Cat Views

Isn’t it fun to watch your cat stalk prey? I love the way they creep up, hunch down, wiggle and “chatter” while they wait and watch. They wait patiently until just the right moment to pounce! One day, a hummingbird was hovering just outside our open glass door. Our cat spotted it and proceeded to get herself into the pouncing position. Just as she sprung to get the bird, I slid the glass door shut. She jumped into the door, and was so surprised! Shaking her head, she just couldn’t believe it. The little hummingbird flew off and she became furious with me for foiling her attempt to catch her prey. She flew into her condo to sulk after spitting and growling at me. I had one unhappy cat!

These lovely cats are the Japanese Bobtails. The many white cats you see in Oriental Restaurants with the raised paw relates to Japanese folklore that goes back as far as the 17th Century. Maneki-Neko as she originally named, was a small bobtail cat (according to the lore) that beckoned to strangers giving them good fortune. Here in the U.S. these cats are only seen in the fancy cat shows while they are seen everywhere in Japan, China and Korea. The first Japanese Bobtails were brought to the U.S. in 1908, and were not accepted for Championship Status until 1976. The unique feature of these cats is true to their name. They have a shortened rigid tail structure. They are a small to medium sized cat with a long lean body structure, large ears and the eyes are large ovals with an oriental slant. The coat is soft and silky with little or no undercoat and are water-resistant allowing them to swim (which they enjoy doing). These are very affectionate cats, but strong willed and not easily intimidated. They need to be kept active and given lots of attention. Good with children and dogs, easily trained but only if they are having fun doing it. A cat gym would be wonderful for these delightful cats to play on.

There once was a cat named Missy
She was not at all a sissy
She’d take on a dog at a moments glance
The poor dog knew he had not a chance
Little and fierce she was, feisty too
The melee she caused was a big to-do
The poor dogs always left in defeat
She was proud that she couldn’t be beat
So into her cozy cat condo she’d climb
Feeling she’d earned her rest sublime.

Years ago when my children were younger, a friend gave them two mice. We had two cats at the time and wondered what to do about them. Well, we explained to the cats that they were our pets and the mice were to be their pets and they had to take care of them. One cat was totally disinterested and the other cat very curious about the small creature in the cage. He decided that one was his pet! Good thing he took the caretaker position seriously, as that particular mouse was an escape artist. I would find it everywhere and the cat always let me know where it was. He really watched over his pet! This mouse was very social and liked to be where people were. If no one paid any attention to it, it would rattle the water bottle on its cage to attract attention. When the children took the mouse out to play with it the cat was always nearby in his cat bed watching. One day while the cat was in his bed the children put the mouse in with the cat, and the mouse promptly crawled up on the cat’s head and settled down for a nap! I guess the mouse felt secure napping with his caretaker!

We lived n a nice 2nd floor apartment in a New Jersey suburb at a time when it was safe for people to leave their doors open at night. My parents always left the door ajar for the cat to come and go at night. She had a habit of waking them up in the mornings by biting them on the nose. If that didn’t arouse them her 2nd ploy was to jump on the headboard of the bed and reach her paw up under the painting they had hung above the bed. She would look down at them, and pull it away from the wall. It worked every time to get them up. One night my dad was awakened by something cold and wet swishing across his face. He opened his eyes and there was the cat with a dead bird in her mouth trying to bite his nose to show him her gift. He got up, thanked her for the gift and told he preferred his birds alive, and went back to bed. An hour later, she was back with a live bird which she turned loose in the bedroom for him. Again he got up, thanked her, caught the bird and put it out. He then shut the door and put some fresh catnip in her cat condo for her. She went in and curled up in her condo and he went back to bed!

I have a good friend Jim, who visits regularly and he and my cat Misty, have really bonded over time. It took some time as he had never been around cats. It is a lot of fun to watch them interact. When he goes into the TV room she eagerly follows him as she loves his attention and even demands it now. He will sit on the sofa and she will sit on the floor in front of him. She sits staring up at his face and swishing her tail. After he makes eye contact with her she will jump up on the arm of the sofa next to him. She watches his hand, and when he lifts it up she will twist her head around to get under it. From this point on it is a series of moving her head from one position to another showing him just where she wants to be scratched or rubbed. All the while he is doing this, he talks to her. When she has had enough she will sit up tall for him to pet her head and down her back. Now, she is finished and will go and curl up on her cozy heated cat bed leaving him to watch his program on TV peacefully!

We were traveling across country with our children and our big playful cat who loved to ride in the car. When we arrived at our first designated stop, we found a lovely hotel and checked in. They approved of pets so we booked our suite for a week. It happened that one day while we were out sightseeing a new chambermaid came in to change the linens and clean. She was unaware of our pet occupying the premises and the cat had been asleep in the closet ion the shelf. (One of his favorite things to do was jump out of hidden places and scare us)! Well, he played his favorite game on the unsuspecting chambermaid and jumped out of the closet and startled her. She let out a scream and people came running from all directions to see what happened! The cat was sitting there very complacently watching the havoc he created. Needless to say, we immediately went out and purchased a wicker cat crate for him to sleep in while we were out. No more of his antics to scare the chambermaid!

The American Curl is an interesting and adorable breed. Distinguished by their unique ears, which give them an almost “teddy bear” look. When they are born, their ears are straight and gradually curl backwards at the tips as they age, with long tufts of fur fanning outward. The major characteristics of theses cats are their curled ears, medium sized bodies, silky coats and walnut shaped eyes. There are long or short haired varieties as well as different colors and patterns. These cats have no physical disabilities to pass on as well, making them ideal pets. However, selective breeding of these cats did not begin until 1983. American Curls are very people oriented and have unique personalities. They retain their kitten-like personalities into adulthood, adjusting quickly to other pets, children and new situations. They talk in little trill-like cooing sounds. A cat gym is perfect for these darling c ats.

Japan has come up with something new and a wonderful idea. They have established “Cat Cafes” which are becoming more and more popular.These “cafes” are a wonderful combination of animal shelter and tea house. Workers in Japan face long commutes and long hours of unpaid overtime. What better place to go and de-stress than a Cat Cafe? You can sip on tea or coffee, read a magazine, and have a cuddly warm cat curled up in your lap to pet at the same time. The cats are provided with wonderful accomodations like cat gyms, perches, condos, scratchers and cat beds. (These are professional cats). Calicos seem to be a favorite. It seems that single men in their 30’s find these cafes very appealing. They can go in, pay a nominal fee and spend an hour relaxing and playing with or petting a cat of their choiuce. These men are probably  gone on frequent business trips and do not have the time or accomodations to care for a pet. What a wonderful way to have a pet plus it is a great situation for the animals! They are loved and cared for while providing a great service to the customers.

I’ve been talking to some friends about the strange habits of their cats. One cat loves to be petted and the more you pet her, the bushier her tail grows until it is a full bush. Another friend says her cat has a very annoying habit. He does not like it when she brushes her teeth. She goes into the bathroom and unless she locks the door, he opens it and comes in. While she is brushing her teeth he will jump up and bite her butt! How many of you have cats that like to sleep in the wash basin in the bathroom? You can even turn the water on mine and he won’t move. My daughter’s cat lines up the heads of his “kills” in her bedroom closet for her to see. (Ugh)! My female cat hates closed doors and will go around opening them. Closets, cupboards or any closed door is okay with her to open and she is very good at it. We have strange habits and so do they. Most of the cats do like their scratchers and condos and a nice cozy cat bed and in spite of their oddities we supply them with these beloved items, because we care about our pets!