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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / February 2005How much do you talk to your cat?
I was curious just how much everyone actually talks to their cat. Kami is Siamese (half) and pretty vocal, except for these later years (her "meower" seems to be defective. She only makes sound about half the time and it's kind of a blessing), but I haven't actually talked to her a lot. Much of our communication is through looks, gestures, and touches. She usually comes when I call, and I often smooch with her in our quiet time and tell her she's a good girl, but we don't "talk," except for "hi" when she suddenly appears. She knows I love her and I know she loves me. What's left to say (unless she's chewing string or power cords)? So there's my big question for the new year: what does your communication with your cat entail?  SignatureBrandy??Alexandre? http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx Well, would you? On Sat, 01 Jan 2005 05:37:19 +0000, Brandy Alexandre wrote: > I was curious just how much everyone actually talks to their cat. Kami > is Siamese (half) and pretty vocal, except for these later years (her [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > So there's my big question for the new year: what does your > communication with your cat entail? Entail? The tail! Move, Baby, or you'll get stepped on. Get out of the way. Don't get under my feet. Baby if I step on you, we'll both get hurt. Now MOVE. No, it's not feeding time again. You did not finish what I gave you a few minutes ago. Are you sure you want to go out? It's cold out there----etc. mlbriggs <mlbriggs@nospam.com> wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav: >> I was curious just how much everyone actually talks to their cat. >> Kami is Siamese (half) and pretty vocal, except for these later [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > You did not finish what I gave you a few minutes ago. Are you > sure you want to go out? It's cold out there----etc. Oh, yeah, "It's the same thing I gave you yesterday, so it eat it." SignatureBrandy??Alexandre? http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx Well, would you? > Oh, yeah, "It's the same thing I gave you yesterday, so it eat it." "Exactly! It's boring! Where's the variety? You don't eat chicken every night, do you? But you expect me to! ARRRRRRRRGH!" Signaturehttp://www.mindspring.com/~slywy/pages/hodge.html > On Sat, 01 Jan 2005 05:37:19 +0000, Brandy Alexandre wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > what I gave you a few minutes ago. Are you sure you want to go out? It's > cold out there----etc. Ha! This sounds like me! But also I have "conversations" with them in which I answer back for them. Like when they stop to groom in the middle of a play session, I have them say "oops, hold it right there, got a butt washing emergency over here." :) > I was curious just how much everyone actually talks to their cat. Kami > is Siamese (half) and pretty vocal, except for these later years (her [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > So there's my big question for the new year: what does your > communication with your cat entail? It's so nice to open the door to my abode and say "I'm home" to another living being. Other than that, Mico, who is also Siamese, tends to talk in a whiny sort of voice. I talk back saying it's not that bad, whatever it is. Sometimes we banter for about five minutes. Other than that, it's "down!", or "up" or "no!". And other stuff I can't think of right now. The New Year's champagne is still working it's blessed wonders. (Happy New Year!) - Ruby Tuesday > -- > Brandy Alexandre? > http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx > Well, would you? Ruby Tuesday <willow93@yahoo.com> wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav: >> I was curious just how much everyone actually talks to their cat. >> Kami is Siamese (half) and pretty vocal, except for these later [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] >> http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx >> Well, would you? Hehehe! I only biuy the small splits of champagne (the single glass variety) because I drink very little and opening a regular bottle of champagne is usually a waste. Being in the mood to imbibe a tad more, it turns out I only had one champagne. I know I have one other at the home of the Brit, but he and I are falling out and I didn't want to ask for it. I made up the difference with sake. I guess that's why I'm getting philosophical this evening. All of my regular newsgroups are suffering. :) But regardless, Kami and I have been very close this evening without any spoken words, which raised the question at hand. Cats are smart. one doesn't need to be verbose to communicate with them, I think. Was wondering what communication between cat and staff was like in other households. SignatureBrandy??Alexandre? http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx Well, would you? Happy New Year Brandy. We talk to our cat Stinky all the time. In the morning we always greet her,with"Good morning Stinky, how was your night?".We comment to her on many events, and we always tell her when we are going out how long we will be gone. We believe she understands. Cats are brilliant. On Sat, 01 Jan 2005 05:37:19 GMT, "Brandy Alexandre" <brandy@kamikaze.orgy> wrote: >I was curious just how much everyone actually talks to their cat. Kami >is Siamese (half) and pretty vocal, except for these later years (her [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >So there's my big question for the new year: what does your >communication with your cat entail? We talk to our two cats all the time, and also "interpret" there responses. If reported here some of these exchanges would be quite embarrasing. "Pick me up Jimmy" "OK - up you come Smudge" "Hey follow me" - "Ok here I come, what do you want?" "Let's play *this*" well, etc etc etc like nearly *all* the time ... J > We talk to our two cats all the time, and also "interpret" there responses. If > reported here some of these exchanges would be quite embarrasing. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > J Or, when they are looking up at you while you are preparing to feed them, in a little kitty falsetto: "WHY do you starve us like you do? Better get a move on with that or one of us is going to pee on your stuff." :) (...) > Or, when they are looking up at you while you are preparing to feed > them, in a little kitty falsetto: "WHY do you starve us like you do? Heh. You may - or may not - recall a computer game of a few years back, called Black & White. In the game, if your little computer people were hungry, they would bawl 'We need food. We MUST have food!' or, in extremis, 'FOOD!'. I shout this at my cats when they hassle me for chow. It amuses me, anyway. S. > (...) > > Or, when they are looking up at you while you are preparing to feed [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > I shout this at my cats when they hassle me for chow. It amuses me, > anyway. I missed this game! But I do recall those little electronic things my nieces and nephews had that cried and then died if you didn't "feed" them etc. Anyway, as long as we are amused, we are doing something right. >> (...) >> > Or, when they are looking up at you while you are preparing to feed [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >and nephews had that cried and then died if you didn't "feed" them etc. >Anyway, as long as we are amused, we are doing something right. Hey - what's wrong with you :0) - your job is to amuse *them* !! J >I was curious just how much everyone actually talks to their cat. Kami > is Siamese (half) and pretty vocal, except for these later years (her [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > So there's my big question for the new year: what does your > communication with your cat entail? I tell my cat what a handsome boy he is, how much I appreciate him, how glad I am I found him. I tell him "Nize Squeaky, et opp all the Petguard, so Daddy'll gonna tell you a story what with Puss wit de fancy boots, Mmm, soch fancy boots, don't esk!" (Anybody else here a fan of Milt Gross and "Nize Baby"?) Dick > So there's my big question for the new year: what does your > communication with your cat entail? OK, this is so embarrassing, but DH and I will talk to the cats, with one of us being his or her self, and the other talking as the cat. For example: "Loki, are you supposed to be on the counter?" "No Mommy, I was just checking something out!" If I'm alone I also talk to the cats. I have a song for each cat, too. OK, I better stop. I hope we never have our house bugged! They would probably take us both to the loony bin! Signature-Kelly kelly at farringtons dot net "Wake up, and smell the cat food" -TMBG > > So there's my big question for the new year: what does your > > communication with your cat entail? [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > I hope we never have our house bugged! They would probably take us both to > the loony bin! Have you ever been on hold and the other person comes back on the line while you're talking to your cat in a high-pitched baby voice? P >>> So there's my big question for the new year: what does your >>> communication with your cat entail? [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > P Oh yeah. I always talk to my girls. My husband mostly says hello to them or "do you want your dinner" or " get off the key board" . I guess it's fair to say we talk to them like they are about a year old babies. Signature.oO rach Oo. >I was curious just how much everyone actually talks to their cat. Kami > is Siamese (half) and pretty vocal, except for these later years (her [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > So there's my big question for the new year: what does your > communication with your cat entail? I talk constantly to my guy. I tend to talk to myself quite a bit, so naturally am in