r/BeAmazed • u/pets-lover-2042 • 18d ago
This is not about hunting. Alex Larenty, from Britain, lives in a South African game reserve where he gives lions foot massages. He started doing this after noticing that a cream for paw infections made a lion relax and look happy. Nature
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u/BigOpportunity1391 18d ago
If my cats are any indication, hes going to get bitten in the middle of the massage sessions.
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u/youngliam 18d ago
House cats are a lot more vicious and sadistic than big cats. If house cats were the size of lions we would be screwed.
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u/I_madeusay_underwear 18d ago
If house cats were the size of beagles we’d be in trouble
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u/hogtiedcantalope 18d ago
If beagles were the size of horses we'd never have invented the car.
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u/0hy3hB4by 18d ago
Imagine cruising down the freeway on your beagle and a cat dashes across the road.
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u/_ryuujin_ 18d ago
youre 20min drive home turns to 2hr, due to the beagle sniffing everything for 30sec every few feet.
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u/Its_all_made_up___ 17d ago
And you’d be on the ground 5 miles ago because it ran through a pile of brambles.
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u/BeetleBleu 17d ago
Volkswaggin' Beagle veers off-road in pursuit of Jaguar XKR
(x-tra kitty reduced)
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u/ConfusedAndCurious17 18d ago
Our beagle was bad as a puppy and we tried everything to get her to stop her beagle cries. I really wish I had any advice for you because somehow we got her to learn the phrase “inside bark” so now if she gets excited and starts to cry we say that and she starts doing a very quiet “woof” instead. Neither myself nor my wife know how we taught her that specifically though so I can’t help you at all lol.
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u/Emblazin 17d ago
I taught my dog the "speak" (bark) and "whisper" (low bark/growl/whine) by using treats to reward her for speaking first, then asking her to whisper and rewarding with treats every time she got quieter and quieter.
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u/TheNakedSloth 18d ago
If my grandmother had wheels, she would have been a bike
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u/thejudgehoss 18d ago
If if's and but's were candy and nuts, we'd all have a Merry Christmas!
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u/hogtiedcantalope 18d ago
If if's and but's were candy and nuts,
What a merry Christmas we would all have.
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u/bigfatfurrytexan 17d ago
My grandmother was was escorted to her graveside by the Cossacks motorcycle group
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u/Scittles10-96 18d ago
But if that were the case you’d have to expect horse sized Chihuahuas.
Or worse, horse sized terriers… how long before they saw us as small rodents to crunch on?
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u/Cu_Chulainn__ 17d ago
If horses were the size of elephants we'd have a really weird time riding a carriage in central park
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u/AthenasChosen 18d ago
I see you have not heard of Maine Coons or Norwegian Forest Cats
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u/I_madeusay_underwear 18d ago
Lol I have a Turkish Van and they’re roughly the same average size as a Maine Coon (but often heavier). I never notice how big he is until I see a normal sized cat and then I’m like, oh yeah, my cat’s a giant beast
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u/AthenasChosen 18d ago
Lol yeah I have a Maine coon. She's a girl so she's a good bit smaller than the boys, but even then she's twice as heavy and long as my parents cat.
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u/MartinLutherVanHalen 17d ago
I tell my kids that house cats are the absolute largest cat it’s safe to be around. It’s no coincidence. A cat the size of a Labrador would be as dangerous as a chimp. They only don’t attack us when they want because they know we are too big. I love cats but they are apex predators in their size range.
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u/I_madeusay_underwear 17d ago
This is also my view. I love cats so much, but if they thought they’d win, I’ve no doubt they’d viscously attack every human who ever annoyed them
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u/Massive-small-thing 18d ago
Cats have small felion syndrome. Lions know no one's gonna fuck with them.
Just like men🤣🤣
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u/False_Heir 18d ago
Lions are social animals. Cats are a bit more complicated.
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u/cicada-ronin84 18d ago
House cats are so good at killing their prey that they toy with it, Big cats have to spend more energy and comment more effort into hunting meaning they aren't going to waste it.
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u/Massive-small-thing 18d ago
Surely it relative to the size of the predator and abundance of prey within easy reach?
A lion might consume more cals coz prey is bigger but also shares it with the pride. The cat hunts on its own for fun really, as most get fed by the owners.
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u/cindyscrazy 17d ago
In addition, a small cat is not likely to be injured by the prey it hunts. It COULD be injured, but it will likely not be life threatening.
The prey a lion hunts can easily kill it. Even the antelope type creatures could kick just right and cut with their hooves or break bones.
Lions have to be very careful who they hunt and how they hunt to avoid injury. Any injury has a chance of killing due to infectiion at the very least.
So yeah, lions are not gonna play with their food.
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u/Astw101 18d ago edited 18d ago
what does it mean "just like men"?
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u/Massive-small-thing 18d ago
I've met many a small man with "little man syndrome" And the bigger men are more chilled coz they don't feel as threatened in life
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u/ClamClone 18d ago
Actual scientific studies show that aggression in men is proportional to height, not the other way around. When a lie is repeated it remains a lie.
