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Baby Talk

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Kreisleriana - 26 Apr 2004 19:34 GMT
I wonder how many of us talk some kind of baby talk to our cats,
sometimes even without necessarily realizing it.  My mother says I
talk to Stinky the same way she talked to me and my brother when we
were toddlers.  "What's for breakfast today?  Why don't we go see?"

She pointed it out to me when she heard me say "birdies" as in "Do you
see the birdies outside?" to him.  
She said, ""Birdies'??  What the hell is the matter with you?" ;)

Theresa
alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/

Single-mindedness is all very well in cows or baboons; in an animal
claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful.
(Aldous Huxley)
Hopitus2 - 26 Apr 2004 20:29 GMT
Talk to the cats all the time.
When sounds of a skirmish nearby (short howls, growling) reach my ears, I
sternly yell, "Why are we fighting?"......they then scatter. It's always BT
Rowdy's fault; the girls don't ever start anything. It's really funny to
watch; he sidles up to them w/that challenging glare (hard to do if you're
like blind!) and whacks out w/his clawless paw, hard. They either turn tail
or if cornered rake his nose leather w/a fully armed paw. Rowdy never
learns, but he knows from my voice when to run.

: I wonder how many of us talk some kind of baby talk to our cats,
: sometimes even without necessarily realizing it.  My mother says I
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
: claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful.
: (Aldous Huxley)
Karen - 26 Apr 2004 20:33 GMT
Guilty. I try not to, but it just happens.

Karen

> I wonder how many of us talk some kind of baby talk to our cats,
> sometimes even without necessarily realizing it.  My mother says I
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful.
> (Aldous Huxley)
Takayuki - 26 Apr 2004 20:51 GMT
>I wonder how many of us talk some kind of baby talk to our cats,
>sometimes even without necessarily realizing it.  My mother says I
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>see the birdies outside?" to him.  
>She said, ""Birdies'??  What the hell is the matter with you?" ;)

I think we all know what you mean.  Cats *are* like little kids!  I
don't know whether I talk to cats as though they were babies, or if I
talk to babies like they were cats. :)

"Birdies" isn't too bad.  It's a term that's even used by professional
golfers.  Of course, mice have to become "mousies".

This is an old clip that most people here have probably seen before,
but it's of me talking to Betty:

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/Takayuki9z/movie1.html

I often ask Betty, "Would you like lappy time?" and "Would you like
brushie-brush?"  I must sound so retarded when I'm with kittypussums.
:)
Hopitus2 - 26 Apr 2004 21:54 GMT
Oh, yes. When I'm working at kitchen counter, Maluce jumps up onto sink rim
and bellows for me to turn on water "fast drip"speed......then I have to
give her a full body petdown and coax, "Get drinkie now" before she turns
her head sideways and starts lapping the drip up.
They all also know the popular phrase, "want more food?".......

: >I wonder how many of us talk some kind of baby talk to our cats,
: >sometimes even without necessarily realizing it.  My mother says I
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
: brushie-brush?"  I must sound so retarded when I'm with kittypussums.
:  :)
O J - 26 Apr 2004 23:11 GMT
>Oh, yes. When I'm working at kitchen counter, Maluce jumps up onto sink rim
>and bellows for me to turn on water "fast drip"speed......then I have to
>give her a full body petdown and coax, "Get drinkie now" before she turns
>her head sideways and starts lapping the drip up.

    My little boy Sumo likes to drink from the tap, but though I've
seen him turn his head sideways to drink, his preferred method is to
stick his forehead under the stream, and lap it up as it runs down his
face.  Part of his reasoning (if you can call it that) is probably
that he can then run to Lynda who will dry his face while saying, "Who
is this boy with the wet face?  Oh, my little man has such a wet face
... "

>They all also know the popular phrase, "want more food?".......

    This one seems to be understood by all the cats I know.

Regards and Purrs,
O J Gritmon
John F. Eldredge - 27 Apr 2004 01:26 GMT
>>Oh, yes. When I'm working at kitchen counter, Maluce jumps up onto
>>sink rim and bellows for me to turn on water "fast
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>"Who is this boy with the wet face?  Oh, my little man has such a
>wet face ... "

There are apparently quite a few cats that like to drink by
repeatedly dipping their foot in the water, then licking their foot.
I have had a couple of them.  This behavior has always seemed strange
to me, given the way cats react if they get wet involuntarily.

Signature

John F. Eldredge -- john@jfeldredge.com
PGP key available from http://pgp.mit.edu
"Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better
than not to think at all." -- Hypatia of Alexandria

Bob M - 27 Apr 2004 16:46 GMT
> >Oh, yes. When I'm working at kitchen counter, Maluce jumps up onto sink rim
> >and bellows for me to turn on water "fast drip"speed......then I have to
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> is this boy with the wet face?  Oh, my little man has such a wet face
> ... "

 Now that's using your head.

