Cat-nabbing adventures.

[PMC]

I adore cats and they seem to like me.  Don't know what it is, but I always seem to know what's on their mind and they seem to read me.  If I'm grumpy they'll give me a wide berth or will sit somewhere where I can't fail to take notice of them and give one a fuss.  

I miss my own cat who was sadly killed in the road earlier on this year.  I felt like I'd lost a best friend when I heard the news.  

I won't be getting any more cats in the near future as g/f is allergic.  She's actually said "It's a cat or me"...

[PMC]

Vincent wrote:
 Well, the cat owns us really ;-)

And that is the secret to understanding a cat.  I didn't chose Leonard from the cat rescue place, he liked the look of me.

If they don't like you, they move on and find another home.  

[PMC]

Cymric wrote:

My favourite breeds are the Holy Birman, the Maine Coon, and the Somali. The Birman just looks awfully cute with those white socks on its paws; the Coon is a huge but very friendly and playful beast (my mother and my sister each own one); and I've heard great stories of the incredible intelligence of the Somali. They are reputed to be able to open doors, including the fridge.

I'd love a Maine Coon, so named because local legend speaks of feral cats mating with raccoons to produce a very unique cat.  They're supposed to be very large, friendly and love playing in water.  I got this scraggy black moggy from a rescue home once.  She quickly got her paws under the table and started to grow...  And grow...  And grow some more.  Before I knew it, she was huge.  She was also extremely tame and I wondered if she had any Maine Coon in her.

As for intelligence, my cat Leonard used to confuse me by opening doors around the house.  He'd be shut in the kitchen at night, but in the morning I'd awake to find him on my bed or sometimes in my bed.

I used to let him out the kitchen window, and one day caught him pawing the latch that held the window shut!  

[PMC]

@KennyR

Absolutely right.  Cats are generally solitary creatures, but they seek companionship in people for more reasons than just because we give food and shelter.  

You can keep two cats together, but they don't generally socialise together unless they have to.  Even then there's a strict hierarchy.

@Odin

I've heard of Norwegien Forest Cats but don't know much about them, tell me more?

[PMC]

odin wrote:
They can become very massive, are very friendly, a tad ehm....'goofy' or perhaps 'simpletons' (at least the few my mother imported from Norway).

Sounds exactly like Jasmine (my expanding black rescue cat).  She was vast, incredibly friendly and thick as a prize yoghurt.

Leonard was the one who figured all the difficult stuff out, she just sat there watching as if to say "feed me, I'm cute!".

Here's a pic of the 2nd one my mum imported, quite large when compared to the cute little black one :-).

Geez!  That thing's massive!  Good job it's friendly or it would have your leg off without too much difficulty.

Actually, it kind of resembles Jasmine...  

[PMC]

bjjones37 wrote:

Thanks for the information. :-)  Now if I can just convince my wife... :-D

What?  That two predatory carnivores need their personal space?

:-)

@Cecilia,

Haha!  Loved the scratch-mixing moggy!  Now that's what I call a clever cat.

[PMC]

bjjones37 wrote:
This may require a little explaining.  To my wife they are little warm fuzzy creatures, more along the lines of a tribble than a carnivore.  Check this out. We have a box with a blanket in a cabinet outside under a covered patio against the house.  And what is under that box plugged into an extension cord?  A heating pad! :-D

My ex used to collect animals.  I've posted the full list elsewhere, but suffice it is to say that our house was full to the brim with varying mammal / reptilian (and I include my ex in the latter) lifeforms all needing care, cleaning, feeding and affection at once.

Can't believe your wife puts a heat pad outside for the cats...  It's why the almighty designed them with a shaggy warm overcoat!  

My ex struggled with logic sometimes.  Faced with the observation that rabbits live outside and not indoors, she replied "well these ones don't!".  I think you can probably guess the scenario.

Oh and a long haired cat makes a superb duster, draught excluder, lap warmer, bed warmer, pillow, armrest etc.  A true multi-purpose household gagdet.

[PMC]

If a cat brings a souvenier home, it's an offering to you and is a very high compliment indeed.  The fact that it's either dead, barely alive or partially dissected is immaterial, but it's a cat's way of telling you they are returning the favour and that you look hungry.  They do the same for their kittens.

Leonard was a very chilled creature, who just used to sit and watch stuff all day long.  The only things he'd bother to catch were frogs, who were always physically unharmed by their ordeal, but would often pass out through fear.

First thing I'd know about it would be the strained, pleading "Meeeeeoooooowwwwwww!" which meant "Help!  I've got something in my mouth that I don't know what to do with!" so I'd have to go outside to him where he'd present me with a very bewildered amphibian.

Jasmine (Wookie sized cat) was a killer.  She'd stalk stuff and bring home the remains frequently, although if you told her she was beautiful, she'd roll on her back and demand you tickle her belly.  A real Jekyll and Hyde character...