Cat Chat, Deciphering Your Cat's Language

Does your cat chat? Do you know what it is trying to tell you? Perhaps you need to take a moment to read through this article and learn more about cat chatter. As with all things in life, there is usually more than meets the eye; or the ears in this case.

Three Easy Ways to Decipher Your Cat's Language
Figuring out what your cat is trying to tell you is actually rather easily done. Know what all of the cat chat is about by simply following these three simple suggestions.
1. Higher pitched, desperate meows typically relate to hunger, attention needs and desires for outdoor adventures (if your cat is allowed outside), as well as, “My litter box needs to be changed, dang it!”
2. Lower pitched, rumbling meows mean that your cat is agitated, angry, peeved or ready to pounce.
3. Medium toned meows and leg rubs, or meows that you can barely hear in the room means, find me, pet me, I am cat chatting to let you know that I want some day-to-day affection.

Three Inexpensive Cat Toys That You can Make at Home
If you have been searching for the ideal cat toys for your kitty and you don’t have pockets full of cash to spend at the local pet store, there are some cheaper ways around this. Here are three inexpensive cat toys that you can make at home.
1. Strings forever. Buy some cheap colored yarn or thin ribbons at the arts and crafts store, then simply tie a yard to door knobs, your cat will be entertained all day.
2. Fluffy ball. A tennis ball, some glue, and some goose down from the arts and crafts store will net you a feathery ball that your cat dies for.
3. The cheapest scratching post ever. Buy a paper towel dispenser, a few feet of cheap carpet and some strong glue. Wrap the carpet around the dispenser and firmly glue in place. The cheapest scratching post ever!

Roommate Cats Kick Back and Chat All Day (For Over an Hour)
The oddity that exists amongst domesticated house cats is that they are will fight for dominance in the pride, and then they will buddy up from time to time. Take these two cats that are featured in the video below. As the owner relates, the cats, Stina and Mossy, are typically fighting each other all day. But in this video, they cuddle next to each other, cat chatting the day away. According to the owner, these sessions will typically last an hour or longer.

Crazy Cat

She's a very nice kitty for the most part.  But if you cross her the wrong way, she will attack, and she will bite!

Tweeting Cats

A programmer named ioan ghip has two cats Gus and Penny. Gus and Penny are indoor /outdoor cats. The cats' food is left for them in the garage, but, since the neighborhood cats noticed that the food Gus and Penny get is better than theirs, well, the food started disappearing at an alarming rate. ioan ghip decided to solve the problem with technology. First he modified the cat door. Then he added small RFID tags to Gus and Penny's collars. The tags send out low-level radio signals; these are the same kinds of tags to prevent shoplifting. When Gus or Penny approach the door, an RFID reader connected to an old laptop "sees" the signals from their collars, and a servo on the door opens the door to let them in. A cat without a tag on its collar, or a tag that the computer hasn't been told to authorize, can't get in.

But because ioan is a programmer, he had to go above and beyond the efficient, and add the "coolness" factor. If you pay much attention at all to the Web, you've probably read about, or use, or know someone who uses Twitter. It's a Web based service that sort of combines texting or "instant messages," with blogging. People get a free Twitter account and can then send short messages that are 140 characters or less to the Web. Their friends (and the general public) can "follow" them on Twitter, and respond. You can even send images to Twitter, from a laptop or a cell phone.

Every time Gus or Penny approach the door, so that a "cat event" takes places, the old laptop sends a Twitter text message, and a snapshot of Gus or Penny to the Web. You can read the details here, and you can follow Gus and Penny on Twitter.

Felix Found Alive in Collapsed Building

A German cat may have used up one of his nine lives recently as he came out unscathed following the collapse of a local building in the city of Cologne.
 
According to the Cologne fire brigade, the feline named Felix, was found alive and well on April 7th, among the rubble of a six-storey building that had came tumbling down a whole five weeks earlier.  The huge archive building crashed to the ground around 2pm local time, taking down two nearby buildings with it.  There had been no signs of decay, and officials claim that there had been no construction work nearby that would have compromised the building's integrity.  Staff had been warned by loud groaning and creaking noises that made them evacuate the building just in time, but obviously, no-one grabbed the kitty on their way out. 
 
Surprisingly, Felix aged 12, was in very good health considering that the city archives building that he was found under had collapsed to the ground back on March 3rd.  The lucky animal was saved after rescue workers who were clearing away the rubble from the building’s ruins suddenly came across a pair of small paws, which of course belonged to Felix.
 
"The men lifted some concrete blocks when suddenly a little cat came to light," said Dietmar Paust, a Cologne fire brigade spokesman.
 
While Felix survived the horrifying accident, two people unfortunately lost their lives in the tragedy.
 

It is a great example of why people believe that cats have nine lives, as they can often survive accidents that would kill other animals and humans.

 
Cats can often walk away from these accidents because of their small size and low body weight. They are very agile and flexible, and able to fit into tight spaces.  (If a human was to try the equivalent we would have to either be a world famous contortionist, or dislocate several bones in our bodies.)