 Bob

Signature

Somewhere in Texas a village is missing it's idiot.
ANYONE but Bush in 2004!

CajunPrincess - 27 Apr 2004 07:49 GMT
> >I wonder how many of us talk some kind of baby talk to our cats,
> >sometimes even without necessarily realizing it.  My mother says I
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> brushie-brush?"  I must sound so retarded when I'm with kittypussums.
>  :)

You are not alone.

With Prissy (RB), who was my little "child" till she passed away last
year, I used to ask her what kind of "foodie" she wanted or remark on
how she was almost out of "wah-wah". :-)

I don't do it as much with the guys I have now, somehow the fact that
they're so much bigger makes a difference plus they don't "talk" like
Prissy did.  I *do* refer to Kona's rear feet as his "Twinkies" when
I'm holding him or showing him to other people because they're the
size of Twinkies.  Then I started referring to his front paws as his
"cupcakes" to keep things balanced.  I occasionally talk to Sabastian
about his "tuftie toes" cause he's got tufts of fur that stick out
between the toes of his rear feet.
Kreisleriana - 27 Apr 2004 13:48 GMT
>> >I wonder how many of us talk some kind of baby talk to our cats,
>> >sometimes even without necessarily realizing it.  My mother says I
[quoted text clipped - 35 lines]
>about his "tuftie toes" cause he's got tufts of fur that stick out
>between the toes of his rear feet.

Oh gosh, I hear ya.  I usually only throw in the odd word of "special
cat interest"-- e.g. "birdies."  But it's always open season on
Stinky's "little pinky nosie." :P

Theresa
alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/

Single-mindedness is all very well in cows or baboons; in an animal
claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful.
(Aldous Huxley)
O J - 27 Apr 2004 17:36 GMT
---------------------<snip>----------------------
>I occasionally talk to Sabastian
>about his "tuftie toes" cause he's got tufts of fur that stick out
>between the toes of his rear feet.

    We've shortened that to "tuffy-toes".

Regards and Purrs,
O J
Takayuki - 27 Apr 2004 19:11 GMT
>I don't do it as much with the guys I have now, somehow the fact that
>they're so much bigger makes a difference plus they don't "talk" like
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>about his "tuftie toes" cause he's got tufts of fur that stick out
>between the toes of his rear feet.

Oh yes!  Cat feet have to get little baby names.  When I'm clipping
Betty's claws, it goes something like, "Give me your other pawsies.
See, sharp clawsies!" <snip
Jo Firey - 26 Apr 2004 21:12 GMT
I talk to me pets the way I would have talked to my kids except it would
have scared them for life.  I get to use the full range of "pet" names with
them that the kids would never have tolerated.  And you can be silly or rude
or profane or what ever suits you just as long as you are talking to them.
Here is Rosie Butts now looking for her human teething ring.

Jo

> I wonder how many of us talk some kind of baby talk to our cats,
> sometimes even without necessarily realizing it.  My mother says I
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful.
> (Aldous Huxley)
Kreisleriana - 27 Apr 2004 00:49 GMT
>I talk to me pets the way I would have talked to my kids except it would
>have scared them for life.  I get to use the full range of "pet" names with
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
>Jo

My cousin refers to her little dog as "the snooze alarm on my
biological clock." ;)

Theresa
alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/

Single-mindedness is all very well in cows or baboons; in an animal
claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful.
(Aldous Huxley)
Cheryl - 27 Apr 2004 00:35 GMT
> I wonder how many of us talk some kind of baby talk to our cats,
> sometimes even without necessarily realizing it.  My mother says I
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> see the birdies outside?" to him.  
> She said, ""Birdies'??  What the hell is the matter with you?" ;)

Guilty, also. Speaking of mothers, mine was over here yesterday and we went
to a craft show. When we were leaving, she shut off the TV and I told her
to leave it on, for the cats.  lol She gave me the funniest look when I
explained it was for noise so they'd think I was still around somewhere,
maybe outside working in the yard. When we got back, the TV had been MUTED.  
Probably Shamrock. ;)

Signature

Cheryl

jmcquown - 27 Apr 2004 01:05 GMT
> I wonder how many of us talk some kind of baby talk to our cats,
> sometimes even without necessarily realizing it.  My mother says I
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Theresa

Funny, I don't talk to children/babies like that.  I'm a firm believer
children learn how to speak by the way you talk to them.  But animals are a
different story.  You can cuss, fuss, cuddle, coo and coddle them all day
long with silly words and it matters not one whit because they are never
going to talk back to you beyond a meow or a woof or a chirp :)

Jill
Marina - 27 Apr 2004 04:28 GMT
> Funny, I don't talk to children/babies like that.  I'm a firm believer
> children learn how to speak by the way you talk to them.  But animals are a
> different story.  You can cuss, fuss, cuddle, coo and coddle them all day
> long with silly words and it matters not one whit because they are never
> going to talk back to you beyond a meow or a woof or a chirp :)

I'm the same, I've never talked baby talk to a baby. I remember too well
being a young child and having grown-ups talk to me that way, and since my
parents talked to me properly, I was confused about the baby talk.