constant conversation with my cat. He is also quite verbal (part Siamese) and seems to have a much used "complaint sound" that has me responding, "I know, I know....," much of the time. Since I'm an actor, he is used to sitting on my lap listening to me rehearse lines. There is one particular piece that I rehearse that he knows will keep me seated for at least thirty minutes and he usually comes to me immediately from where ever he is in our apartment when he hears the first few words. I'm convinced that he thinks I'm telling him the story. Works rather well except for the disconcerting human faces that replace the cat when I'm actually on stage. Tom -- www.DuendeDrama.org Bringing Plays and Stories to Our Schools and Communities I leave notes for Hodge on the whiteboard on the refrigerator. "Don't jump on the refrigerator." "Don't jump on the stove." "Stop biting me!" "Be good." So far -- no effect. Wonder why? Signaturehttp://www.mindspring.com/~slywy/pages/hodge.html > I leave notes for Hodge on the whiteboard on the refrigerator. > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > So far -- no effect. Wonder why? OMG! Your cat cannot READ?! I talk to my cats all the time, sometimes they talk back. When I play music Catfive knows I am going to exercise and he wants to help. (I can't do lots but he is very interrested to see what I am doing and wants a belly rub and meows at me constantly. Walks figure 8's between my legs while I do a few squats. He loves this...hope I don't fall. I think he wants to cat dance with me? Karryl > So there's my big question for the new year: what does your > communication with your cat entail? I talk to the punks alot... I tell them what's going on, ask questions. Encourage them both to get jobs & start contributing to the household. ( This is usually greeted by 'meow' & an extended nap on the couch) Chablis will talk to me about things like her litter box being a little dirty & when I say "ok, I'm cooking lunch right now, I'll clean it after I'm done". I get a little chirp, a loooong suffering look & then she delicately picks her way into the box 'sigh' ... There's, of course, alot of "GET DOWN!!!", "Don't use my goretex jacket as a scraching post", 'please don't attack the razor while I'm shaving', 'leave the poor houseplant alone' and on & on.. 'Do you want a snack?' is always met with an instant response.... Funny, they don't respond that quickly to 'go away, I'm sleeping'.... Does the mothership have a complaints department? SignatureMathew Butler to 2 kittens: Chablis & Muscat En Vino Veritas Mathew Kagis <winesnob@telus.net> wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav: >> So there's my big question for the new year: what does your >> communication with your cat entail? [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > Funny, they don't respond that quickly to 'go away, I'm > sleeping'.... Does the mothership have a complaints department? Kami comes to tell me about the litterbox. She's one of those who just sits and looks at you and meows for no apparent reason, so I'm kind of used to ignoring her if I responded "what?" and she doesn't have anything to say. So if it's important and I haven't responded, she'll tap me on the arm or whatever and state her demand again. SignatureBrandy??Alexandre? http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx Well, would you? Brandy, I talk (and* sing- sometimes, when feeling particularly upbeat) baby talk, mainly. Sometimes I will say "I'm going to the store and will be back soon." Or, "I'll be back, you be good!". I never have, like, deep discussions with my cat, if I did* then I'd be kind of concerned about my* mental health, honestly. With my new baby Dove, I will call (to) him.. .."Dovey Wovey" --(Jeez I could get 'blackmailed' for being soo corn ball, but I simply..DON'T CARE!), "Sugar pie", "honey-Bun", "Honey Bunny", "Sweetie Pie", "Sugar Bugar", and occasionally.."Cookie". I won't even mention all the silly songs that I used to change the lyrics to when I would sing to Blue.. but one song was an old (1970's John Denver) song that was verrrry corn ball called, "Sunshine". Good thing it was just me and my sister around to hear :-)! Anyone else dare admit that they sing? ML mlcarey1@yahoo.com > I was curious just how much everyone actually talks to their cat. Kami > is Siamese (half) and pretty vocal, except for these later years (her [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx > Well, would you? > Anyone else dare admit that they sing? > > ML To the tune of "Rubber Ducky~" Cheeky Cheeky, you're the one ... Who makes every day lots of fun .. Cheeky Cheeky you're a very good cat it's true ... > Anyone else dare admit that they sing? >> >> ML I'm not sure why he conjured this song in particular, but I used to sing 'Hey, Big Spender' to my cat Yoda. I even changed the words to accommodate his felinity: 'the minute you walked in the joint, I could see you were a cat of distinction...' Damn, I miss that cat. > > Anyone else dare