Cats also have a very keen sense of balance which allows them to adjust their bodies in mid air and usually land on their feet.  It is this ability which allows them to survive long falls, as the jolt from landing is absorbed by all four of their legs.   Unlike us badly designed humans who instinctively tighten our muscles in panic when falling, cats bend theirs when they land. Their falls are then cushioned as the impact is spread and softened through their bones and muscles, rather than causing a bone-breaking jolt.

While Felix's ability to fit into a cramped space was obviously partly to thank for his survival, it is unclear how he managed to stay alive for five weeks without a source of food or water.  Cats can sleep for up to 20 hours a day, letting them conserve a lot of energy,  but they need to at least every three days or so in order to avoid liver damage.

Perhaps cats really do have nine lives, and in Felix's case, I am sure he used up more than one of his to endure his tough time buried alive.

Feline Entertainment

Our cat has toys; I suspect most cats with pet humans do. She likes them. Or she used to. We moved a while ago, and when our new refrigerator was delivered, and the old one moved away from the wall and taken away, we discovered that a previous resident had had a cat, and the cat apparently had stashed (or lost) a few cat toys behind the fridge. We found two small soft yarn balls, with pieces of yarn arrayed out from the center, and, mixed in with the soft multicolored yarn, metallic glittery threads. That's a picture of them, to the left. The cat immediately claimed them. A few days later, we realized that the two balls had mysteriously multiplied into five; this is not an easy thing to do in a home that is still mostly empty.

Those little balls are absolutely adored by the cat; she chases them, she hides them, she tosses them and pounces on them. She seems to take great delight in simply carrying one around in her mouth. Sometimes she holds one or more between her paws and sort of . . . well, croons. I'm not sure if she's nursing it, or planning to eat it, honestly. It's not something I've seen her do before. She used to bring us "presents," in the form of lizards, snakes, small birds and rodents, when she had access to the out doors; sometime she leaves us glitter ball presents too—she'll bring one to us, and demand attention, or leave one on our chairs, or the bed, or our shoes . . . so I'm not clear, at all, whether she considers them toys or food, or indeed, if that distinction even matters.

The glitter balls are absolutely her favorite toys now; she's pretty much abandoned all others. Well, almost all others. She is also oddly enamored of the bottom half a box meant to hold a dozen doughnuts. We had the box, and a paper bag we'd cut in half to use the top half as wrapping paper, stacked by the door to go down to recycling. That was about two weeks ago; within minutes of stacking the remnant of the bag in the box, the cat was in the box, arranging the paper to her satisfaction. She can't quite fit in the box lying down, but she does like to sit in it, and she plays with the box and the paper, endlessly. Now, we've thought about maybe getting her a bed, a permanent place for her to sleep, but, given how much she likes to perch on chairs, or in the windows, we're pretty sure she wouldn't want it, or use it. It's the same phenomenon you sometimes see with young kids; you buy them a toy, they open it with great excitement on Christmas day, but then spend the next three days completing ignoring the toy, and playing with all the empty boxes.

We figure we can always buy more doughnuts when this box wears out, but we're looking for more of the glitter balls; the five have mysteriously been reduced to three.

Cat Abuse

In a disgusting display of violence and perversity, a teenage boy and his brother, acting as camera man, posted a series of videos on YouTube on Sunday, February 15th, 2009. The videos show the teen repeatedly slamming a cat named Dusty against a shower wall, and pummeling the cat, over and over, with his fists. When YouTube acted swiftly in response to complaints and blocked the account, the teen created other accounts and posted more video. Officers from the county sheriff's office found additional video at the teen's home, and subsequently confiscated another abused cat.

Thanks to the quick actions of Internet savvy users, and bloggers, the teen was tracked to Lawton, OK, and the Comanche County Sheriff's department has removed Dusty the cat, and taken the animal to a vet. The teen is currently not charged, apparently, and there is some question about whether or not charges will be filed, given the social status of his family. You can read local TV coverage here, and here. The story was picked up internationally as well, and was covered by papers in England and elsewhere.

As revolting as the teen's actions are, the quick response by people all over the world, and the concern displayed for the cats, is reassuring regarding basic human decency. There's a Web site updating the case here. It's difficult to see how any who is not mentally ill could behave in such a horrific fashion, and I can't help but wonder where the boy's parents were while this was going on. I am not linking directly to the videos, because they are truly horrific.

Making the cat lovers in your life purr with pleasure

It's pretty easy to spot a cat lover. They're the ones who stalk the pet food isle at the grocery store, filling their carts with Fluffy's favorite foods, treats, and toys. If you're behind them in the checkout lane, they've spent $50 on the felines, $10 on the humans. At work, you will politely pretend not to notice the hair on their sweater or the fresh scratches on their hands while they tell you the adorable story about how Ginger knocked over the 2-liter bottle of Coke with one of her cute little paws.

