Cats are notorious for playing with (torturing?) their prey. These praying mantises aren’t having it though, and they’re fighting back with their impressive kung-fu ninja moves.
Mantises have large forelegs or “raptorial legs” that are well adapted for catching and gripping their prey, which is why they fight in this amusing boxing-like fashion.
Believe it or not, two separate fighting methods developed in China were based solely on the technique of the praying mantis.
The mantis uses height to his advantage here.
Look at those moves!
Mantis: 1 Cat: 0
Cat attacked by Praying Mantis
The praying mantis is a generalist predator, meaning it will eat just about any insect that it finds. Because of this, you may find a mantis patrolling your house for creepy-crawlies. The unlucky ones find a cat instead.
Generally, a mantis can blend into its surroundings (a tree or a flower, for instance), but in your house or yard it sticks out like a sore thumb.
The cat ends up taking the cake in this fight despite elaborative attempts by this poor mantis:
