Night the nation’s moggies went wild for Attenborough
LIKE any nature programme involving Sir David Attenborough, it was bound to draw a wide and varied audience.
And with the focus on lions, it could be expected to appeal particularly to Britain’s cat-lovers.
But it seems their pets were transfixed too. Cats across the nation were pictured climbing on furniture to get a prime viewing spot for Sunday night’s episode of Dynasties.
They joined 6.8million human viewers of the hour-long BBC1 show, which followed a pride in Kenya’s Masai Mara.
The cats appear to have recognised their distant relatives.
Several were so entranced that they clambered on to TV cabinets and pressed their faces against the screen.
Broadcaster Sue Cook shared a photograph online of her cat sitting patiently on the coffee table, guarding the remote control, with the message: ‘Jojo the cat has been looking forward to tonight’s Dynasties.’ Twitter user Emily Daly posted a picture of her pet cocking its head, saying: ‘I think Jasper cat wants to join the pride.’
Another viewer added: ‘My cat is addicted to watching bigger cats.’ Dan Fear, from Somerset, said: ‘Cat never normally watches telly. But he seems to be taken by this episode.’ Lee Cambule said one of his cats squared up to a lion on the screen – then rapidly retreated.
Other pet owners reported that their dogs were equally transfixed. Animal experts say cats may be especially attracted to animal programmes because they are adept at detecting motion and this means they focus on the outlines on the screen.
As their social interactions often rely on postural movements, they quickly become engrossed when they see a lion prowling across the savannah.