The cat stands on his hind legs, claws exposed, and digs vigorously into the tree bark. Satisfied with this exercise in territory-marking and claw-sharpening, he takes a leisurely stroll around, sniffing about. Suddenly, a landed crow's movement catches his attention. The cat freezes and lowers to the ground — muscles taut, eyes focused. Slowly, one paw moves forward, then another, as the cat creeps up on the bird. Without warning, the cat makes his rush to pounce with breathtaking speed. This day, a startled crow flies to safety.

Sounds like just another day for an outside cat, right? The difference is that this particular cat weighs 450 pounds, and those sharpened claws could rip you wide open. This tiger's name is Raja, and he's no less a cat than your favorite feline — but much more dangerous.

Domestic housecats, such as American Shorthairs, Persians, Abyssinians and Siamese, and yes, tigers and lions, are close relatives in the Felidae family of carnivores. To put it simply, they are all cats. Big or small, wild or domesticated, their behavior is remarkably similar.

**For the full article, pick up the October issue of CAT FANCY.**

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