Animal Planet has a show "Big Cats Diary" (maybe originally filmed for BBC) that follows lions, cheetahs and leopards. Now they run it very early in the mornings, but they did several seasons before it was relegated to such an obscure time. The videographers followed particular families of the big cats and the cats became very used to the people.

On at least two occasions the female cheetah they were following jumped up on the Range Rover and used the opening in the roof for a toilet.

Here:

- between 3:30 and 4:30

- between 1:00 and 2:15

Here is the same cheetah on BBC video:

Archae

(46,328 posts)

5. Cats do that for a simple reason.

Reply to avebury (Original post)

Mon Dec 31, 2012, 02:09 PM

Dec 2012

Those cars are the highest spot for miles around that are easy to get on to.
And Cheetahs aren't very good at climbing trees.

My two cats love being on the desk, or on top of the fridge, or on my bookcase looking out the window.

I was reminded though of when Johnny Carson held an adorable cheetah cub, that was only a few weeks old.
A year later the cub was brought back to the show, it snarled and swiped at Johnny, although it was in a cage.
Scared the crap out of Johnny.

lunatica

(53,410 posts)

6. That is exactly the way we should get along with wild animals

Reply to avebury (Original post)

Mon Dec 31, 2012, 02:20 PM

Dec 2012

With respect, and being of some use to them. In this case the cheetah gets a high vantage point from with to look for prey. Good exchange. Although hopefully they do that only once in a while so as not to frighten the prey away.

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