I once called at a house where a cat sat in the front garden with a long lead attached to its collar and the other end tethered to a tree. I remarked to the lady at the house that this was unusual. She said, "Yes, but watch this." She picked the lead up, gently, and the cat dropped to the ground as if it was dead, paws in the air and tail stiff. The minute she put the lead down it sat up again and started washing itself. The lady said, "He always does that."
