Playing With Fire

I swear cats like "playing with fire" literally.  How often I've watched them do things or approach things that I would never attempt.  Of course, it's probably because they don't think like humans and they have no real sense of fear since their instinct tells them otherwise.  But they do attempt things that make me cringe.

How about jumping and climbing to heights far exceeding their size and then trying to figure out how to get down?

What about when they find a hole and without giving it a second thought they just shove their paws down the hole without any regard for safety or what might be lurking below.  For all they know they could get their legs ripped off or eaten by something bigger.

Or how about anything new and different?  How often has your cat just walked up and sniffed the blade of a knife, climbed into a box without knowing what's inside, stuck their heads into a tight place to see what's there, squeezed into a car engine compartment to get warm without fear of getting sliced to bits, stood on the edge of a pond or body of water without worrying about falling in and drowning or laying so close to the fireplace that you'd swear they are going to burst into flames any second? And then, to confirm your concerns, they jump on your lap, hot as can be because of their close proximity to the fire they laid in front of.

Being a cat may have its perks.  Being petted all the time.  Sleeping when you want.  Getting fed and your toilet cleaned regularly.  In general, just being taken care of.  But all the other things I can leave behind.  Eating live animals.  Being chased by other animals. Getting into fights with other felines who also possess dagger-like claws and razor-sharp teeth.  Those I can do without.

So, I guess being human and "owning" (I say owning but it is really said tongue-in-cheek), cats is the best way to go.  Pet them when you want.  Watch their playful antics.  And best of all be calmed and cuddled by fuzzy, purr-enhanced motors that seem to bring out the best in their human masters.  (Slaves)