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INTRODUCTION
Some people really dislike cats, but the rest of the world thinks they are missing out on one of life's real pleasures. Cats are extraordinary and beautiful creatures, capable of amazing physical feats — their reputation of having nine lives is well-earned. They have a wide range of patterns and colors, and female cats can give birth to different-colored kittens, since each individual egg can be fertilized by several different males. They have strong instincts and can display the most unusual behavior, which can usually be analyzed and explained by an expert. Some of these, such as the urge to hunt small creatures, to mark their territory by "spraying," and to occasionally use your carpets as a toilet, are unfortunate, but humans do far worse things ...
But more than just an example of a perfectly developed species, cats are individuals, each with its own personality and character. No two cats are the same, and as you live with them, you quickly learn to detect their moods and opinions. Unlike the blind obedience of a dog, your cat chooses to live with you. If they are not happy, they will find a new "owner." Also like humans, they may not behave the way you want them to; some cats are naturally sociable and will let you tickle their stomach; others are grumpy and will ignore you a lot of the time. Some of them you can stroke, others will slash you with their ultra-sharp claws without warning (a wagging tail usually means they are not happy!).
Perhaps the thing that endears people most to their cat is companionship. Whatever their personality, they live with you, and a close relationship quickly grows. You learn to love their imperfections because they are such good company. Although it's fanciful to assume an animal can "love" you, the relationship that grows cannot be anything but love, or at least it seems so in all the ways that are important. Cats are very sensitive to your moods and will react in different ways. Finally, there is the huge pleasure you get from petting and holding your cat.
In the world of origami, for many years origami cats were rather rare and were usually flat, quite lifeless designs. The naturally fluid shape of a cat proved very hard to capture in paper. However, modern designs are much better at reflecting the animal. As with most origami designs, these models allow you to make a large number of variations by adjusting angles and distances. Then there is the amazing range of paper patterns to try, although you shouldn't overlook plain paper — I think the "White Socks" design is best made from black-and-white paper, as it looks just like my cat "Pickle." Please experiment: There are no "rules" and paper is cheap.
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Excerpted from "Cats in Origami"
by .
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