PBH / Colombia / Forums (active) Travelguide Cheap hostels Pictures

Cor, is that a (Colombian) cat?!

Now, I’m a cat-loving person. I’ve got 4 in France. Not pedigree cats, but just non-descript but loving, alley cats…

Nelly, who didn’t know a thing about cats, decided to get one to get to know them better. Her father, who lives in Santa Marta, thus gave her a kitten at the beginning of the year (so, strictly speaking, we’re talking about a Santa Marta cat).

Alarm bells should have started to ring in my head when I saw Fabricio (that’s the cat) aged 6 months. He already weighed 12 pounds and was always nibbling me or chewing my hands/legs.

Now, aged 11 months, he is just a sheer monster of 24 pounds. He lies in wait hidden in a closet or under a chair and pounces on anyone who has the misfortune of walking by. He systematically attacks all the visiting guests and bites their ankles and legs (often drawing blood).

Even Nelly is starting to get afraid of him since he already bit her several times. The worst is that it all seems to be a game for him, since he is always purring.

Now, are ALL Colombian cats like Fabricio? Is there a “typical” Colombian race for cats (like in Europe where we have the “European race”)? It’s true that I didn’t see many cats in Barranquilla… Some of our friends have told us that he has a “cazador” (hunter) gene which may explain his behavior.

So, he is the norm (by Colombian cats’ standards) or is he the exception ?

P.S.: He is off the vet today to get neutered – maybe this will quiet him down a little.

By Darloup on Nov 15, 2008, 08:18 in Friendly Talkzone.

Darloup (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 15, 2008, 08:30:

(Patricio at the age of 3 months !)

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Papi de Alejo says on Nov 15, 2008, 09:33:

He looks fully grown in this photo. If you think that he's big now, wait until after he is neutered. Il sera un geant.

Live simply... Love generously... Care deeply... Speak kindly...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Nov 15, 2008, 09:45:

I've never heard anything like that before. Perhaps a cat with guerrilla or paraco genes in it?

A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi

0 funny, 0 helpful.

papiChulo says on Nov 15, 2008, 09:58:

I'd be sellin Fabricio to the chinos right about now.

I'm givin'er... givin'er HARDCORE

1 funny, 0 helpful.

dwmte7 says on Nov 15, 2008, 10:10:

right on papi....sounds like kat-soup to me. 24 lbs? at eleven months. that's like a damn bob cat.

patriarch

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Darloup (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 15, 2008, 10:13:

Actually, I was wondering whether he wasn't a crossbreed with a wild cat from the Sierra Nevada!

P.S.: Don't Chinese eat dogs instead of cats? ;-)

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

0 funny, 0 helpful.

papiChulo says on Nov 15, 2008, 10:19:

no darloup... the dogs are the empanadas and the little meat kebabs you see cookin up on the street bbq's... its good as long as it has a good marinade.

chow mein de gato is one of my favs... ;)

hey dwmte7.... I finally booked my ticket to Colombia. Medallo for christmas!

I'm givin'er... givin'er HARDCORE

0 funny, 0 helpful.

papiChulo says on Nov 15, 2008, 10:23:

hey Darloup you're right a few skinned dogs where found in an Edmonton (canada) chineese resturant a few years back. They claimed that they only serve up the dog to other chinos.

Maybe they just serve up pussy to the round eyes... ;)

I'm givin'er... givin'er HARDCORE

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Darloup (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 15, 2008, 13:16:

No, seriously, before this thread degenerates into exchanging Chinese eating habits, this was a serious topic !

- Are Colombian cats normally THAT big (or, let's say, bigger than average European cats)?
- I'm less concerned by its size than by its very aggressive nature. Is this normal in Colombian cats?
- Am I up the creek without a paddle with Fabricio and are the next 13 years going to be sheer hell with this pet?

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

0 funny, 0 helpful.

dwmte7 says on Nov 15, 2008, 18:37:

yeah, frank...saw a bumper sticker: "cat, the other white meat"

patriarch

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Papi de Alejo says on Nov 15, 2008, 18:39:

You guys are sick. Sick, yes; but very funny.

Live simply... Love generously... Care deeply... Speak kindly...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

turnmeon (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 15, 2008, 19:28:

"Is there a “typical” Colombian race for cats (like in Europe where we have the “European race”)?"

in Colombia we have the American race...lol, alias gato callejero, or gato basto

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Nov 16, 2008, 00:10:

I had a cat once, in Colombia. I have friends that have cats. They look normal. Stripy things that like to sleep. Can't be bothered. I think your cat might be a cross-bred with tigrillo del monte.

A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi

0 funny, 0 helpful.

dwmte7 says on Nov 16, 2008, 05:29:

it's a baby puma...wait another 11 months and carry a club.

patriarch

1 funny, 0 helpful.

muffiemae says on Nov 16, 2008, 05:30:

Spaying/neutering does not make a cat or dog gain weight (just don't over feed), nor does it change their personalities. But the cat will possibly be less aggressive when the hormones leave his system. It takes six weeks or so after the neutering.

Dottie - http://www.spaypanama-chiriqui.org

0 funny, 0 helpful.

dwmte7 says on Nov 16, 2008, 05:30:

WHAT??? it just dawned on me what you said, maarit....you mean to say, los tigres del norte are doin cats?

patriarch

0 funny, 0 helpful.

webmanco says on Nov 16, 2008, 05:36:

In Colombia we got the Golosa Kat, or gata golosa

No hay extremo cierto o verdadero, porque los extremos opacan, enruedan, (lavan cerebros) verdades. Yotas

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Nov 16, 2008, 10:37:

Douglas douglas....not los tigres del norte but los tigrillos del monte.

