Some Horses Just Love Cats

I never could understand why Sweet and Low, one of the horses with whom I shared my heart years ago was a total felinophobe who went bonkers whenever she encountered a cat, either on the trails or in her stall (much to the dismay of anyone sitting on her back or standing in her stall grooming her). Upon spying a kitty, Sweet and Low became a bucking bronco leaping into the air with all four legs underneath her, arching her back and whinnying loudly in an attempt to scare away any feline she considered an intruder. Go figure, me an ardent cat lover owned by a horse that was terrified of them. It was to say the least, embarrassing. This said, according to all my horse-loving friends, Sweet and Low's behavior was quite unusual, since generally speaking most horses appear to enjoy the company of cats. In fact, many stables and barns are frequently home to a variety of kitties, many of whom earn their stay by keeping the rodent population in check, helping to preserve stored grain and pellets. Additionally horses often form close relationships with cats in their barn. It is not uncommon to see a horse in a stall, with a feline companion all curled up in a corner on an inviting pile of hay. Perhaps the cats enjoy the warmth that the horse emanates, or they just enjoy their scent. Since I have not yet interviewed a horse-loving kitty, of course any of my ideas are just speculative. But the proof's in the pudding, so they say. And when I opened an email sent me by a dear friend, featuring a pony displaying tender affection towards a very receptive feline, clearly demonstrating that horses are capable of forming close bonds with kitties, I was forced to wrack my brain for reasons behind Sweet and Low's terror. The only thing I could come up with is that since cats are diminutive predators, perhaps her self-protective instincts were working overtime. I am sure that all animal lovers will enjoy watching "Pony Grooms Cat", the video uploaded to YouTube by WorthAShotFarm. It gives me a kick to see animals of different species getting along so well. It sure sets a good example for humans, don't you think? Share your views in a comment. Image Source: Flickr user skywide