A Stubborn Streak
Posted at 9:44 am March 26, 2007 by Kelly Murphy
So I had just finished writing this lovely piece about how much progress I’ve made with the Pallas’ cat, a.k.a. Mom (see New Year, New Attitude). Well of course Murphy’s Law kicked in and she’s showing the side of her that’s not so lovable. Mom has decided that she no longer depends on us and will only shift off exhibit and eat when SHE wants to.
In my last post, I mentioned how they bulk up over the winter. Mom is effectively living on her stored body fat, and food holds no motivation for her right now. I used to brag, “She always comes off exhibit for me.” But those were the fatal words that caused her not to come in one day. So, I had to take a step back and change some things in her daily husbandry routine. I’d like to think that overall it seems to be working. She even went through a period that I can only assume was related to her estrous. She would creep around the exhibit, rolling in the mulch and being very talkative. That, too, seems to have passed, and things are almost back to normal.
Pallas’ cats are adapted to cold, arid climates and are widely distributed throughout central Asia. They are found in stony, alpine desert and grassland habitats. They feed primarily on pika, a small rabbit- like animal prevalent in Talus slopes. They den in small caves and rock crevices and also take refuge in abandoned burrows of other animals. Their crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk) habits are what make them difficult to see in the wild. While they’re not protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, they have been over hunted in the past years for their fur.
So whether she’s sitting pretty on her seat taking food from my hand or staring me down, stuck like glue in her den box, I’m glad she’s in my charge where I can appreciate her beauty and learn from her.
Kelly Murphy is a senior keeper at the San Diego Zoo.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Scroll to the end to leave a comment. Pinging is not allowed.
March 26th, 2007 at 11:39 am
Thanks, Kelly. Mom is after all a cat. That means she is independent, and unpredictable. She just wants to keep you on your toes. Just like domesticated cats, she can remind you that she ultimately is the boss, unless you use unnatural force to make it otherwise. (which you won’t because you are interested in her conservation and safety) She looks like a beautiful animal with attitude. What fun, and pleasure, as well as blessing it must be to work with such a distinquished animal.