Cat queries.

[Que]

I had a cat years ago. I had trained dogs, and knew nothing about cats. My cat only knew that the cats he was raised with were assholes and chased him off. (Cat hoarder house, I later realized) I raised him like you would a dog, which means he was a great cat.

Over the years, the wife and kids had cats. Animals in general like me. I am indifferent towards cats, mostly. We had one that was cool, but he was part Maine coon cat, which basically is a small dog. So he was cool. The rest of them, I mostly ignored, and they me.

One of the guys at the bunk-house, I assumed hated cats. I assumed this because I have seen him throw rocks at the cat that occasional navigates the steep hill above the bunkhouse.

He gets a girlfriend who has cats. Four of them from her mom that passed recently. Her neighbor has cats, and one of them just between kitten and tom-cat stage she felt was neglected. It is an outside cat. So she talks my friend into kidnapping the cat. (catnapping?)

So we have an inside cat. A feral one. Nice enough, considering.

Outside cats are what are known as owl/hawk/coyote food around here. She likely saved the cat from its eventual role in the food chain. Hopefully, there is not a small child looking for the cat. No posters, so I think they got away with it.

This cat has given me a lot of questions about cats. I figured I would pose them as they re-occur to me.

 

[Que]

The one that prompted me just now was: Why do cats prefer a downy soft blanket? They already lay on fur. And that kneading, ripping thing they do fluffing it up before they lay down? What's up with that? No nerve endings of theirs touch the surface, do they?

 

[Littlefinger]

The one that prompted me just now was: Why do cats prefer a downy soft blanket? They already lay on fur. And that kneading, ripping thing they do fluffing it up before they lay down? What's up with that? No nerve endings of theirs touch the surface, do they?

I dunno about that last sentence but I read somewhere once that they do that as kittens to stimulate the mother cat's teats to push more milk into their mouth. So, I assume, it's a ritual, the way that some people can't sleep without a blanket covering them because it reminds them of being swaddled when young. A cat kneads and paws at things to comfort itself, indirectly or maybe directly stimulating a memory of being in mommy's busom, having yummy food and warmth all around it.

 

[Littlefinger]

One that's confusing me lately: My cat, Steve, has been spayed but she likes me to itch really hard at the base of her tail right on the top of her butt. And she... licks stuff while I do it. At first, she'll just move her mouth at the air but the harder I scratch, she'll actually bend her head down and lick whatever is in front of her. I have no idea what it means but I find it amusing.

 

[smoothg103rd]

I don't like cats. I'm not cruel to animals so I won't throw rocks and things at them. But I will kick one of them if they try to jump on me. Cats just rub me the wrong way.

 

[Que]

I dunno about that last sentence but I read somewhere once that they do that as kittens to stimulate the mother cat's teats to push more milk into their mouth. So, I assume, it's a ritual, the way that some people can't sleep without a blanket covering them because it reminds them of being swaddled when young. A cat kneads and paws at things to comfort itself, indirectly or maybe directly stimulating a memory of being in mommy's busom, having yummy food and warmth all around it.

That makes sense. My youngest wouldn't nurse. When she was being fed, kind of to bond, her mom took to gently tickling her feet. She will do that now for self soothing or try to con someone into doing that at bedtime.

One that's confusing me lately: My cat, Steve, has been spayed but she likes me to itch really hard at the base of her tail right on the top of her butt. And she... licks stuff while I do it. At first, she'll just move her mouth at the air but the harder I scratch, she'll actually bend her head down and lick whatever is in front of her. I have no idea what it means but I find it amusing.

I am pretty sure Steve is fantasizing about a three-way.

 

[lemonbread]

I've had a lot of cats over the years. Only a couple good ones though. The first cat I got I was probably 12 or 13, my dad had found him as a kitten, in think in the rain gutter. It was someplace really weird like that. Like on the roof. I named him Simon after Simon Cowell, who I totally loved at the time. Turned out it was a good name for him. We had him about a year and a half. He was not a good cat, and at times he was downright aggressive. Biting and scratching blood. We eventually got rid of him.

But then we found out he fathered kittens down the road one day when he had unlocked the door to escape. So I felt it was a good opportunity to try again, so we took one of those kittens. That cat I named Jasmine. She was a wonderful cat. She was amazing. Her personality was great, she was spunky, and affectionate, and really treated me like I was a cat too. She died of cancer when she was about 5. I still miss her.