Otherwise it just might be a cross-bred between a coste~na cat and a paraco.

A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi

0 funny, 0 helpful.

dwmte7 says on Nov 16, 2008, 11:48:

whoops.....

patriarch

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Darloup (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 17, 2008, 10:25:

What's a "paraco"? What's a "golosa"?

Right now, I feel like following Dwmte's advice and get a club...

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Nov 17, 2008, 10:44:

Darloup, "paraco" is a a paramiltary terrorist .
"gato goloso" is a cat with a sweet tooth.

A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi

0 funny, 0 helpful.

dwmte7 says on Nov 17, 2008, 11:29:

keep that in the back of your mind, darloup....it that feline keeps growing at the present rate, in another year, you're gonna be dealing with a saber tooth.

maarit.....i'm glad you cleared that up about los tigres del norte. i never did like them, but when my mind fantacized them 'doin cats' that was really over the line. i guess they're off the hook, but their music still sucks. sorry guys, but i cannot tell a lie.

patriarch

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Darloup (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 17, 2008, 11:37:

Desi,

Thanks for the explanations!

Actually, do the " tigrillos del monte" (whatever they are) actually mate with mere Colombian cats? Don't they eat them instead? I'm serious!

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Nov 17, 2008, 11:51:

Haha I don't know, darloup. Maybe they do...if Elmo mates with a donkey why wouldn't a wild mountain cat mate with a domestic pussy....I think in Colombia mating may well be one of the more creative aspects of life.

A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi

1 funny, 0 helpful.

Darloup (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 17, 2008, 12:05:

Desi,

"I think in Colombia mating may well be one of the more creative aspects of life."

Hmmm, I'll refrain from commenting on that!

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Tinto (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Nov 17, 2008, 12:10:

He systematically attacks all the visiting guests and bites their ankles and legs (often drawing blood).

------------------

If that happened to me you'd be looking for a new cat, a new friend and you'd be checking to make sure your liability insurance is paid up. A little leg hump I can live with (haha) but not a bite that draws blood. Better get that thing checked for rabies.

I wanted access to health care, housing and education, but, no, I get potholes, trash and silicone tits instead. -Desi.

1 funny, 0 helpful.

Darloup (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 17, 2008, 12:30:

Hey Tinto,

I do get your point, but I am not going to get rid of the bugger. We got him as a kitten and, after 11 months, he stills remains our responsabilty (although Nelly is always telling me: "Me voy a regarlarlo").

True, he started to hump table legs, my own legs, shoes, magazines, and even the muchacha (well, her legs). Hopefully, getting rid of his "huevitos" will solve the problem...

It's true that his drawing blood is a problem... I like to think that it's not THAT deliberate and that he is only drawing blood because his claws are presently half an inch long... - and growing ) . Hey, how about buying a nail-clipper?

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

0 funny, 0 helpful.

dwmte7 says on Nov 17, 2008, 13:22:

ok, desi....what, pray tell, is domestic pussy? what have i been missing out on?

patriarch

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Darloup (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 24, 2008, 10:05:

"I think your cat might be a cross-bred with tigrillo del monte." (Desi)

Yep, that was right on the spot! An "expert" examined him and confirmed that it had "tigrillo del monte" genes, although not 50%...

What on earth is a "tigrillo del monte"? And, as Dwmte7 advised, should I start walking about with a club?

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Nov 24, 2008, 10:15:

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

tigrillo del monte

There's a very nice blog about Colombian wildlife:
http://colombiacuriosa.blogspot.com/2006/03/mamferos-carnvoros.html

A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Nov 24, 2008, 10:17:

If you compare the colouring and the spotted fur the resemblance becomes obvious. The ears are different

A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Darloup (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 24, 2008, 10:19:

Oh dear... How big are those "tigrillos"?

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Darloup (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 24, 2008, 10:32:

Well, I found this link: http://www.fao.org/docrep/T0750E/t0750e0i.htm

Apparently, a "tigrillo" is an Ocelot...

Is a "tigrillo del monte" the same as a "tigrillo"?

A "tigrillo" is "Felis pardalis" whilst a "tigrillo del monte" is " Well, I found this link: http://www.fao.org/docrep/T0750E/t0750e0i.htm

Apparently, a "tigrillo" is an Ocelot...

Is a "tigrillo del monte" the same as a "tigrillo"?

Btw, Desi, the colombiacuriosa.blogspot.com link has always been one of my favorites!

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Nov 24, 2008, 10:33:

I have no idea, I suppose a little larger than domestic cats, but smaller than jaguars....

A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Darloup (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 24, 2008, 12:38:

"Jaguars"?!!!! I'm definitely getting a club....

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Desi1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Nov 24, 2008, 12:53:

I think tigrillo is a pretty generic denomination. It's a large cat, lives wild in the forest and mountain slopes. Ocelots are yellowish brown, I think, the mountain cat is grey and spotty. I think it's just called tigrillo but locally people have different names for it, thus "tigrillo del monte" which was a name I had heard.
I was just KIDDING with the reference to jaguar...

A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Darloup (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 24, 2008, 13:04:

"I was just KIDDING with the reference to jaguar..."

Easy to make fun when you don't have this predator living under your roof ;-)

BTW, everytime he tries to bite me, I give him a good wallop - he has now stopped...

Better to have tried and failed than having regrets all your life about what you MIGHT have missed

0 funny, 0 helpful.

lpdiver says on Dec 5, 2008, 02:13:

SOunds like a Maine Coon cat. I had a lady friend that had one that went near thirty pounds.

My daughter that had a cat that got territorial and would attack her friends when they rough housed with her. We had to give it away finally.

ts

Remember what the monkey says, "Fuck money it's free"

0 funny, 0 helpful.