Animal trainers

[Kathlee111]

I think I answered question #1 about working a mixed act ( yes) so I will start with #2 , the question about which cat I found to be "most dangerous. " Not to sidestep, but I found them both to be equally dangerous once they were triggered or in a bad mood. They can kill a human with such ease that there is always danger, and one was not less dangerous than the other. Having said that, there were some general traits specific to each species which could be considered important,  and individual character differences that varied from cat to cat. Their personalities played a role in whether I felt more or less comfortable around them. 
Lions seemed to me to be lazier and more indifferent to outside stimulus than tigers, so as long as you stay out of their way, they wont notice you. ( this is only for people  they know well) but once you pique their interest or wrath,  they are relentless. Tigers are more aware of their surroundings and more responsive to outside influences , they are more on the alert than lions. They are watchful and wary and very selective. They pick their battles carefully but once in, they are a fury. Lots of energy, high tension with tigers , they like to be comfortable and sometimes that means solitude.  They dont like being stared at by certain people, and will take pains to show it. They can hate certain individuals on sight and it is unchangeable.  Lions don't care enough to bother unless you piss them off. Then they are mad and at their most dangerous. My cats all differed. Bombay was always calm with me, never annoyed with me and she tolerated alot before getting mad at others.  Saigon mellowed as he aged but was a bit of a curious spaz thru his first 6 years or so. So was his smarter sister, Malia. Tsavo,  my male lion , was pretty smart ( not as smart as Bombay) but a bit of a bully and a showhorse, he liked showing off his roar and mane and general good looks, very proud of himself. He had some sulky teen angst around 3 or 4 when he was moodiest. It was tiresome and intimidating for me at same time.
Intelligence depended on individual cat, not species, in my opinion.  ( question #3)
We determined subspecies by breeder , we trusted them and didnt breed our own cats, Wayne and I. It wasn't a concern to know percentages. We went on breeders word. ( question # 4) ..
more later.... Reply