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To: submarinerswife

There is a theory that Cheetahs were domesticated from Leopards as “hunting cats” much the way greyhounds were used and then escaped back intot he wild, Egyptian kings used them for hunting too.


11 posted on 02/10/2011 8:58:25 AM PST by GraceG
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To: GraceG

Cheetahs are unable to retract their claws, as all felines, such as leopards, are able to do.

In fact, Cheetahs are genetically distinct from cats and are unable to crossbreed with big cats such as tigers, lions, and leopards.

So your statement about Cheetahs being domesticated from Leopards cannot be true.

What is true is that Cheetahs are more ‘biddable’ than other wild felines and in the past have been trained to hunt in cooperation with humans.

Servals, which are felines and can crossbreed with domesticated house cats, is often referred to in Africa as “the poor man’s cheetah”, as it too can be trained to hunt in cooperation with humans.


19 posted on 02/10/2011 12:06:30 PM PST by SatinDoll
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