admit that they sing? > >> [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Damn, I miss that cat. Awww. If I admitted the number of songs I do this with, someone might try to come and take me away. It's fun! :0) >> >> ML >> [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >Awww. If I admitted the number of songs I do this with, >someone might try to come and take me away. It's fun! :0) Oh, me too. In fact, I was singing 'Yo Yo Yo Yo Yoda" to the Kinks' "Lola" ten years before Weird Al ever heard of it. Sherry > >> >> ML > >> >> Oh, me too. In fact, I was singing 'Yo Yo Yo Yo Yoda" to the Kinks' "Lola" ten > years before Weird Al ever heard of it. Oh my. Yoda wasn't gender confused, was he? ;) >> >> >> ML >> >> [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >Oh my. Yoda wasn't gender confused, was he? ;) No, that was my Cellie. The first Cat in Drag. Cellie's the one who went to the vet for neutering, and came out with a spay incision. They either thought he was a girl or went after those balls the long way. Sherry > >> >> >> ML > >> >> [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Sherry WHAT? No way! How did the vet explain that? > > Anyone else dare admit that they sing? > >> [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Damn, I miss that cat. ** Yeah, I know what you mean, Marie. I miss my sweet boy, Blue, so, so much. He was my heart. I used to ( okay I am getting bolder, heck, this is* usernet anonymous :-) change the words to a song I think* was called, "Sugar in the Summertime"? Boy was it baaad, but my Blue didn't care a bit, he actually would purr and seem amused. I also used to change the lyrics to the old song, "Sunny" to something like..."Bluesy, thank you for the looove that you've given meeee.! Blusey, thank you for beeing part of my familieee!" As you can see, I'm clearly talented, I just don't like to brag :-)! Ha. ML > > > Anyone else dare admit that they sing? > > >> [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > ML I am so happy to hear that other people do this!! Ahahaha! My husband appears to think I'm the only one. > > Anyone else dare admit that they sing? They have their own songs, Redunzel gets Bob Marley's "Could you be loved" and "Pass the Dutchie" (Only I sing "Pass the Dunzie") Sarrasine gets Frank Zappa's "Goblin Girl" with the words changed to "I'm smitten....with this kitten" and to the tune of Pop goes the weazel: "Half a ton of go cat muchies Half of ton of Whiskas Thats the way the kitten goes pop Pop goes the kitten!" (Then I stritch her nose and repeat it. Drives her crazy) I don't think I could admit to that anywhere outside of here! I also talk to them all the time and sometimes they talk back. The winner was Isis who could be heard through the front door.....downstairs! (We used to say "Speak up Issi, they can't hear you in Birmingham!") Lesley Slave of the Fabulous Furballs > > > Anyone else dare admit that they sing? > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Sarrasine gets Frank Zappa's "Goblin Girl" with the words changed to > "I'm smitten....with this kitten" Aughgh! A Zappa fan! Yay! and to the tune of Pop goes the > weazel: > "Half a ton of go cat muchies [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > I don't think I could admit to that anywhere outside of here! That's partly what this place is for! > I also talk to them all the time and sometimes they talk back. The > winner was Isis who could be heard through the front [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Slave of the Fabulous Furballs I swear Cheeks says "Mama" as she zips past me going back upstairs with her breakfast. > > Sarrasine gets Frank Zappa's "Goblin Girl" with the words changed to > > "I'm smitten....with this kitten" > > Aughgh! A Zappa fan! Yay! >You bet. Redunzel is how I pronounce her name it's actually RDNZL after the instrumental but I got sick of people asking me how to pronouce it.... Lesley Slave to the Fabulous Furballs > > > Sarrasine gets Frank Zappa's "Goblin Girl" with the words changed to > > > "I'm smitten....with this kitten" [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > after the instrumental but I got sick of people asking me how to > pronouce it.... Cute! I truly miss St. Zappa. It was he who predicted the world's current crisis with religious fanatics in "Dumb all Over" [ A Little Ugly on the Side.] > Cute! I truly miss St. Zappa. It was he who predicted the world's > current crisis with religious fanatics in "Dumb all Over" [ A Little Ugly > on the Side.] I also miss St Zappa. The night after we heard he died, my brother phoned the house in hysterics, he just kept saying "He's dead. He's dead." I was out so my SO was saying how sad it was Zappa had died. My brother interrupted him explaining that he was actually talking about my dad who had just died, then my brother paused and said "And Zappa's dead as well? That's all I need!" Lesley Slave to the Fabulous Furballs >> Cute! I truly miss St. Zappa. It was he who predicted the