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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / October 2006Yadda Yadda to my cats
I'm sure your cats, like ours, talk to you. At our place Emily is the gabbiest. And of course, like us, you probably reply to them. It's odd. We enjoy these human-cat conversations but we really don't know exactly what each other is saying. It's probably our fault. Catspeak is incredibly complex. Not given our dexterity of tongue and lips, cats do very well not only with body language, but with the infinite variety of vocal sounds and volume they can produce. They mutter, they croon, they cajole, they yell at us, and we immediately get the message. But I'm sure our monotonous human jumble of sounds is virtually meaningless to them. Only one word means anything to our cats - their names. They're listening to our tone of voice, its volume, and watching our body movements. So I experimented with "cat sentences". First I tried things like "Blah blah blah, Martha", or "Dum de dum de dum, Sophie." Very little reaction. But then I remembered a catch phrase from one of our favourite sitcoms, Seinfeld. "Yadda yadda, Emily," I said. "Yadda yadda!" She brightened immediately and meowed her reply! I'm only glad you can't overhear our conversations now - or worse, record them! >I'm sure your cats, like ours, talk to you. At our place Emily is the >gabbiest. And of course, like us, you probably reply to them. It's odd. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >yadda!" She brightened immediately and meowed her reply! I'm only glad >you can't overhear our conversations now - or worse, record them! Like the famous "Far Side" cartoon-- "Blah, Ginger, Blah Blah Blah, Ginger." ;) What I love is when the two legged types around here are talking, and one or another of the four-legged members of the household will butt in, and Mom never misses a beat. "Who asked you?" she says, or "Another county heard from." Both boys are chatty, and I really get the sense that it has something to do with the amount of talking that goes on around here. Stinky, first, then Dante, seem to have got the idea that the important thing is getting a word in, even if it's just a meow. Or a "nyow-wow!" ;) Theresa Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh Make Levees, Not War > >But then I remembered a catch phrase from one of our > >favourite sitcoms, Seinfeld. "Yadda yadda, Emily," I said. "Yadda > >yadda!" She brightened immediately and meowed her reply! I'm only glad > >you can't overhear our conversations now - or worse, record them! > Like the famous "Far Side" cartoon-- "Blah, Ginger, Blah Blah Blah, > Ginger." ;) I was just talking about this in another post. I love it that my friends put that into a book. > What I love is when the two legged types around here are talking, and > one or another of the four-legged members of the household will butt > in, and Mom never misses a beat. "Who asked you?" she says, or > "Another county heard from." I've always loved that "another county heard from". You might want to tell your mom that I have borrowed that phrase myself occasionally. I then make a point to tell people where I got it. :) > Both boys are chatty, and I really get the sense that it has something > to do with the amount of talking that goes on around here. Stinky, > first, then Dante, seem to have got the idea that the important thing > is getting a word in, even if it's just a meow. Or a "nyow-wow!" ;) They're such New Yorkers. :) Joyce Bobcat wrote: > > >But then I remembered a catch phrase from one of our > > >favourite sitcoms, Seinfeld. "Yadda yadda, Emily," I said. "Yadda > > >yadda!" She brightened immediately and meowed her reply! I'm only glad > > >you can't overhear our conversations now - or worse, record them! > > Both boys are chatty, and I really get the sense that it has something > > to do with the amount of talking that goes on around here. Stinky, > > first, then Dante, seem to have got the idea that the important thing > > is getting a word in, even if it's just a meow. Or a "nyow-wow!" ;) > They're such New Yorkers. :) > Joyce Theresa, try "Yadda Yadda" on Stinky and Dante. It should connect with them, considering that you can't get more New York than its source, Seinfeld! > Bobcat wrote: > > > >But then I remembered a catch phrase from one of our > > > >favourite sitcoms, Seinfeld. "Yadda yadda, Emily," I said. "Yadda > > > >yadda!" She brightened immediately and meowed her reply! I'm only glad > > > >you can't overhear our conversations now - or worse, record