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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO
Created:Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5089
Total number of notes:60366

1516.0. "DID YOU KNOW..." by SKITZD::WILDE (Time and Tide wait for Norman) Thu Jun 30 1988 21:46

some tidbits of info gleaned in scatter-shot reading:

the domestic cat is the only cat that has a true "two-way" purr...the other
cats can purr on exhale, but not on inhale.

cats have two purposes when scratching things...one is to strip off old
layers of claws...the other is to mark the surface being scratched with
the scent markers that are imbedded in their front paws.  This is why
you will possibly notice more scratching from cats in multi-cat homes
and also why the kitty will quite often attack your favorite chair.
It also explains why de-clawed cats continue the act of scratching even
without claws...their need to mark with their scent never goes away.

cats rub their face against yours to scent mark you as well....but
remember, they only do this because they care...

when a cat brings in a partially dead mouse or other critter, he/she is
"parenting" you - it is an attempt to teach you how to kill your prey.
A ferel cat will first bring home dead prey for the kittens, and then
will bring home injured prey so the kittens can learn to kill their
food.  This the the act of a responsible parent...it must be quite
confusing when we yell and run away from a perfectly delicious tidbit.

Finally, when attempting to rescue ferel kittens it can be very
dangerous to handle them and then return them to the nest....the smell
of the kittens having changed, the mother cat may not recognize them
as her kittens and desert them or worse, kill and eat them as prey.
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
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1516.1Only too well...SHAPES::TAYLORSSharon, Dillan & Sammie - UKFri Jul 01 1988 09:3214
    
    RE: bringing in dead mice etc.
    
    I got up this morning to find a dead bird covering most of my kitchen
    floor....you know a leg here a wing over there.
    
    How can Sammie be teaching me to kill prey when he only does it
    when I am not there or asleep and by the time I find it its totally
    disemboweled anyway????
    
    Perhaps he thought I might like his leftovers for my breakfast!!!
    
    Sharon
    
1516.2Stag Beetle maniaKERNEL::JWILLIAMSFri Jul 01 1988 12:3513
    Re . 0
    
    My lads may wish to bring me food titbits in an attempt to mother me,
    but I sure don't appreciate the stag beetle they brought in yesterday.
    Yuk, it was turned upside down and its remaining legs were waving
    gallantly in the air.  I turned around to face Sukie meanwhile,
    and he was sitting there grinning with a leg sticking out of his
    mouth (rather like Churchill and his cigar).
    
    Yukkkkk
    
    Julia 
    
1516.3now I know why he attacks my permanents!TRILGY::WILDETime and Tide wait for NormanFri Jul 01 1988 16:448
Yeah, well the "parenting" seems to lose a great deal of charm in the
translation from a Kitty-view to a People-view of the world...but isn't
it nice to know they are just trying to help?

Knowing the cats have scent glands in their front paws and on their faces
explains why my Nicholas attacks my hair permanents...he's trying to
get rid of the smell!!