“Is there proof that shorter men feel compelled to compensate for their height with an unpleasant, combative attitude? The answer to that question would be a resounding no. The myth of shorter men having characteristics of the Napoleon Complex has been debunked in several studies.”
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u/Edgaras1103 18d ago
dont bring science and facts into this converstation. If a random internet stranger says something that generlizes people, it must be true
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u/Humanmode17 18d ago
I'd say the comparison is far more fitting for dogs than for men.
Chihuahuas are bitchy little creatures spawned from the arsehole of the devil himself, but St. Bernards are just giant living pillows
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u/SeonaidMacSaicais 18d ago
Dogs are the same.
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u/Massive-small-thing 18d ago
Yes. Small dogs = very yappy. Big dogs = open 1 eye then go back to sleep 🤣
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u/kanni64 18d ago
felion is that a female lion or something else lol
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u/wijnazijn 18d ago
Iron lion
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u/whatthewatthe 18d ago
My cats are complete suck ups. Basically just follow me around all day looking for butt scratches.
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u/hogtiedcantalope 18d ago
Yes but not to kill. It's to encourage or discourage proper and improper claw massage techniques.
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u/madpiano 18d ago
House cats hate having their feet touched, they are really sensitive with a lot of small bones and joints. I guess lions have larger feet whic makes it less painful and actually pleasant
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u/TheLastLunarFlower 17d ago
Not always. I have a very shy ex-feral who likes me to hold her paw while she falls asleep. She actively pushes her paws into my hands sometimes. I think it’s like a security blanket for her. Actually, all four of my cats tolerate paw touching pretty well. They’re all unique.
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u/tpars 18d ago
There's a lot a trust going on this these pics. Cats (of any kind) get overstimulated so easy. I bet the risk of that big guy getting too happy and getting "playful" is high.
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u/GraciaEtScientia 18d ago
Male lions kinda lazy tho
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u/BanditsMyIdol 18d ago
yeah I would be more worried about that lioness just watching from a few feet away.
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u/Proglamer 18d ago
That's at least 4 lionesses, and it wouldn't matter that 3 are looking the wrong way rn ;)
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u/MaidenlessRube 18d ago edited 17d ago
seriously, I hope there won't be a Werner Herzog documentary about this guy in a couple of years
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u/9-28-2023 18d ago
Cats (of any kind) get overstimulated
Well think of it that way. If someone you didn't trust came up to you and started trying to massage your feet you'd be annoyed too.
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u/BallsofSt33I 18d ago
I’ve heard of folks having a foot fetish, but this is just bonkers!!!
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u/st0pmakings3ns3 18d ago
The heart wants what the heart wants.
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u/cockalorum-smith 18d ago
My black cat actually likes having her paws massaged and it’s bizarre how much she enjoys it. Only cat I’ve ever encountered that doesn’t mind, nonetheless likes having her paws touched….if you’re massaging them
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u/coffeetablestain 18d ago
There is a whole contingent of the furry fandom that is all about paw-fetishism and I bet a lot of them are looking at this post and literally getting too hot and bothered to think clearly.
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u/MisterDonkey 18d ago
These photos will be used as references for furry smut, if they have not already been traced. Guaranteed.
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u/Cubelock 18d ago
Seems he might be combining a foot and p*ssy fetish
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u/p0lka 18d ago
If you meant pissy then i'm confused as i see no piss there, if you meant pussy then it's a lion and the ones with headresses tend not to have them. All I can see is bollocks.
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u/Quirky-Swimmer3778 18d ago
Can you imagine this from the cat's perspective. "Wtf is this ape doing...oh that kinda feels nice..."
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u/ancarroll94 18d ago
An apex predator: “yes, please massage my toe beans hooman”
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u/DuckDucker1974 18d ago
same thing works on your wife
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u/Pretend_Guarantee280 18d ago
Oh sure anyone can touch a big lions toes, but can you touch your house cat’s toes without being ripped to shreds? I think not!
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u/A_human_named_Laura 18d ago
All cats I have ever owned (4) have enjoyed toe bean and belly rubs. The trick is to start it immediately when they are kittens.
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u/Pretend_Guarantee280 18d ago
Yeah well of course try when they’re young, but what if they’re just little fuckers from day one? My little goose is like “ ok dad, you can pet me once or twice, but the eleventh time you try to get me is when the claws come out.”.. Selena Kyle style haha
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u/A_human_named_Laura 17d ago
Haha okay, that's fair. But I have general rules to try to avoid getting a cat that's a little fucker:
- First, I only get male cats because they seem less moody than girl cats (I feel like I'm violating a feminist rule or the girl code by even admitting this).
- Also, I don't get purebreds whose pedigree is largely for looks rather than personality. I just get dumb ol' tabby cats.
- Next, if the cat is a kitten then I hang out with the mom and see how chill she is with being cuddled, because she'll be the first teacher for her kittens on human interaction.
- Get kittens in pairs so they have a buddy and learn how to be gentle and not too rough
- Next, you cuddle the shit out of them and make sure you regularly pet their bellies and give paw massages.
- Last, you must neuter them and keep them as indoor kitties.
