cats springing through the air with claws

Leaping through the air with their claws outstretched, these fearsome felines look like something out of a kung fu movie.

But the mortal tom-cats are really just chasing after and playing with cuddly toys handled by keen photographer and cat-lover Seiji Mamiya.

Mr Mamiya, 39, began snapping pictures of the cats outside his home over a year ago as a way of taking his mind off work.

Sky's the limit: Leaping through the air with their claws outstretched, these fearsome felines look like something out of a kung-fu movie

But as the cats became friendlier and used to his company he realised he could make them jump and began shooting amazing images of them in mid-air.

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Mr Mamiya, from Japan, said: 'I take the jump shots by playing with the cat. I shake a toy and when the cat runs towards it I raise the toy upwards.

'Their figure was so graceful so I decided to take pictures. The unusual jump shot cannot be photographed usually and when I looked back at them they looked like ninjas.

All a game: The mortal tom-cats are really just chasing after and playing with cuddly toys handled by keen photographer and cat-lover Seiji Mamiya

Encouragement: Mr Mamiya, from Japan, said: 'I take the jump shots by playing with the cat. I shake a toy and when the cat runs towards it I raise the toy upwards'

'I like their free and natural behaviour and, of course, I also like their lovely faces.

'The images of the cats flying across the skyline and the sun is really stunning.

'In future I would like to take a jump shot of the moment a big cat is hunting in the wild - but I need to find a way of it being less dangerous.'

Spectacular sight: 'The images of the cats flying across the skyline and the sun is really stunning,' said Mr Mamiya

Future: 'In future I would like to take a jump shot of the moment a big cat is hunting in the wild - but I need to find a way of it being less dangerous.. explained the cat-lover

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2338801/Mortal-tom-cats-Photographer-captures-cats-springing-air-claws-outstretched-like-characters-kung-fu-film.html#ixzz2Vp8nGlf9 
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