Cat lovers are a unique breed, and nothing will please them more than recognizing their bond with their feline friend by picking a cat related gift for a special occasion.  There are really two roads to go down when choosing a gift for a cat lover - buying a gift for them, or buying a gift for their cat.  True cat lovers are bound to appreciate both.

The Cat Connection is one of many online stores that offer a wide assortment of kitty treats and toys. Show you get the whole cat thing by purchasing a Teddy Mouse Catnip Toy (so realistic, you'll feel like jumping up on a table and screaming) or a Catnip Birdie. An especially thoughtful gift that both the cats and the cat-lovers will enjoy is catnip plants.  These herbs are easy to grow and also comes in a fresh, lemony flavor.  They add a nice touch of greenery to any home, and provide cats with some tasty greens to snack on. 

Make a visit to The Growers Exchange, and throw some cat grass in your shopping cart. Cat themed decor tends to feature strongly in cat loving households,  and gifts like this cat pillow that has "I Love My Cat" embroidered on a soft suede-like material makes a great gift. Speaking of cat themed soft furnishings, you won't believe the array of feline-themed throw pillows at homedecor.cafepress.com.  Unless you know your cat loving friend well, you may want to stay out of the doghouse by avoiding the cattier themes ("That's MISS Crazy Cat Lady to you") and go with something that puts everyone in the mood ("Purrfect Love'').

While you're at Cafe Press, switch over to the "Create Custom T-Shirts & More'' link, and you will really hit the cat-lover jackpot. Pick from one or two of the 1,000 or so photos of the furry friend you've undoubtedly been sent via e-mail. Browse the T-shirts, sweatshirts, and caps, and have some fun seeing how the image of the kitty looks on the items with the easy-to-use download. Make extra points by adding some personalized printing: "I love (cat's name here)."

Cat people tend to wear their hearts on their sleeves, or at least their ears, wrists, and necks! There is all kinds of whimsical cat jewelry out there, but if you want to buy something special and unique, go to Jamies Animal Jewelry. There's some exquisite sterling silver jewelry, including a pendant with paw prints tracking across a heart. Even if you aren't a cat person yourself, you'll be touched.

Caring for Your Cat's Hair

Giving your cat a bath may not be a regular occurrence, but the kind of shampoo that you use should the event arise can make a big difference to both the health and look of your cat's skin and hair. There are many cat shampoos and conditioners out on the market today. How do you know which product is best for your feline? Certainly you should never use your own shampoos on your cat. Human shampoos tend to contain a high level of chemicals and perfumes which can cause skin irritation for your feline friend. Cats with long hair will need a little extra TLC, and there are several cat shampoos specially formulated to reduce tangling in long haired breeds.  Jerob's offers a top end range of hair care and grooming products for cats, that comes highly recommended by breeders and show cat owners. If your cat has fleas or ticks, look for a specialist shampoo that can help get rid of them. You may also want to find a shampoo that helps your cat should they have skin allergies. If you are unsure of any product, always ask your feline’s veterinarian before giving them a bath. Of course if your cat just refuses to be washed, and needs to hide his dirty hair then what better than a trendy wig?  Yes folks, someone out there actually designs, makes and sells cat wigs for your beloved feline. Whether they want glossy blonde curls á la 'Marilyn Mon-miaow' or a jet black do like 'Prrrriscilla Prrrrrrresly', Or if your cat is having a really bad hair day, she could always cover it up with a hat like Yoshi here from Urbanbeast.ca

Simon's Cat

One of my very favorite YouTube channels is called Simon's Cat. It hosts animated short films made by Simon Tofield, of Tandem Films. These are very clever "flip book" style animated cartoons, based on line drawings of, well, Simon's cat, doing cat like things. My favorite of the three Simon's cat videos is actually the first, "Simon's Cat 'Cat Man Do'," embedded in this post for your viewing pleasure. It's one of those instances where "it's funny because it's true." In this particular animation, the cat has decided that it really is time for Simon to wake up, and goes about insuring that Simon rises with typical feline ingenuity. Go ahead, and watch the video; I'll wait.

One of the things that I love about this animation is that it perfectly captures feline wake-up-stupid-human body language, including the range of techniques from the initial "meow" to cautious kneading, to sustained kneading, to the paw patting the face . . . to a very funny, conclusion. In all four of these videos, which you can find linked in the YouTube Simon's Cat Channel, the cat endeavors to appear innocent of any wrong-doing. You know, like when you turn around to find the cat up on the kitchen counter, and when said feline realizes you're watching, the cat jumps down with a sort of "What? What? I wasn't doing anything" air ( which is what leads to geek cat owner's inventing devices like this).

The prodution values of Tofield's films (his production company is Tandem Films) might at first seem very crude—they aren't. The simple line drawings manage to convey both Simon's— and his cat's feelings and thoughts quite adequately, and the sound effects are right on the money. The British RSPCA hired Simon Tofield to do a video to educate the public about the problems of obesity in dogs; you can see it here. Simon Tofield has signed a two-book contract with U. K. publisher Canongate re-create Simon's Cat in book form; the first book is due out Christmas, 2009.

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