Sadly (as Limor confirms above), cats really are a sub-species of rodent in Israel (at least, that’s how people relate to them). I’m sure someone must have a pet cat somewhere, but I haven’t come across it; just the ones leaping out of the dumpsters as I toss my bag in.

Thanks for your comment.

It’s illuminating to hear the “Israeli” view. I imagine that local city wildlife depends on the locations; the usual suspects are cats, mice, rats, lizards, and so on. Rural areas (not in the city environment) get much more variation: mountain lions, bears, deer, raccoons, rabbits, possums, skunk, snakes, even alligators. But “house cats” are always seen as a type of pet — even the wild ones are treated as pets that somehow lost their home, not as part of wild nature (or the rodent underworld).

Thank you for your comment!

Sarah
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Translation of Limor’s comment for English readers:

“We often speak about cultural differences, especially in places such as those in which I work, where lack of awareness about cultural differences causes much mis-understanding. Thank you for noting yet another cultural difference. What animals roam the cities of the United States? Other than mice and rats! By us, the cat is understood. And in our neighborhood — also frogs, because of the adjacent wadi. Shabbat Shalom, Limor.”