Cats are an enigma wrapped in a mystery! My cat had been pestering a young king snake out by the woodpile the other day. Then the kids and I noticed, came over and pestered it for a bit, just looking at it. The cat went around the woodpile sniffing, certain there must be more in there. Stupid me went over and tried to pick him up. He jumped a little bit when I touched him, but I pulled him up into my arms and after a deceiving few seconds of being calmly held, he turned into a whirling ball of claws. Got me good. He must have sensed I was about to toss him toward the snake. Apparently his IQ exceeds mine, lol.