Since then I've gotten other cats to try and get one that has a personality like that again, but i've found most cats are just... Cats. The live by instinct and don't care about you one way or the other. I've had a couple good ones that just seemed nervous breakdowns. There was Basil, who I had at the same as Jasmine, and he was good for a long time, until Jasmine died and then he started peeing in the house. Cant keep a cat that pees in the house. There was Lily. Lily was pretty good, until she got attacked by a pregnant cat I rescued, and then she did nothing but hide behind the coffee maker all day and all night, even after we re-homed the pregnant cat. It was sad, but kind of humorous, because she was a big cat and she didn't blend in behind that little coffee maker at all. So we gave Lily to my cousin. There were others in the mix, but none of them even came close to being good cats.

More recently, I've been fostering pregnant barn cats. Raising the kittens and finding them homes. I like it, and so do the kids. We've ended up keeping one from a few of the litters, but none had good personalities, of the several we've kept. Those ones all ran away. One after the other.

About a year ago we got a kitten from the farm that I buy eggs from, and he is great. He's almost just like jasmine, but less independent. Jasmine would kill rabbits bigger than she was. Dutch Boy would probably run scared from a rabbit. But he's affectionate and nice. By far one of the best cats I've had. He listens and cares like Jasmine did. He likes to sleep across my face. Even if I pull him down, he'll reach one law up to touch my face while he sleeps.

 

[Que]

I don't like cats. I'm not cruel to animals so I won't throw rocks and things at them. But I will kick one of them if they try to jump on me. Cats just rub me the wrong way.

Speaking of cat abuse, we have had to be, lets say, a little aggressive in disciplining the cat. It is still a kitten and likes to do cute kitten things like attack your feet which threw my back out worse the other day, or digging his claws in.

The girlfriend (whose fault it is that we are harboring a disease ridden creature in the first place) has seen him cuff the cat, and held her tongue. This morning she noticed the cats chin was a little bloody. She got very upset, first at him, he insisted it is not him since he hits the cat wirh a right cross, and the injury was on the left side of little kitties face. Her suspicions turned to me, and she said so. I heard all of this, but held my tongue.

Later, kind of meekly, he politely asked me not to abuse the cat. The way you do when your girlfriend makes you have a conversation you would rather not have, but it is easier than the conversation with her about not having the conversation.

I explained that I can't even catch the bastard with my bad back at the moment, but promised to be careful.

The mystery was solved when it was discovered that kitty had dug through the trash, gotten a triple blade razor out and had partially disassembled it to obtain two loose blades for himself. I think he is thinking of shivving me later.

Either that, or he just noticed how handsome I am and decided to shave his dome, too.

 

[lemonbread]

One that's confusing me lately: My cat, Steve, has been spayed but she likes me to itch really hard at the base of her tail right on the top of her butt. And she... licks stuff while I do it. At first, she'll just move her mouth at the air but the harder I scratch, she'll actually bend her head down and lick whatever is in front of her. I have no idea what it means but I find it amusing.

Have you watched cats mate? That's totally breeding behavior.

 

[Littlefinger]

I am pretty sure Steve is fantasizing about a three-way.

Have you watched cats mate? That's totally breeding behavior.

Now I just feel dirty, you guys.

 

[lemonbread]

Now I just feel dirty, you guys.

Well, I just realized I wrote like five paragraphs about cats, so... Really, there are no good feeling in this thread so far.

 

[Killswitch]

Well, I just realized I wrote like five paragraphs about cats, so... Really, there are no good feeling in this thread so far.

The cats quit reading at the second sentence.

Hi lemonheads.

 

[Aquagal]

I've had cats that did the butt scratch licking air thing, I always thought it was just hitting some weird nerves. My one cat, Storm, does it and growls at the same time. I don't do it on purpose as it doesn't seem pleasant for him.

Cats kneading is a comfort thing they learn as kittens suckling and kneading their mama's teats.

Abusing them will in no way get any sympathy from me when they are therefore after indifferent or catty to you.

 

[smoothg103rd]

Speaking of cat abuse, we have had to be, lets say, a little aggressive in disciplining the cat. It is still a kitten and likes to do cute kitten things like attack your feet which threw my back out worse the other day, or digging his claws in.

The girlfriend (whose fault it is that we are harboring a disease ridden creature in the first place) has seen him cuff the cat, and held her tongue. This morning she noticed the cats chin was a little bloody. She got very upset, first at him, he insisted it is not him since he hits the cat wirh a right cross, and the injury was on the left side of little kitties face. Her suspicions turned to me, and she said so. I heard all of this, but held my tongue.

