred to as 'society'.

    Let us use a tiger for example. A tiger is born with all the natural tools it needs to survive in its environment. Not least in its list of gifts is the ability to learn with an intelligence that allows for rudimentary problem solving and advanced communication. Just as with a human, a tiger must learn some sort of 'language' via which to communicate with this world. Just like a human, the acquisition of this 'language' is not optional. Tigers learn to 'speak tiger' in their upraising. The other tigers they are raised with will affect the 'dialect' of tiger a cub will learn. Even a tiger raised alone will develop a sense of how to interact with its world, though will demonstrate a lack of understanding when put with other tigers that do not 'speak' the same 'dialect'. Similar to humans, there appears to be a certain age threshold at which point learning language is more difficult than before. Therefore, an older tiger will demonstrate a degree of being 'set in their ways' just as an older human would. In both cases, desire and opportunity can provide the energy for change. The lesson here is that even the 'hard cases' of cats should be given chances before jumping to the irresponsible 'one-strike-you're-out' conclusion that many people consider essential for animals. Those working with cats must have the ability to communicate with them and that means an intuition that allows for 'reading' the cats as opposed to following some kind of manual.

    Though a tiger was used for the example above, it is imperative that there is an understanding of the inequalities between cat species. Eons of evolution have given us several species of great cat, but they are not all created equally. The average tiger has greatly increased abilities over the average lion, who has greatly increased abilities over a leopard or cougar. Personality and upbringing can alter the balance, but inherent ability makes a tiger far more advanced. As aptly described to me, comparing a tiger to a lion is the equivalent of comparing Cro-Magnon man to the Neanderthal. Leopards and cougars are even more mentally primitive.

    Of note, an understanding of exotic communication should not be confused with domestication. These cats are independent beings, capable of exercising a very strong will. Their cooperation with the humans around them is contingent only upon their willingness to do so. If a cat decides it is going to test the limits of its surroundings, it is going to do so with the same single-mindedness that a person does. To be 'wild' is to exhibit a will that defies easy prediction--a will that satisfies internal goals that may not be immediately obvious to an observer. In short, cats are as wild as humans are. We are wild animals, and there is no communication in existence that can guarantee control of a free will.

    Particular attention needs to be given to the dangers of anthropomorphization with these creatures. Humans have a tendency to classify members of the animal kingdom by their "cuteness" or define behaviors as "too human", a path that leads to danger and misunderstanding. Anthropomorphization is the practice of ascribing human characteristics to non-human matters. With exotic cats, we must understand that they are an entire culture onto themselves. Anthropomorphization should not be an effort to make exotics extensions of human existence; rather it should be a starting step by which we translate their unique culture into terms useful for helping other humans relate in a proper fashion. Just because we have acknowledged a capability to communicate, we have not perfected that communication to acceptable levels of public safety. Under the right conditions, any cat can kill anyone-even the ones they love. To forget this is as foolish as the assertion that these cats can be tamed. An exotic cat's niche in life is to be a predator-no amount of love is going to change that.

    Further research must be accomplished as to the nature of communication between humans and large feline predators. One outstanding question is regarding the degree of understanding on the cat's part of human language. They have demonstrated a reactivity to having their name called, but statistical analysis is necessary to show that proper responses are a matter of will as opposed to a matter of probability. This will require careful recording of the reaction of the cats to communication, as well as the number and type of communication to which they respond most often. Another outstanding question is the degree to which cats of separate species can learn characteristics from another species.

    Large feline predators all over the world are disappearing at an alarming rate. As areas for these cats decrease, their only hope for survival is coexistence. To coexist, we have to reach some sort of understanding between the species. There are a number of sanctuaries in the US, but many of them are operating under the ancient idea of 'human superiority'. We must forego the erroneous lessons of the past and begin using our advanced intellect to enter their culture, not expect them to enter ours. To engage this culture is to tap into the very web of nature and begin to fulfill humanity's role in preserving our planet.

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