Corsican legends
For centuries, Corsican shepherds have told stories of strange animals that attack cows and sheep. These animals tried to attack the udders of livestock. There have also been attacks on chicken coops.
The unusual animal looked like both a cat and a fox. Legends about this animal have been passed down from generation to generation. The locals called it ghjattu volpe, which means “cat-fox” or “cat fox” in Corsican.
For a long time, scientists considered these myths to be fiction. It was assumed that Corsican peasants mistook ordinary cats for a new species of animal.
However, the fox cat does exist. In 2008, this animal was caught in a chicken coop in northern Corsica. The new species of mammal leads a predominantly nocturnal and secretive lifestyle. The cat-fox lives in remote and deserted places. That is why for many centuries it was impossible to catch it.
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Coticus subbush. Scientists have found a new species of cat in Corsica, and it hides better than a ninja.
Employees of the French Wildlife Authority have found and filmed a new species of cat discovered on the island of Corsica. The predator has long fangs, the habits of a secretive ninja, and local residents make up frightening legends about him. But journalists do not share the opinion of scientists.
A new species of cat found on the Mediterranean island of Corsica was reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP) on June 19. Since 2008, local residents have complained about a predator who ravaged chicken coops and stole milk at night. In 2012, employees of the French State Office for Wildlife (ONCFS) opened a hunt for the offender and installed incense sticks in the forests that could attract the attention of wild animals.
The results were not long in coming: in the same year, researchers discovered fur particles on the sticks. Using a DNA test, experts determined that the predator is a cat that does not belong to a species already known to mankind. ONCFS chief ecologist Pierre Benedetti explained that the discovery was a revelation for scientists.
Based on DNA, we were able to distinguish it from the European forest cat Felis silvestris. The data is close to the African steppe cat Felis silvestris lybica, but its exact identity has yet to be determined.
According to ONCFS field researcher Carlo-Antone Cecchini, during its life in Corsica the animal became an integral part of local mythology. From generation to generation, people told each other legends about dangerous forest cats that come at night. In the Corsican dialect they called the beast ghjattu-volpe. The second part of this word is translated from Italian as “fox”.
Using traps and hidden cameras, specialists managed to track and catch 12 individuals. This happened in 2020, at the same time experts installed chips on the animals to track their habits and location and released them into the wild.
The body length of the animal is 90 centimeters. He has very wide ears, short mustaches and highly developed fangs. The predator has no external resemblance to a fox. The cat got its nickname because of the rings on its tail and its black tip.
Another distinctive feature of the animal is its dense, soft fur, which protects the owner from fleas, ticks and lice.
This is a wonderful discovery,” Benedetti told reporters.
But neither thick fur nor sharp claws can save them from their furry relatives. The individual in all photos is a male between four and six years old. According to ONCFS workers, he injured his right eye in a fight with another male. The result of the contraction is reminiscent of heterochromia - a genetic feature expressed in different colors of the iris of the eyes.
His right eye was damaged in a fight with another male
How did the animals manage to hide from local residents and scientists for years? Experts have determined that the cat-fox lives in places remote from humans, prefers to settle near bodies of water densely overgrown with grass, and is nocturnal. The main danger to her life is not people, but golden eagles, whose size is not inferior to that of a cat.
To see a kitty in action, you don’t have to go to Corsica and risk your life. The agency shared a video of experts examining the animal.
Benedetti has a theory that the cat-fox came to Corsica in the 7th century BC, and was brought by local farmers. According to his assumption, the animal’s homeland is the Middle East. Researchers have not yet found out what kind of food the animal prefers, or whether it lives in groups. This remains to be seen.
Despite the reasoning of experts, a correspondent for Hi-News suggests that scientists risk making a mistake in considering the cat-fox a new species. According to the journalist, the predators may be a hybrid of two species of wild cats from the neighboring island of Sardinia.
No less amazing than the fox cat, the animal is called the civet and lives in Africa. If you haven't heard of this fluffy one yet, it's time to watch him drink milk. After all, the beast does not know how to do this.
People can also be deprived of seemingly basic skills. For example, a woman named Debbie can't take selfies. But that didn’t stop her from launching the most divine PR campaign on Facebook.
Research by scientists
Scientists have been researching the new cat species since 2008.
Zoologists managed to catch 16 individuals in the forests of Corsica. These animals were microchipped and then released into the wild. This allowed scientists to monitor their movements. However, the lifestyle of cats has not yet been fully studied. Zoologists do not know the peculiarities of their reproduction and nutrition.
Scientists used special infrared traps to obtain animal hair. This was necessary for studying DNA. The study found that the new animal is genetically different from the European forest cat. It is similar in DNA to the wild steppe cat. Currently, work to identify the fox cat is still ongoing.
Domestic foxes
The truth about domestic foxes:
- Foxes smell bad;
- Foxes living in a family where they are cared for, played with and raised like dogs, quickly get used to their owners and become domesticated;
- If a pet fox is trained correctly, it will never bite;
- Fox cubs are very gentle and playful creatures, just like dog puppies;
- Foxes behave both like dogs and cats;
- Foxes love sweets, especially fruits;
- Foxes love to jump;
- Foxes are afraid of heights, just like dogs, and if you pick them up, they stop resisting and become almost completely defenseless;
- Foxes are afraid of loneliness and cannot be without a person for a long time if they are already strongly attached to him;
- Foxes are very smart and quickly learn to use their strength, agility and dexterity;
- Foxes are easily litter trained;
- Foxes quickly get used to the collar;
- It is not necessary to go for walks with foxes twice every day, as with dogs;
- Domestic foxes must be locked in a cage at night: foxes are nocturnal animals, and if you do not want your pet to turn the room upside down from loneliness while you sleep, then you will have to put it in a cage in the evening in order to accustom it to a daytime lifestyle;
- Foxes love fish very much;
- Foxes need to be bathed at least once every six months;
- Foxes love to play in the water;
- Foxes love sausages and sausages, but be careful - don't feed them too much chemicals!
- Foxes, like dogs, run after a stick and a ball;
- Foxes, like cats, love to play hunting;
- Contrary to all the myths about foxes, they get along well with other animals, especially dogs;
- The best relationships develop with the little fox who chooses you when purchasing (he will behave differently from others, he will be drawn to you);
- Foxes are practically omnivores, and specialized dog food, although tasty, can shorten your pet’s lifespan, so it is better to feed it with homemade food;
- Foxes wag their tail to show their joy;
- Foxes need to be brushed, just like dogs;
- Foxes cry just like little children when they are sad, scared, hurt or lonely;
- If the owner does not pay attention to the fox cub, the baby lies down next to him, touches him with his paws, bites him so that he is finally remembered;
- Not all foxes can handle dairy products—lactose can upset some stomachs;
- Foxes see themselves in the mirror, but not every furry will understand that it is him and not another fox;
- Foxes should not be given cakes or waffles: sweets may cause foxes to lose their fur, and the chemicals added to sweets by manufacturers may cause them to vomit; if you want to please your pet, give him sweet fruits or berries (if just a little, then you can have jam);
- You cannot play aggressive games with foxes, like tug-of-war, and you should not deliberately anger them; To make the little fox gentle in the future, play with him chasing the mouse or throw him a ball;
- To tame a fox and accustom him to touch, you need to start stroking him on the third day after you meet him and at the same time feed him something tasty; the fox must see the hand, otherwise it will only get scared; don’t worry if he doesn’t allow himself to be petted for a long time: foxes, like cats, have animalistic moods, and until love for you as their owner awakens in them, he won’t let himself be held; It’s better to start stroking from the tips of the ears, slowly and carefully, so that the fox gets used to the new sensations;
- You should take a fox out for a walk not on a leash attached to a collar, but on a harness, so that the animal does not break free and gets lost;
- Teach your little fox to the command “Fu!” from the very beginning: if he does something wrong - shout Fu!, so that in the future there will be no problems with training;
- Other people's dogs can attack your little fox just like cats, so make sure that where you walk your friend there are no dog walkers;
Adult fox.
Description of the animal
The fox cat is larger than ordinary domestic cats. Its body length reaches 90 cm. The animal has large ears, short mustaches, a striped tail with a black tip and very long teeth. The fur is thick and reddish in color.
Fox cats are found in northern Corsica in the forests around the village of Asco. Their habitat is separated from people by dense thickets and water. Therefore, it is quite difficult to detect these animals. Only at night do cats raid livestock and chicken coops.
In the wild, the fox cat has few enemies. Only large birds of prey pose a danger to the animal.
Cabinet
Smile! A thirty-year-old man, aka my husband, aka the gray cat, calls me Fox and writes poems about me. Meet the works of Sergei Kuznetsov!
*** I love my Fox with a black dot on her nose. I don’t look at my watch, Because I’m happy because of the Fox.
*** I urgently need to scratch the fox's leg. And I rush to help, Like a knight on a horse.
*** My beloved Fox, Four legs and two ears. There is nothing more beautiful in the whole world, I will shout at least on the air.