Later, kind of meekly, he politely asked me not to abuse the cat. The way you do when your girlfriend makes you have a conversation you would rather not have, but it is easier than the conversation with her about not having the conversation.

I explained that I can't even catch the bastard with my bad back at the moment, but promised to be careful.

The mystery was solved when it was discovered that kitty had dug through the trash, gotten a triple blade razor out and had partially disassembled it to obtain two loose blades for himself. I think he is thinking of shivving me later.

Either that, or he just noticed how handsome I am and decided to shave his dome, too.

Talking abuse to animals you should see my father. My father hate cats too ( I think that's where I get it from) we both are dog people. My father breed and fight dogs, I'm not Vick so that type of stuff never really caught my interest. I been to a couple of fights though, and you should see how they treat the losing dog. I seen a losing dog get shot ( now you know why I never wanted to lose a fight lol). But back to cats, they are to sneaky and boring for me. My aunt had got a cat just to kill the mice only thing that lazy motherfucker did was steal food ( he was a black cat lol) And I hated that pussy with a passion.

 

[Que]

I've had a lot of cats over the years. Only a couple good ones though. The first cat I got I was probably 12 or 13, my dad had found him as a kitten, in think in the rain gutter. It was someplace really weird like that. Like on the roof. I named him Simon after Simon Cowell, who I totally loved at the time. Turned out it was a good name for him. We had him about a year and a half. He was not a good cat, and at times he was downright aggressive. Biting and scratching blood. We eventually got rid of him.

But then we found out he fathered kittens down the road one day when he had unlocked the door to escape. So I felt it was a good opportunity to try again, so we took one of those kittens. That cat I named Jasmine. She was a wonderful cat. She was amazing. Her personality was great, she was spunky, and affectionate, and really treated me like I was a cat too. She died of cancer when she was about 5. I still miss her.

Since then I've gotten other cats to try and get one that has a personality like that again, but i've found most cats are just... Cats. The live by instinct and don't care about you one way or the other. I've had a couple good ones that just seemed nervous breakdowns. There was Basil, who I had at the same as Jasmine, and he was good for a long time, until Jasmine died and then he started peeing in the house. Cant keep a cat that pees in the house. There was Lily. Lily was pretty good, until she got attacked by a pregnant cat I rescued, and then she did nothing but hide behind the coffee maker all day and all night, even after we re-homed the pregnant cat. It was sad, but kind of humorous, because she was a big cat and she didn't blend in behind that little coffee maker at all. So we gave Lily to my cousin. There were others in the mix, but none of them even came close to being good cats.

More recently, I've been fostering pregnant barn cats. Raising the kittens and finding them homes. I like it, and so do the kids. We've ended up keeping one from a few of the litters, but none had good personalities, of the several we've kept. Those ones all ran away. One after the other.

About a year ago we got a kitten from the farm that I buy eggs from, and he is great. He's almost just like jasmine, but less independent. Jasmine would kill rabbits bigger than she was. Dutch Boy would probably run scared from a rabbit. But he's affectionate and nice. By far one of the best cats I've had. He listens and cares like Jasmine did. He likes to sleep across my face. Even if I pull him down, he'll reach one law up to touch my face while he sleeps.

Isn't that true. People will ask me if I like cats. "Which one?"

There are lots of people I don't like. Why not cats?

The girlfriend annoys me (and him) about the way she plays with the cat. She likes to tease it and play with it in a way that makes him think it is cute to swipe at things. I do not want some big tom-cat thinking he can claw me for fun.

He is going to be hell on scorpions and mice, though. He is really fast. He has a tiny toy mouse that I flick for him with my big toe, like shooting a marble. He snags it in the air like 9 out of 10 times even when he isn't expecting it.

 

[lemonbread]

The cats quit reading at the second sentence.

Hi lemonheads.

The first two sentences sum it up pretty well, actually. Please, no one read the rest.

Hi there, Killy.

 

[parodyluvr75]

Speaking of cat abuse, we have had to be, lets say, a little aggressive in disciplining the cat. It is still a kitten and likes to do cute kitten things like attack your feet which threw my back out worse the other day, or digging his claws in.

The girlfriend (whose fault it is that we are harboring a disease ridden creature in the first place) has seen him cuff the cat, and held her tongue. This morning she noticed the cats chin was a little bloody. She got very upset, first at him, he insisted it is not him since he hits the cat wirh a right cross, and the injury was on the left side of little kitties face. Her suspicions turned to me, and she said so. I heard all of this, but held my tongue.

