Anyone who has ever spent much time around domestic cats knows they really aren't. They are just comfortable having someone take care of them. But they are still never more than a fraction of a second away from wild. They would rather catch their food than eat from a bowl, no matter what is put in that bowl. And no cat lover, no such thing as a "cat owner", is without claw and teeth marks. It's part of sharing your life with a cat.
not true. my cat never intentionally scratched (as in reaching out and deliberately swiping) or bit. nope, never. he's around 12 or thirteen now..and there is a reason.
domestic house cat's that scratch and bite are out there, everyone has experienced them, but their behavior has to do with how they are brought up.
don't EVER "play rough" with your kitten or cat. do not play 'pounce' games with your hands or any other body part. ok to play pounce with string, or a stuffed animal. and never use violence towrds them -- one swat, one day, and they may never trust anyone again..
..if i accidentally cause my cat pain, if I snag some fur while combing him, say, he will lunge with his mouth open, mouth my hand possibly but never hard bites..
some animals are wilder and some more domestic than others..people consider (domestic) ferrets "wild" but they are far less wild than house cats in that they have NEVER established a feral clolony, even with help from man, anywhere. but we all know cats do it all the time. ferrets left 'outside' die. end of story.
as for baby with the bobcat. although having a bobcat hang in my house as a friend has always been a dream; they certainly shouldn't be left with children unsupervised. let's hope those two were seperated soon after the photo..