them! Rita gets all excited when I say 'Where's your mousie?' and lately, 'Where's your bear!', but she doesn't run and get them. Apparently the word 'mousie' means Fun and Games to her. That reminds me, it's time to get another bag. She's chewed up another dozen. Jane - owned and operated by Princess Rita > > Bobcat wrote: > > > > >But then I remembered a catch phrase from one of our > > > > >favourite sitcoms, Seinfeld. "Yadda yadda, Emily," I said. "Yadda > > > > >yadda!" She brightened immediately and meowed her reply! I'm only glad > > > > >you can't overhear our conversations now - or worse, record them! > Rita gets all excited when I say 'Where's your mousie?' and lately, > 'Where's your bear!', but she doesn't run and get them. Apparently the > word 'mousie' means Fun and Games to her. Dogs of course are another matter, and some seem to recognize certain words. We had a little cross-breed terrier named Scamp who'd spin in circles with anticipation if anyone said the word "walk", then run to her leash. So we started to say "promenade" instead, but Scamp translated it and would go into her whirling dervish routine. Finally we started spelling it out - w-a-l-k. This stumped her, but only up to a point. One ear would shoot upright if you said it! >> > Bobcat wrote: >> > > > >But then I remembered a catch phrase from one of our [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >we started spelling it out - w-a-l-k. This stumped her, but only up to >a point. One ear would shoot upright if you said it! Ah, this reminds me of a story from a friend of mine, whose sister lived on a farm in New England, and had an assortment of dogs, plus an African grey parrot. The parrot learned that she could cause an uproar in the house by saying "Wanna go out? Wanna go out?" ;) Theresa Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh Make Levees, Not War > Ah, this reminds me of a story from a friend of mine, whose sister > lived on a farm in New England, and had an assortment of dogs, plus an > African grey parrot. The parrot learned that she could cause an > uproar in the house by saying "Wanna go out? Wanna go out?" ;) Remember that story about the guy who found out about his wife's affair, because every time the phone rang, the parrot would start saying "Hello *GARY*! I love you Gary!" etc.? The woman tried to pass it off as something the parrot got from a TV show, but when the parrot did a perfect imitation of the wife saying these things, the jig was up. Parrots are very evil birds. :) Joyce > > Ah, this reminds me of a story from a friend of mine, whose sister > > lived on a farm in New England, and had an assortment of dogs, [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Joyce I remember some years ago, I think it was this group, there was a post about a parrot that did a perfect imitation of the cats treats being rattled, bringing the cats running from wherever they were.  SignatureAdrian (Owned by Snoopy and Bagheera) Cats leave pawprints on your heart. http://community.webshots.com/user/clowderuk > > Ah, this reminds me of a story from a friend of mine, whose sister > > lived on a farm in New England, and had an assortment of dogs, plus an > > African grey parrot. The parrot learned that she could cause an > > uproar in the house by saying "Wanna go out? Wanna go out?" ;) > Remember that story about the guy who found out about his wife's affair, > because every time the phone rang, the parrot would start saying "Hello [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Parrots are very evil birds. :) > Joyce So are cockatoos. Theresa's a Frasier fan so she'll remember the episode in which Frasier's brother Niles moves into the ritzy Montana Apartments, and they throw a party to get to know Niles' new neighbours. Unfortunately Baby, Niles' cockatoo, is scared by loud noises and locks his talons into the top of his master's head. Niles tries to hide Baby with a dish towel, but the guests discover it They forgive this social gaffe - until the bird begins to repeat comments about the guests it's heard from Niles and Frasier. Here's that part of the scene - It's a bit long but I think it makes its point. Niles: Oh Carol, that dress is absolutely smashing! Carol: Why, thank you. Baby: Carol's a lush. Carol: Did the bird just say something? Wella: It sounded like it said... Baby: Carol's a lush. Alfred: Where would a bird learn a phrase like that? Niles: Birds today! You don't know where they pick these things up! Well, shall we all join Peter at the table? Baby: Peter's a letch. Peter: What did that