3 ms·

It makes sense, there are like 100 species of scorpions in the regions where house cats were first domesticated. Cats do hunt scorpions which probably scored th

It makes sense, there are like 100 species of scorpions in the regions where house cats were first domesticated. Cats do hunt scorpions which probably scored them some extra holiness points with the ancient Egyptians.

jeffbee 5y ago
Dogs also hunt scorpions. Dogs are not immune to scorpion stings, they're just ignorant.
- noneeeed 5y ago
  Dogs seem to hunt pretty much anything. I wonder if we've bred out the understanding of what is and isn't edible in dogs, but not cats? Or perhaps its a social thing that wild canids teach their young? Half the dog owners I know have some story of their dog catching a hedgehog or something equally inedible, but the worst that seems to happen with cats is their prey fights back a bit harder than they expected and they get a rat scratch.
  - D-Coder 5y ago
    My experience with Labrador Retrievers is that they will eat anything, on the assumption that if it doesn't agree with them, they can always puke it up at 3AM.
  - xen2xen1 5y ago
    Dogs were bred / created to keep their owners safe, not themselves. That seems to track. I've lived several places I'd not live without a dog alarm or three, so I can't say I'm not grateful.
- dogbountyhunter 5y ago
  I live a block off the salt marsh here on the coast and mine'll hunt after Fiddler Crabs[0] until they get pinched on the snout. The mutt learned and the Lab just keeps on going after them... strange creatures, dogs are. [0] - https://www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/mrri/acechar/speciesgallery/Invertebrates/FiddlerCrab/index.html https://www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/mrri/acechar/speciesgallery/In...
  - HeyLaughingBoy 5y ago
    I believe the technical description of a Labrador Retriever is "dumb as a box of rocks."
NaturalPhallacy 5y ago
Still not convinced cats were domesticated. They just sort of...moved in. I never thought about how they did originate there though. Scorpions are basically cat fodder.

jeffbee 5y ago

Dogs also hunt scorpions. Dogs are not immune to scorpion stings, they're just ignorant.

noneeeed 5y ago
Dogs seem to hunt pretty much anything. I wonder if we've bred out the understanding of what is and isn't edible in dogs, but not cats? Or perhaps its a social thing that wild canids teach their young? Half the dog owners I know have some story of their dog catching a hedgehog or something equally inedible, but the worst that seems to happen with cats is their prey fights back a bit harder than they expected and they get a rat scratch.
- D-Coder 5y ago
  My experience with Labrador Retrievers is that they will eat anything, on the assumption that if it doesn't agree with them, they can always puke it up at 3AM.
- xen2xen1 5y ago
  Dogs were bred / created to keep their owners safe, not themselves. That seems to track. I've lived several places I'd not live without a dog alarm or three, so I can't say I'm not grateful.
dogbountyhunter 5y ago
I live a block off the salt marsh here on the coast and mine'll hunt after Fiddler Crabs[0] until they get pinched on the snout. The mutt learned and the Lab just keeps on going after them... strange creatures, dogs are. [0] - https://www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/mrri/acechar/speciesgallery/Invertebrates/FiddlerCrab/index.html https://www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/mrri/acechar/speciesgallery/In...
- HeyLaughingBoy 5y ago
  I believe the technical description of a Labrador Retriever is "dumb as a box of rocks."

NaturalPhallacy 5y ago

Still not convinced cats were domesticated. They just sort of...moved in. I never thought about how they did originate there though. Scorpions are basically cat fodder.