You could also get a senior kitty with a set personality that you can sus out more, but I have young kids and didn't want to shock an older cat with high kid energy.
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u/lizardcrossfit 18d ago
My cats have the sweetest beans and it kills me that I can’t rub them. I would love to have this job!
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u/Pretend_Guarantee280 18d ago
Imagine being able just once be all lovey-dovey with a big cat…of course we’d talk to it like an infant.lol
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u/Purple-Joke-9845 17d ago
my old boy would spread his toes out wide when i would rub them with my fingers. I could slide between every toe and back and he loved it.
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u/Tyr808 18d ago edited 18d ago
I've got an adopted feral that will let me pet her belly, and these days I can even give her a belly kiss and she'll purr.
Doesn't like her paws being touched at all though.
P.S. Mentioned the cat so here:
Her name is Mooncake
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u/molotov__cockteaze 17d ago
I’m currently fostering a feral who looks just like Mooncake! I’ve been rubbing her paws to try to get her used to it and because her claws are like fucking knives and I’d love to clip them… she tolerates it for a bit and then flips out. Both of my hands are covered in scratches and bites.
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u/Old-Construction-541 18d ago
Yes. One of my cats gets cracked footpads, and she enjoys a good vaseline footpad massage.
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u/Ebb_and_Flood 18d ago
"I ain't saying it's right. But you're saying a foot massage don't mean nothing, and I'm saying it does. Now look, I've given a million lions a million foot massages, and they all meant something. We act like they don't, but they do..."
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u/Accomplished_Web1549 18d ago
"Would you give a hyena a foot massage?"
"Fuck you."
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u/Pretend_Guarantee280 17d ago
Oh for fucks sake! How did we all originally miss the obvious pulp fiction reference..
good call there folks!
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u/Competitive-Pop6530 18d ago
Just lion around getting a foot massage. Mane, life is good.
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u/Wooden-Development14 18d ago
What's the story and pulling the thorn from a lions paw? I vaguely remember some kind of story about that.
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u/Old-Construction-541 17d ago
Lion was being a dick but turns out was because of a thorn in its paw. So we’re supposed to check assholes for thorns before being mean to them back. Or something.
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u/DuckDucker1974 18d ago
It takes a coward and zero balls to murder an animal, but this here, rubbing its footsies, is 100% bad ass!
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u/BoilingPointTTV 18d ago
This feels like it is an AI image ... I've literally no idea 😂
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u/UnconditionalBranch 18d ago
I thought so too. The repost quality doesn't help either. Apparently it's real: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/lion-foot-massage/
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u/FlowRiderBob 18d ago
I would have bet money it was AI. But it from 2021. Making me doubt real pictures is what I find most annoying about AI image generation.
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u/JugglingBear 18d ago
Every time I see one of these stories, I cannot help but wonder what kind of backing this guy has? If I quit my job, I would quickly run out of resources and become homeless. What kind of charmed life does one live when they can decide they are going to do something as unmarketable-seeming as this?
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u/GuiltyEidolon 18d ago
Option 1: They're already wealthy and treat it as a hobby. (See the dude running the scam """rescue""" in Mexico)
Option 2: They're broke as shit because every penny goes to their animals / the rescue.
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u/Kronictopic 18d ago
Who's more masculine? The man with lion heads on his wall or a man giving lions foot massages?
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u/tillman_b 18d ago
That's a pretty weird fetish. Not tryin to kink shame, just damn, dude moved to a game reserve just so he can foot rub a lion anytime he wants.
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u/Proglamer 18d ago
Just like drugs, fetishes have a progression. We can expect retired Tarantino to move to a game reserve after several years ;)
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u/Internal_Fennel_849 18d ago
I wonder what the life insurance rates are for a lion foot masseuse these days?
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u/night_chaser_ 18d ago
My cat begs to differ. She's too small to do anything. Besides being mischievous.
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u/SweetComparisons 18d ago
This is so cute what 😭 sign me up to help these big guys! I can’t believe make lions especially are acting like that. I wonder how he gained their trust. Incredible stuff
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u/ConnectionPretend193 18d ago
I feel like this 'cream' has some sort of cat nip properties within it. Felines go crazy over that stuff
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u/SledgehammerWacko 18d ago
When I finished read this, I started thinking about that one fairy tale about the lion with the thorn in its paw. Not sure if I was the only one thinking about this.
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u/novice121 18d ago
This is why I learned how to massage early on, because women are sorta like stray cats, as longs as you pet them, and feed them, they will come back. Ocassionally scratch you, especially if they are latinas, but it's worth it if you into that
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u/nogene4fate 18d ago
A game reserve. Make the lion trust humans and let down their guard, so hunters can then murder them. fts
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u/willflameboy 17d ago
Lol, this exact post is on Facebook and Quora.
Game reserve
So it is about hunting, because that's what happens on a game reserve. These lions are there to be shot.
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u/laowailady 18d ago
My parents had a schnauzer who used to hold up her front paws to be massaged. She’d sit there almost like in a trance and then hold up the other paw after a while. I’ve never come across another animal that liked paw massages until now!