world's >> current crisis with religious fanatics in "Dumb all Over" [ A Little Ugly [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Slave to the Fabulous Furballs Oh my. That's pretty funny actually. And I bet your dad would be honored that he was right up there with Zappa! > Oh my. That's pretty funny actually. And I bet your dad would be honored > that he was right up there with Zappa! Actually my dad was a firm believer that "the day the music died" was the same day that Beethoven died. If he ended up in a queue at the Pearly Gates with Zappa he would not have been amused at all! Lesley Slave to the Fabulous Furballs > > Cute! I truly miss St. Zappa. It was he who predicted the world's > > current crisis with religious fanatics in "Dumb all Over" [ A Little Ugly [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > about my dad who had just died, then my brother paused and said "And > Zappa's dead as well? That's all I need!" Oh my GOD. That was a bad time for everyone. My father had also just died right before Zappa did. I hate that lots of people just do not get Frank Zappa. He had the best social conscience--he got angry about the things that matter. (Which of course just means that I agree with him!) He had a lot of anger in the "this is a battle worthy of our weapons" way. Anger is not always bad. Sometimes it is the only sane response. I had a friend who was a lighting man for Zappa. He said it was absolutely true that there was a strict no drugs rule, and anyone found breaking it got tossed off the tour. That of course did not apply for the Winstons and black coffee Frank lived on. :) Slimpickins <Slim@work.com> wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav: > Anyone else dare admit that they sing? I sing, but not to my cat. ;) In fact, she leaves the room when I start singing. SignatureBrandy??Alexandre? http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx Well, would you? > Slimpickins <Slim@work.com> wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav: > >> Anyone else dare admit that they sing? > > I sing, but not to my cat. ;) In fact, she leaves the room when I > start singing. I sing little made up songs, such as the highly prized "New Can Day Song." Rosalie doesn't seem to mind a song. Madeline really didn't like singing. Nickleby enjoyed both a song and a dance -- I would kind of waltz him around the room, with him purring loudly. --Catherine & Rosalie the calicohead > "Brandy Alexandre" <brandy@kamikaze.orgy> wrote in > news:1104626398.2741a5a59535b71c5e866025fe3a201b@teranews: > > > Slimpickins <Slim@work.com> wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav: > > > >> Anyone else dare admit that they sing? > > I sing, but not to my cat. ;) In fact, she leaves the room when I > > start singing. > I sing little made up songs, such as the highly prized "New Can Day Song." > Rosalie doesn't seem to mind a song. Madeline really didn't like singing. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > --Catherine > & Rosalie the calicohead **Oh my Gosh! So you used to waltz around with your cat too? I thought I was the only one?! Have you been reading my mail ;-)? I used to waltz around to music while cradling/ holding Blue in my arms when he was younger and I* was younger. I hardly dance much anymore or listen to music, at least not like I once did. I certainly haven't had much 'spring to my step' these days. My 'waltzing' music back then was an eclectic mix ranging anywhere from classical to the Pet Shop Boys, Van Morrison, Pretenders, etc, etc. And yes, like nickleby, Blue seemed to love the swaying movement. I won't admit to the cheesy old songs that I used to change the lyrics on and sing off key to him :-). Yes, Blue was such a special, extremely gentle boy, and He will alwaaays have first place in my heart. I thank God for allowing me to have him as long as I did. He will always be missed, God bless him. ML > **Oh my Gosh! So you used to waltz around with your cat too? I thought > I was the only one?! Have you been reading my mail ;-)? I used to > waltz around to music while cradling/ holding Blue in my arms when he > was younger and I* was younger. I hardly dance much anymore or listen > to music, at least not like I once did. I certainly haven't had much > 'spring to my step' these days. Nickleby also liked being carried around in a canvas book bag. We had an elaborate routine worked out where I would pretend to have returned from the market with a 10-pound kitty roast. Where else could I admit these things except on this newsgroup??? --Catherine & Rosalie the calicohead, who doesn't permit herself to be carried around > "Brandy Alexandre" <brandy@kamikaze.orgy> wrote in > news:1104626398.2741a5a59535b71c5e866025fe3a201b@teranews: [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > I sing, but not to my cat. ;) In fact, she leaves the room when I > > start singing. I tried Nessun Dorma at full operatic baritone on Chloe and she just lay down and went to sleep. Deaf cat you say? Last