statistics don't really put my mind at ease when it comes to cats. my concern is because of the amount of time i spend hiking in the dark and the uncertainty of a cat's intentions. i know several guys that have had cats follow them around (probably just curiosity), and i just don't know if i could easily understand their intentions. so I want to be able to scare them off (if they don't run, then i know what they are thinking :-\ ). when i think of a black bear encounter i feel my decision is simpler. if a black bear is following me or sees me and doesn't run, then they're a threat and need to be treated as such. not sure my reasoning is perfectly sound, but it's just what i'm thinking when i'm in the woods.