*** My Little Fox got a little bored. For a while, all of Fox’s friends fled. And only the gray cat is always with his fox, no matter how many hours, nights and days pass. He took his red firchetron onto his lap and caressed and kissed her from all sides. The fox dozed off, closing her eyes, and asked the cat to tell her a fairy tale. The slightly fluffy gray Cat began to think, And could immediately come up with just an anecdote, Fox snorted so that the Cat wouldn’t talk nonsense, And hid her sharp black nose under her tail.
Lullaby for the Fox
Sleep, my dear Syushka The day ended a long time ago. The moon looks out the window with its bald, sparkling head.
The fluffy foxes need to sleep at this time already. In soft beautiful nighties, In your heavenly hut.
The cat lay down next to Lisyushka and helps her fall asleep. Gently scratch behind the ear, caress the cheeks a little...
Whispers to my beloved Fox Sleep, my dear. Let all the troubles of the day disappear, like a burnt match.
*** I carry My red Fox in my bag. Wool sausage My dear Fox.
*** I hugged my little fox, who decorates the whole world, and counted not five, not six, but eight holes on her red ears.
*** My little fox pretended to be a top and walked around with happy eyes. A brown leg will flash, Well, straight from a fairy tale book.
*** You are my snort, dear Lisyushka, I confess not melting, but still in my ear, That I love you so much, I don’t even have a word, To express my feelings, none.
*** My little Fox ran very close. She waved her red tail, All the bad things drowned.
*** My soft Fox is like a down pillow. Right now I’ll lie down on it for a real pull.
*** Fox stomps home from work, walks with a slightly furrowed brow, and thinks with his red head: How fucked up everything is for her.
*** My beloved Lisyusha, Go and make a note in your notebook: All my life I am ready to listen to you, And always look at you.
Ballerina
My fox is finally a ballerina Under the yellow foliage, the autumn skies are aquamarine Covered with pale blue.
My snorting little Fox is showing off. Take her off and make it great! “I spent half a day curling the top of my head. Now everyone will see what kind of person I am.”
And then he will stretch out his paws to his Cat. While the Fox is not frozen, take him in your arms quickly. Press it to your chest more tightly and more gently, To push away the emptiness of life.
*** I am proud of my beloved Fox, After all, she won the test. And even though I’m not rich yet, well, let my fidget succeed.
*** My Ballerina Fox Walked through the park today, And everyone around her took pictures of her on VKontakte for their avatar.
*** The cat found his Fox in the dark, snorting forest. He walked along one of the clearings and noticed a red tail.
*** My fox is a journalist, After all, behind the sheet he stains the sheet. He writes scribbles there, so that everyone in the magazine gasps.
Cat and fox
The Cat and the Fox is a Russian folk tale by Alexei Tolstoy. A funny fairy tale that both adults and children love to listen to. One day the owner got tired of putting up with the cat’s antics and drove him into the forest. But the cat did not disappear in the forest. He called himself Kotofey Ivanovich - the governor. And the fox decided to invite him to live with her. And the cat agreed without thinking twice. And the cunning fox asked to marry the cat. They celebrated the wedding and the next day she went to get food. She came up with a cunning plan. She caught a duck and goes home. And a wolf comes to meet. He wants to pick up the duck. Lisa said that this was new for the governor. He is formidable, and can kill for a duck. And the wolf wanted to look at him.
Once upon a time there was a man. This guy had a cat, but he was such a spoiler, it was a disaster! He's bored to death. So the man thought and thought, took the cat, put it in a bag and carried it into the forest. He brought it and threw it in the forest - let it disappear.
The cat walked and walked and came across a hut. He climbed into the attic and lay down for himself. If he wants to eat, he’ll go into the forest, catch birds and mice, eat his fill, and go back to the attic, and he won’t have much trouble!
So the cat went for a walk, and a fox met him. She saw a cat and marveled: “For how many years I’ve been living in the forest, I’ve never seen such an animal!”
The fox bowed to the cat and asked:
- Tell me, good fellow, who are you? How did you come here and what should they call you by name?
And the cat raised his fur and answered:
- My name is Kotofey Ivanovich, I was sent to you by the governor from the Siberian forests.
- Oh, Kotofey Ivanovich! - says the fox. “I didn’t know about you, I didn’t know.” Well, let's go visit me.
The cat went to the fox. She brought him to her hole and began to treat him to various game, and she kept asking:
— Kotofey Ivanovich, are you married or single?