night we were watching Ultimate Force with Ingrams, Minimis and RPGs blasting away and she didn't turn a hair, totally laid back. When I replayed the video today, complete with explosions, she fell asleep again. Went three rooms away to open a foil pouch of food for her and she was right there in seconds. Silence is golden, but a Cat's love is pure gold. Icedog. > Brandy, (...) > Anyone else dare admit that they sing? I do, but considering I like modern jazz, electronica, and Norwegian avant garde, there aren't that many opportunities to singalong. Fortunately. Anyway, any singing just consists of replacing random words with 'cat' or a cat name, or when listening to the Mad Capsule Markets, simply bawling 'yaaaaaaaag' at the nearest feline. They look suitable unimpressed. I don't speak in fluffy talk to les chats at all, and lots of my cat-conversations consist of 'oy, stop jumping on my head', and 'aaaaHHHHHHFUCK', most recently spoken when the Small Frantic Cat missed the chicken niblet and punctured my finger instead. Much bleeding, little conversation. I say lots of comments in passing though, such as 'hello big kat' to The Big Cat. Although he is big, he isn't fat, but I often call him 'Big Fat Cat' anyway, because I am An Evil Human. This cat often jumps on my bollocks of a morning, to which I often announce 'oooOOOOOF'. We have an understanding, you see. Both cats do understand commands (e.g., sit, stay, katsnack, jump, spin, etc.) and they will even obey them, from time to time. Hurrah! >> Anyone else dare admit that they sing? I don't think even my cat would like my singing much. I'll spare him. Dick > >> Anyone else dare admit that they sing? > > I don't think even my cat would like my singing much. I'll spare him. I sing to them all the way to the vets and back. Off-key about half of the time. They're cats, they don't know good singing from a foghorn! (I do get some strange looks from other drivers as I sing away, occasionally looking at the "empty" seat beside me. But if I sing they stop howling. I'm not sure if it comforts them but I do know that their howling unnerves me because it sounds like "you're KILLLLLLLLLING meeeeeeeeeeeee!" >> >> Anyone else dare admit that they sing? >> [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > unnerves me because it sounds like "you're KILLLLLLLLLING > meeeeeeeeeeeee!" Now that is a suggestion. I'll try it. At least you are on key half the time. I once tried the simplest mode plainsong which is chanting on a single note. I couldn't manage that on key. Sigh. What is worse, I can hear I'm off, I just can't figure out what to do about it. I put a folded towel in the carrier. It quiets Squeaky. The bare plastic must be uncomfortable for him. Dick On Sat, 01 Jan 2005 05:37:19 GMT, "Brandy Alexandre" <brandy@kamikaze.orgy> wrote: >I was curious just how much everyone actually talks to their cat. Kami >is Siamese (half) and pretty vocal, except for these later years (her [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >So there's my big question for the new year: what does your >communication with your cat entail? I talk to "my" cats all the time. They have a great vocabulary. Besides their own names, they understand "bug!", "Kitty!" (a cat outside the pride, in the yard outside the enclosure), "snack", "sleepy", "get the kitty", "get (name of one of the other cats in the pride to attack, very accurately by name), "bring the toy", "bad!", "goooood boy/girl!", "time to go inside (from the enclosure, they march in in single file), "BACK!!", when they get too close to an open exterior door, plus many more (they ain't dumb, trust me.). eq My siamese mix insist that I talk to her if I don't she gets in my face and gets very vocal. I tell her little things like Oh look at the pretty kitty, etc. Now my husbands is a music producer and I swear his kitten sings with him it is the funnest thing, He talks to her lots but when I talk to her she looks at me as if to say how dare you speak to me. I then reply oh fine be that way see if you sit in my lap again and she proceeds to get in my lap where she lays contentley for hours. I talk to all my animals like people. My cat Bizzy was very vocal and would always answer me when I talked to her. And talk to me when I hadn't talked to her. If she wanted to go outside, she'd sit by the door and talk. And there was nonverbal communication. If I was upset, she knew. When she wasn't well or just needed something, I knew. The most extraordinary communication we had (to me) also involved my sister, whom I was visiting. She had 2 cats and 2 dogs and Bizzy couldn't take the stress, so I kept her confined to the upstairs (which was enormous). My sister called down to me at one point and said "Bizzy needs you." So I went upstairs and knew immediately what she wanted. She didn't want to go downstairs to get food and water (which I thought she would). So I said, "of course Bizzy" and went downstairs and brought food and water up for her and her own litter box. I asked