say? Niles: I said, "let's all sit down." Baby: Peter's a letch. Peter: Is this your idea of a joke? Alfred: I've had quite enough of this. [they begin to leave] Niles: Hang on Carol, don't go, I did not teach the bird these phrases, I don't know where she picked them up. Frasier: Please, you'll stay won't you, Stephanie? Baby: Stephanie's horny! Stephanie: [agape] Oh my God, is that what you've been saying about me behind my back?! Frasier: No, no, I never said that about you, I said that about me! I'm the horny one, all I said was you were very cute. Baby: Cute but stupid! Stephanie: [sarcastic:] Well, thank you both for a wonderful evening! Good evening! > > >But then I remembered a catch phrase from one of our > > >favourite sitcoms, Seinfeld. "Yadda yadda, Emily," I said. "Yadda [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >tell your mom that I have borrowed that phrase myself occasionally. I >then make a point to tell people where I got it. :) I'm fond of it myself. My mother got it from my grandmother. The idea of applying it to the cats always makes me giggle. My grandmother was the source of all kinds of smart-alecky expressions, right out of a 30s screwball comedy, like a character played by Joan Blondell or Barbara Stanwyck. Talk about a New Yorker-- or a Brooklyn girl, to be more accurate. ;) Theresa Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh Make Levees, Not War >>I've always loved that "another county heard from". You might want to >>tell your mom that I have borrowed that phrase myself occasionally. I >>then make a point to tell people where I got it. :) > >I'm fond of it myself. My mother got it from my grandmother. The >idea of applying it to the cats always makes me giggle. Dang! What does it mean, or where does it come from? IOW, I don't get it! I sort of sounds like people listening in on party lines, then blowing their cover when they just can't hold their opinion. >>>I've always loved that "another county heard from". You might want to >>>tell your mom that I have borrowed that phrase myself occasionally. I [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >I sort of sounds like people listening in on party lines, then blowing their >cover when they just can't hold their opinion. It refers to election returns. Then it became an expression that people used when someone offered an opinion, usually unasked-for. So your interpretation is really close. Theresa Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh Make Levees, Not War > So I experimented with "cat sentences". First I tried things > like "Blah blah blah, Martha", or "Dum de dum de dum, Sophie." Very > little reaction. But then I remembered a catch phrase from one of our > favourite sitcoms, Seinfeld. "Yadda yadda, Emily," I said. "Yadda > yadda!" She brightened immediately and meowed her reply! I'm only glad > you can't overhear our conversations now - or worse, record them! This is a bit off-topic from what you're saying, but this reminds me of something. Two friends of mine recently collaborated on one of those "For Dummies" books (the Python programming language, for anyone who's interested). It's now published. I was looking through it, and was very amused to see, in a section dealing with quoted text strings, the phrase "Blah blah blah Ginger" as an example. :) Joyce > I'm sure your cats, like ours, talk to you. At our place Emily is the > gabbiest. And of course, like us, you probably reply to them. It's odd. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > yadda!" She brightened immediately and meowed her reply! I'm only glad > you can't overhear our conversations now - or worse, record them! Don tell know wun bud Unkl Bill tokks to de D*GZ!! Wee tellim peepul will fink he iz crazy bud he don caare. He tol me "Maggy May, peepul tink I am crazy ennyway." And he iz. Bud we lov him and we lov Bear, evn if he is a D*G. Buy Run iz behavin bettr becuz Bear n Unkl Bill r gud zamples. Maggie May > I'm sure your cats, like ours, talk to you... > I remembered a catch phrase from one of our > favourite sitcoms, Seinfeld. "Yadda yadda, Emily," I said. "Yadda > yadda!" She brightened immediately and meowed her reply! I'm only glad > you can't overhear our conversations now - or worse, record them! I recall seeing a TV programme where a funny lady claimed she could speak cat. I copied her turn of phrase - "Mmmow ppprp Maa ppprp?". That usually bring Mrs Cat to see me for some scritches and an upside-downy-head thing as she lays in my arms :-) SignatureMatSav |
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