- And I, fox, am a maiden. Marry me!
The cat agreed, and they began to feast and have fun.
The next day the fox went to get supplies, but the cat stayed at home.
The fox ran and ran and caught a duck. She carries her home, and a wolf meets her:
- Stop, fox! Give me the duck!
- Well, I'll take it myself.
“And I’ll tell Kotofey Ivanovich, he’ll put you to death!”
—Who is Kotofey Ivanovich?
-Didn't you hear? Voivode Kotofey Ivanovich was sent to us from the Siberian forests! I used to be a maiden fox, and now I’m our governor’s wife.
- No, I haven’t heard, Lizaveta Ivanovna. How should I look at him?
- Ugh! Kotofey Ivanovich is so angry with me: anyone he doesn’t like will eat him now! Prepare the ram and bring it to bow to him: put the ram in a visible place, and hide yourself so that the cat doesn’t see you, otherwise, brother, you’ll have a hard time!
The wolf ran after the ram, and the fox ran home.
A fox is walking and he meets a bear:
- Wait, fox, who are you bringing the duck to? Give it to me!
- Go, bear, I’ll get you well, otherwise I’ll tell Kotofey Ivanovich, he’ll put you to death!
—Who is Kotofey Ivanovich?
- And who was sent to us from the Siberian forests by the commander. I used to be a maiden fox, and now I am the wife of our governor, Kotofey Ivanovich.
- Is it possible to watch it, Lizaveta Ivanovna?
- Ugh! Kotofey Ivanovich is so angry with me: anyone he doesn’t like will eat him now. Go and prepare the bull and bring it to him to bow to. But look, put the bull in a visible place, and hide yourself so that Kotofey Ivanovich doesn’t see you, otherwise you’ll have a hard time!
The bear followed the bull, and the fox went home.
So the wolf brought a ram, skinned it, and stood there thinking. He looks and the bear climbs with the bull.
- Hello, Mikhailo Ivanovich!
- Hello, brother Levon! What, haven’t you seen the fox with her husband?
- No, Mikhailo Ivanovich, I’m waiting for them myself.
“Go and call them,” the bear says to the wolf.
- No, I won’t go, Mikhailo Ivanovich. I'm slow, you better go.
- No, I won’t go, brother Levon. I'm furry, clumsy, where do I belong!
Suddenly - out of nowhere - a hare runs.
The wolf and the bear will shout at him:
- Come here with your scythe!
The hare sat down, his ears back.
- You, hare, are agile and quick on your feet: run to the fox, tell her that the bear Mikhailo Ivanovich and his brother Levon Ivanovich have been ready for a long time, they are waiting for you with her husband, with Kotofey Ivanovich, they want to bow to the ram and the bull.
The hare ran towards the fox at full speed. And the bear and the wolf began to think about where they could hide.
- I'll climb a pine tree.
And the wolf says to him:
-Where am I going to go? After all, I can’t climb a tree. Bury me somewhere.
The bear hid the wolf in the bushes, covered it with dry leaves, and he climbed onto the pine tree, to the very top of his head, and looked to see if Kotofey Ivanovich was coming with the fox.
Meanwhile, the hare ran to the fox’s hole:
- The bear Mikhailo Ivanovich and the wolf Levon Ivanovich sent to say that they have been waiting for you and your husband for a long time, they want to bow to you as a bull and a ram.
- Go, scythe, we’ll be there now.
So the cat and the fox went. The bear saw them and said to the wolf:
- What a little governor Kotofey Ivanovich is!
The cat immediately rushed at the bull, ruffled the fur, began to tear the meat with his teeth and paws, and he purred as if he was angry:
The bear again says to the wolf:
- Small, but gluttonous! The four of us can’t eat, but it’s not enough for him alone. Perhaps he will get to us too!
The wolf also wanted to look at Kotofey Ivanovich, but he couldn’t see him through the leaves. And the wolf slowly began to rake up the leaves. The cat heard the leaves moving, thought it was a mouse, and how it rushed, and grabbed the wolf’s face with its claws.
The wolf got scared, jumped up and started running away.
And the cat got scared and climbed up the tree where the bear was sitting.
“Well,” the bear thinks, “he saw me!”
There was no time to get down, the bear fell from the tree to the ground, knocked off all the livers, jumped up and ran away.
And the fox shouts after him:
“Run, run, don’t let him kill you.”
From then on, all the animals began to be afraid of the cat. And the cat and the fox stocked up on meat for the whole winter and began to live and get along. And now they live.
