Just Around the Corner

My Front Door!

Spring that is.  March 20th it begins.  Its a cold one out there this morning though.  We had a bit of snow, but its the air temp (16) and the wind that is making it feel like -6 degrees this morning.  And its going to get worse.  The high on Saturday will be 1 degrees.  WOW.  I fed all the kitties, and told them to go back into their little huts to stay warm.  I was thinking about this.  Talking to cats.  When I greet my own each morning, I talk to them.  I think they love my voice and love to see me because they look into my eyes, and they mill around my feet.  This is true for dogs too.  I believe its important to talk to your animals.  I think its comforting to them.  There are some days I walk in from work and don't talk to them, and other days where I greet each of them with a pat on their heads, and say their name out loud.  I think they like this!  Its the same for the outside cats I feed.  I try to talk to them, and hold the ones I can - even though I am trying to stay as quiet as I can due to it being 4 am. and dark, and behind a vacant house.  :)

Here are some interesting facts about reading cats body language:

Watch your cat’s tail. Like dogs, cats communicate with the positioning and movement of their tails.^[3] Knowing the signals of tail position in conjunction with vocalizations can help you understand the needs and wants of your cat. Some common tail positions include:

• Tail straight up with a curl at the end: this indicates happiness.
• Tail twitching: your cat is excited or anxious.
• Fur on tail sticking up or bushy: your cat is excited or feels threatened.
• Tail vibrating: the cat is very excited and happy to see you.
• Tail fur sticks straight up while the tail curls in the shape of an N: this is a sign of extreme aggression and may be present during fighting or self-defense.
• Tail fur sticks straight up but the tail is held low: your cat feels aggressive or frightened.
• Tail held low and tucked under the rear: you cat feels frightened.

Look at your cat’s eyes. Gazing into your cat’s eyes can help you bond with him and read his feelings. Be aware, however, that direct staring without blinking may be interpreted as a position of aggression that makes your cat uncomfortable.

• If your cat’s pupils are dilated, she is feeling either very playful or excited or quite fearful or aggressive; use other behavior cues to determine which it is.^[4]
• A cat staring into your eyes indicates that she trusts you and is comfortable around you.
• A cat slowly blinking his eyes may be showing affection, indicating the cat is comfortable with whoever might be around him.

Notice other body language. Since cats are more "fluent" than humans in body language, certain gestures will accompany vocalizations to reinforce their message.

• A cat lifting her nose and tilting her head back slightly is saying "I acknowledge you." Cats sitting in windows may greet you in this manner as you walk by.
• A cat may lay her ears back if she feels fear, anxiety, or playfulness. This may also be seen when cautiously sniffing something she wants to know more about.
• A cat who flicks his tongue out slightly and licks lower lip is showing that he is worried or apprehensive.

Identify communicative behaviors. Some of a cat’s communication with you is based on how she behaves when she is around you. Certain behaviors have consistent meaning among most cats.^[5]

• A cat rubbing against you is marking you as his or her property.
• A wet nose "kiss" is an affectionate feline gesture in which the cat taps her wet nose to you. This means that she likes and feels comfortable around you.
• A cat rubbing his head, flank and tail against a person or animal is showing an act of greeting.
• Playful head-butting is a show of friendliness, affection.
• Cats will sniff a person’s face to confirm her identity based on the familiarity of the smell.
• A cat will rhythmically knead with his or her paws, alternating between the right and left feet, as a sign of happiness, contentment, or playfulness. Kneading is an indication that your cat knows and trusts you.
• A cat licking you is showing the ultimate sign of trust. Your cat may consider you to be a part of her family, like a mother cleaning her kittens.
• If your cat tries to eat your hair, she may be trying to "groom" you. This means your cat really loves you and trusts you.
• Some cats will show they really love you by copying what you do. You can test this by playing “dead” on the floor. The cat may sniff or nudge you, then play dead too.
• If your cat bites you with little force, it is a warning for you to leave her alone.

All very interesting!

Regular car goes into the shop for the exhaust system today.  I wound up having to buy four new tires for the Catmobile yesterday.  Thanks to my neighbor Tracy who offered to allow me park in her driveway overnight.  No slashed tires this morning.   Its been a bad year for car expenses. 

Have a great day.

"You know why its hard to be happy?  Its because we refuse to let go of things that make us sad."