Later, kind of meekly, he politely asked me not to abuse the cat. The way you do when your girlfriend makes you have a conversation you would rather not have, but it is easier than the conversation with her about not having the conversation.

I explained that I can't even catch the bastard with my bad back at the moment, but promised to be careful.

The mystery was solved when it was discovered that kitty had dug through the trash, gotten a triple blade razor out and had partially disassembled it to obtain two loose blades for himself. I think he is thinking of shivving me later.

Either that, or he just noticed how handsome I am and decided to shave his dome, too.

Your roommate punches a kitten? And you and the girlfriend let him do it?

 

[Libsam]

I'm a dog person but I decided to try a cat 4 years ago... strange little animal...
She is just like me. Not super charismatic, kind of weird, likes her butt spanked...

 

[Que]

Your roommate punches a kitten? And you and the girlfriend let him do it?

I might've have waxed a bit hyperbolic in the description.

 

[Killswitch]

We recently moved and one of our cats escaped under the new fence and has not been seen since. I wish I could say I spent days and days looking for her, or even that I was upset about it. However, I can't. She was a horrible little bag of fur and lived with us 17 years longer than she should have.

Knowing my luck she'll be one of those fucking cats that is just sitting on the door step one day 7 years from now.

 

[Que]

We recently moved and one of our cats escaped under the new fence and has not been seen since. I wish I could say I spent days and days looking for her, or even that I was upset about it. However, I can't. She was a horrible little bag of fur and lived with us 17 years longer than she should have.

Knowing my luck she'll be one of those fucking cats that is just sitting on the door step one day 7 years from now.

An animal is a commitment and it is awful when one ends up with one you would rather not have.

What probably happened was she wandered into some house, they assumed she was a stray, and she is dining on caviar in a household that for whatever reason suits her temperament better.

I think humans should be more open to shuffling pets and rehoming them when human and pet are not getting along, but that just feels wrong.

Odds are good she is telling her new cat friends, "I wish I could say I miss them but they horrible little fur-less ogres!"

 

[Killswitch]

She always hated being around humans and was pretty wild by nature. I'm not as cold as I seem; she is microchipped and we registered her missing with all the vets and pounds in the area; did do some signs and post on facebook pages for the community we're now in etc, but no, we did not scour the neighbourhood looking for her. I feel like it's kind of pointless to do that with cats anyway. Especially one who hates humans and would never go to one by choice.

You never know though. Once a cat of mine pushed his way into a vestibule entryway into an upstairs apartment next door that was vacant and couldn't get out.

I heard him while looking for him like the third time.

Then once he didn't come back on a holiday and I put out flyers. He got into a guys basement a few doors down who opened the basement windows to air out some staining he did then he closed them.

cat scared him half to death when he went downstairs the next morning. He called me because he saw my flyer in his door.

I also am adamant about having nametags with numbers on my animals.

 

[Emerson40]

She always hated being around humans and was pretty wild by nature. I'm not as cold as I seem; she is microchipped and we registered her missing with all the vets and pounds in the area; did do some signs and post on facebook pages for the community we're now in etc, but no, we did not scour the neighbourhood looking for her. I feel like it's kind of pointless to do that with cats anyway. Especially one who hates humans and would never go to one by choice.

Perhaps if you looked more "cat" your wee kitty would come to you from its hidey spot.

I suggest you put this on and meow wildly around the neighborhood.



http://25.media.tumblr.com/8eafd08ad034e5182483adf3b321c285/tumblr_mswrzjPQjK1raavtqo1_500.jpg

 

[Que]

This inside cat has gotten out twice. Since he was an outside cat, and technically not ours, he probably should have a choice. But it isn't my choice to make here. Although the cat is growing on me, my ambivalence about having a cat is what is assumed, so if it gets away, it will look like I encouraged it.

So I panicked both times. Chased the cat on hands and knees under cars with no gloves in near freezing temps. Both times, he gave me the slip. I finally gave up, to find him waiting by the front door.

Bastard.

 

[Killswitch]

She always gnawed off her collars. Once she got her poor little jaw stuck in the collar trying to gnaw it off.

Our Border Collie escaped the same day. Luckily some builders not too far away fell in love with him and looked after him. I'd be devastated if he disappeared for good.

Our fence is now fixed.

One of the pits got their teeth under the others collar and that was a mess.