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Marina, Frank and Nikki
Email marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi
Pics at http://uk.f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/frankiennikki

jmcquown - 27 Apr 2004 16:21 GMT
>> Funny, I don't talk to children/babies like that.  I'm a firm
>> believer children learn how to speak by the way you talk to them.
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> and since my parents talked to me properly, I was confused about the
> baby talk.

Yep, and it seems a bit condescending, too.
JoJo - 27 Apr 2004 01:20 GMT
Guilty - I talk to the critters all the time, like they understand a single
word I'm saying!  I even sing to them.  Remember "Mellow Yellow"?  ("well
they call him mellow yellow...") (Am I dating myself, only line I
remember) - anyway, I substitute Yurtle Turtle for my little foster (the one
that got bit by the dog....he's doing very well!  May have a possible real
home!).

You should hear my boyfriend talk to his dog, it's downright scary.  :)

JoJo

> I wonder how many of us talk some kind of baby talk to our cats,
> sometimes even without necessarily realizing it.  My mother says I
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful.
> (Aldous Huxley)
Kreisleriana - 27 Apr 2004 13:34 GMT
>Guilty - I talk to the critters all the time, like they understand a single
>word I'm saying!  I even sing to them.  Remember "Mellow Yellow"?  ("well
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
>JoJo

Aw, that's cute.  I insert Stinky's name into all kinds of songs.
E.G., there's an old Big Band song (even older than "Mellow Yellow"!)
called "Daddy" and I sing that to Stinky all the time:

"Stinky,
I want a diamond ring,
Cashmere everything,
Hey! Stinky!
You ought to get the best for me!"

The utter futility of such a request is part of the fun. ;)

Theresa
alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/

Single-mindedness is all very well in cows or baboons; in an animal
claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful.
(Aldous Huxley)
JoJo - 27 Apr 2004 21:57 GMT
Too funny - remember the "I get knocked down I get up again" song by
Chumbawamba?  Well Stumbles has neuro problems and falls down, but gets up -
I figured it was his theme song.  Oh he hates it when I sing that to him and
dance with him - hey crazy hoomin put me down, I might have problems but I'm
not nuts!  :)

> >Guilty - I talk to the critters all the time, like they understand a single
> >word I'm saying!  I even sing to them.  Remember "Mellow Yellow"?  ("well
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
> claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful.
> (Aldous Huxley)
JP Hobbs - 27 Apr 2004 11:20 GMT
If I ever tell the kids I said this or that, such as I told him not to do
that, they invariably ask 'and did he answer you mum'
or 'and what did he say' lol  Jean.P.

> I wonder how many of us talk some kind of baby talk to our cats,
> sometimes even without necessarily realizing it.  My mother says I
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful.
> (Aldous Huxley)
Laurence - 28 Apr 2004 10:08 GMT
heh, yep, everyone talks to our cat like its a baby. The fact that
this is our office kitty doesn't come into it. I've seen clients come
up and talk to him :) He's also supremem master of the ol telecatisis
powers. New guy was sitting in his chair, said "Why does this cat come
in here?" then picked him up, put him on his lap and started stroking
him! "Gee, let me think..."
CATherine - 28 Apr 2004 03:59 GMT
>I wonder how many of us talk some kind of baby talk to our cats,
>sometimes even without necessarily realizing it.  My mother says I
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>see the birdies outside?" to him.  
>She said, ""Birdies'??  What the hell is the matter with you?" ;)

I am so used to talking baby talk to my cats that i have used baby
words to my clients. To wit: after a shower, brushing loose hair off,
"Oh, you are shedding! Let Mommy brush the loose fur off!" or...to a
quadriplegic, "do you want your blankie?" To another client I talk
about "poopie" instead of BM.

--
CATherine
Adrian - 28 Apr 2004 14:10 GMT
> I wonder how many of us talk some kind of baby talk to our cats,
> sometimes even without necessarily realizing it.  My mother says I
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> see the birdies outside?" to him.
> She said, ""Birdies'??  What the hell is the matter with you?" ;)

With me it's the other way round, if I'm holding a baby I talk to it as if
it were a cat. Does the ickle baby want his tummy tickled? ;-)
--
Adrian (Owned by Snoopy, Milo & Bagheera)
A house is not a home, without a cat.
 
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