Flor and I would like to announce proudly that we also have a lizard killer. Dave from Lizardpoop has his mother-in-law to do so, we also have one. Not as feared as Dave has, but yet….
The Philippines is a country with a large variety of animals and insects. Because of the warm weather, windows and doors are open all day and even in the night. Sometimes with screens to keep the mosquito’s out. Inside the houses small lizards can be seen at the ceiling or on other higher places. Especially late afternoon and in the evening. Those house lizards are about 4 to 5 inches in length (10 cm) and are catching little flies, mosquitos and other small insects. In the Philippines they are called ‘botiki’ or butiki.
Cockroaches are nasty other insects, their size is about 1 inch (2 to 3 cm) and they come in the houses sometimes crawling, sometimes flying and are looking for something to eat.
As you probably know already, my wife Flor and I brought our pet cat Emily to the Philippines when we moved here. Read about the difficulties at the customs on her arrival HERE.
Cats in Europe and America like to catch birds and mice. Our Emily didn’t find mice yet here. Maybe there are not that many in our subdivision. But the moment she spotted a botiki, her attention couldn’t be distracted anymore. She continues staring at the unreachable lizard who was sitting at the ceiling, hoping that the lizzard comes down so she can try to get him.
If she has a chance to get one, she will. Often the lizard is loosing it’s tail and runs away without the tail, leaving it’s tail, still twisting, behind. That’s the reason we have several botiki in the house without tails.
But no problem for the lizard because the tail will grow again.
Emily just plays with the tail a while untill it doesn’t twist anymore. At that point she loses interest and leaves it where it is. We haven’t seen her eating them (yet). The same when she is able to cath the lizard itself. She plays with it untill the animal is not moving anymore.
Another favorite hunting prey is a cockroach, or roach. The moment she sees one, she’s on the guard and running after the insect. Turning it on it’s back so the insect can not run away anymore. Every time the roach tries to escape, she puts her feet on the insect and turns it again. After a few times doing so the insect gets wounded and dies, and Emily leaves the creature where it is. And lots of ants coming soon to try to bring the dead insect to their nest.
After hunting she will get a nap, no matter where. For example on a chair, and soomtimes in a very strange position.
Soon I will publish more adventures of our Emily.
Check the Lizardpoop website from Dave for more interesting stories about an expat living in the Philippines.
Feel free to comment (with pictures) and stories of your favorite pet below.
Filipino time:
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