my sister how she knew. She couldn't explain it. A mother knows, I guess. On 2005-01-01, Brandy Alexandre penned: > I was curious just how much everyone actually talks to their cat. Kami is > Siamese (half) and pretty vocal, except for these later years (her "meower" [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > So there's my big question for the new year: what does your communication > with your cat entail? Well, Oscar will (often) come when called, but for the most part our communication is me talking to her and her ignoring me. It's sort of directed at her, but not really, kind of a running commentary that I happen to direct at her so that I'm not so obvious about talking to myself. I also talk to her in soothing tones a lot, as she's really jumpy. I'll shift in bed, she'll freak out, and I'll speak to her in calm tones to try to get her to come back to bed. Sometimes it even works. Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* Monique Y. Mudama <spam@bounceswoosh.org> wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav: > I also talk to her in soothing tones a lot, as she's really jumpy. > I'll shift in bed, she'll freak out, and I'll speak to her in > calm tones to try to get her to come back to bed. Sometimes it > even works. That makes me think that in a way I do talk to Kami because I just make sounds back at sounds she makes (Siamese make lots of sounds), with inflections that may be interpretted as conversations. Sometimes I think it's the inflection and tone they understand most anyway. Like I sort of stuck my face in her teepee and kissed her foot that was almost hanging out. She made a sound like, "Hey! What's that you're doing?" and I "sounded" back, "Me? Nothing. Just seeing if you were awake. Hehehe!" SignatureBrandy??Alexandre? http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx Well, would you? >Well, Oscar will (often) come when called, but for the most part our >communication is me talking to her and her ignoring me. It's sort of directed >at her, but not really, kind of a running commentary that I happen to direct >at her so that I'm not so obvious about talking to myself. I do that a lot. As long as there is an animal in the room, then I am not talking to myself. I do chat directly with them a lot too. And when I get into the godo compliments, they know it and purr. I sing too, but Kira hates it and tells me to shut up. It's a mild version of her swearing, so she isn't too upset, just annoyed. Signature-- Meghan & the Zoo Crew Equine and Pet Photography http://www.zoocrewphoto.com > I do chat directly with them a lot too. And when I get into the godo > compliments, they know it and purr. Okay, I'll admit that I'll ask Oscar, "How's my good girl?" or say, "How's my pretty kitty?" or something like that, always in a sing-song voice that would drive me nuts if someone else were doing it =P Sometimes, if Oscar meows, I'll meow back at her. She usually just looks at me funny. I suspect I've just said something like, "Could you please assist me in dunking my shoes in the toilet?" in cat-language. Sometimes we meow back and forth for a while, which I imagine is her trying to rephrase her request, over and over, in hopes I'll finally get it through my thick skull. Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* > Sometimes we meow > back and forth for a while, which I imagine is her trying to rephrase > her request, over and over, in hopes I'll finally get it through my > thick skull. Madeline was my big talker. I used to like to respond with "You can't talk to me like that" and "really?... really?... I just don't believe it... it's just not believable... we used to believe that, but not in the modern era..." She was often quite urgent in her meowing and I always felt that she was trying to tell me something important, and I really wished I knew what it was! She seemed like she was using language in a human way, as if she knew that was how humans communicated and she wanted to participate. She also answered the phone, by hurling it to the floor and sometimes saying MRAOW into the speaker. --Catherine & Rosalie the calico > She was often quite urgent in her meowing and I always felt that she was > trying to tell me something important, and I really wished I knew what it > was! She seemed like she was using language in a human way, as if she knew > that was how humans communicated and she wanted to participate. She also > answered the phone, by hurling it to the floor and sometimes saying MRAOW > into the speaker. Haha! That must have been quite a jolt for telemarketers! Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* >> She was often quite urgent in her meowing and I always felt that >> she was [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Haha! That must have been quite a jolt for telemarketers! One of our previous cats, a Siamese girl, was very chatty and seemed to have quite a vocabulary, varying from a scream of pure rage at a new kitten, to a sort of interrogatory "Wow?", ending on an upward note with a little hitch in the middle, through a flat, nasal "Waa". I used to talk to her a lot and I think that was why she responded. After all, cats in the wild rarely vocalise just for the sake of it. I believe that cats soon learn that their people react to vocalisations, and use it to get their own way! Kate >Sometimes, if Oscar meows, I'll meow back at her. She usually just looks at >me funny. I suspect I've just said something like, "Could you please assist >me in dunking my shoes in the toilet?" in cat-language. Sometimes we meow >back and forth for a while, which I imagine is her trying to rephrase her >request, over and over, in hopes I'll finally get it through my thick skull. Sometimes, I meow back for fun, and she seems to enjoy that game. Other times, I do it to annoy her. She forgets that I learned for a master. My first cat could really swear, and when I copy her style, all the cats put the ears back and look pretty offended. So, when Kira gets grumpy, I just talk like Fiona and stun her with my foul mouth :) I also find that when I am grumpy, I tend to mutter like they do. I don't know how to describe it, but I just kinda grumble like the cats do. Signature-- Meghan & the Zoo Crew Equine and Pet Photography http://www.zoocrewphoto.com I forgot to add, that sometimes I do have a valid conversation. For example, one time Chase was upset about the kitty litter. It was overdo, and I was in the middle of hauling laundry to the washing machine. He started his routine in the bedroom (hard to describe, but I know it means he wants me to go check the litter box), and I told him I would take care of it in just a minute as I finished the laundry. He stopped chattering and left the room. I got done with the laundry and headed to the box (where he was waiting), and scooped it out. After he was done, he came over and purred. He really did seem to understand that I got his message and would come take care of it. I have had a couple other very clear moments like that where the cat had a very specific message, I understood it, told them something back, and they seemed to get it. I wish it could be that simple all the time. There are times when I know they are trying to relay something important, and I just can't get it. I can even see Kira getting frustrated. She gets this expression that looks like "why aren't you understanding me? How much plainer can I say it!?!' Signature-- Meghan & the Zoo Crew Equine and Pet Photography http://www.zoocrewphoto.com > I forgot to add, that sometimes I do have a valid conversation. For > example, one time Chase was upset about the kitty litter. It was [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > out. After he was done, he came over and purred. He really did seem to > understand that I got his message and would come take care of it. You are a well-trained human! Signaturehttp://www.slywy.com/pages/hodge.html > > I forgot to add, that sometimes I do have a valid conversation. For > > example, one time Chase was upset about the kitty litter. It was [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > You are a well-trained human! Yes, I'm sure the Head Cats on the Mothership are pleased. ;) >You are a well-trained human! Thank you! I do my best! Actually, I have a door mat that says, "the cat and her housekeeper live here" I've found that good relationships have some compromises. And once we work out our little deals, then we have a pretty good system. Chase knows how to remind me to check the litter. He likes his fresh and deep, and he usually wants it cleaned when I get home from work (which is not when I naturally think about it - I'm headed for dinner). He uses a different meow and gets annoying if I ignore it. So, it's pretty easy to know what it means. And he shuts up as soon as I grab the disposable gloves - he's knows I am going to do it. Maynard is more difficult to understand. He has some specific requests, but he isn't clear about them, at least not in terms I understand well. I have to get up and go find him to figure out whether he is lonely, bored, senile, or actually needs something. Yes, he is senile sometimes. He is 18 and meows for the hell of it. So, when he wants water, I can't tell til I find him next to the sink. Not next to the water bowl, mind you. Next to the sink, and not the one I use to fill the bowl. My first cat was much more direct. If she wanted food, she sat next to the feeder and screamed. If she wanted water, she sat next to the water bowl and screamed. It was pretty obvious what she wanted. One funny example was when she screamed for water only half an hour after I filled the bowl. I couldn't believe her, but I finally got up and asked her what her problem was. I looked in the bowl and found a spider floating in it. Apparently, she likes her water plain, without protein. She really did have a valid complaint. Signature-- Meghan & the Zoo Crew Equine and Pet Photography http://www.zoocrewphoto.com
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