Conference misery::feline_v1

    My cat, Shanti, does the same thing, except she goes over to my husband
    and starts crying! It's SO hysterical! My husband purposely tickles me
    JUST to get a rise out of poor Shanti! Shanti would never bite -- 
    probably just rub the skin off your arm or something! Good luck!
    
    Cheryl (Shanti and Charlie)
    

    Yup, that's my Nickolas - he's my best buddy - he's always there when
    I'm up - growls every time there is a noise outside - my best buddy !!
    
    E.

    My Ruby was very protective, extremely so.  If we were outside in the
    garden or somewhere, and a dog ever came in the yard, welllll,  that
    dog had better be able to run very fast.... Ruby was not at all afraid
    of charging large dogs right out of the yard.  The favorite story in
    the neighborhood is the german shephard that used to live on the
    street, he visited our yard one day, and was run out actually yelping
    for mercy by my big coon!  He probably thought he was being attacked
    by a bear...the neighbors were outside and saw the whole thing, and 
    clapped and whistled.  They thought it was hysterical..the dog however,
    never did set foot in the yard again.  Sometimes I'd see him trotting 
    by on the street, he'd actually cross the street and run by, turning
    his head every few seconds to see if the "bear" was after him.
    He was very protective whenever there were visitors or if my dates
    seemed like they were doing something they shouldn't be. He'd hit them!
    When you are hit by a Coon paw, you know it!  
    That sure was great seeing that poor dog with his tail between his legs
    though....what a riot!
    
                                        Denise
    
    

    Scruffy MEOWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If Steve Or I raise ours voices and
    prances over to us to see who it at fault.  If "WE" restel like
    yourselves, she will jump on one of us and try to break it up.  She has
    even mouthed my shin to stop me from yelling once!  I was on the phone,
    upset at something and she hollered and grabbed my shin and mouthed my
    leg. I was so surpised I stopped!!!  She was right, I should calm down
    and take things in stride........    She likes us happy and calm!
    
    She is so cute when she can't have it her way!
    
    

Hannah is also very protective of me.  She hisses and spits at anyone
she feels is "endangering" me.

Most cat experts (whose books I've read) seem to be unsure of just how
the cat "sees" the human(s) in his/her life.  Most feel that the cat
generally looks to us as "MOM" because we provide food, shelter, and
grooming.  However, certain cat behaviors indicate the cat/kitten
is seeing us as "BABY", as when he/she brings a kill to us or brings
live game to us so we can "practice killing food", or when he/she
"grooms" us or "protects" us from perceived danger.

I've come to the conclusion that Hannah thinks of me as a large,
incompetent cat to whom she must teach "the ropes".....in her eyes, I
have very few "survival" skills - I don't hunt/kill game, I don't
sit down and "groom" my coat (as she does), and I let dogs/cats/people
get away with behaviors that Hannah would never accept without protest.

I think she doesn't think of me as "MOM" so much because we free-feed 
dry kibble and she seldom "gets food" directly from me....I clean and 
fill the dish and she eats whenever she gets hungry.  I do groom her
daily, but I guess she still feels I'm in need of care...she patiently
waits until I go to bed and then she holds my head down with a paw
and she grooms my hair with lots of trills and chirps to "reassure"
me.

	Amazing little creatures, aren't they?

    Hannah's grooming techniques sound a lot like Lil's !!!
    
    E.

    If Jack and I are having a loud, um... "discussion", Mao will come
    running over "maoing" in a concerned tone.  Of course she also does
    this to me if I sing.....  And I always thought I had a nice voice ;-)
    

    
    Taco is real protective of me, and as soon as he hears my boyfriend's
    voice start to raise towards me he comes right in between us (usually
    standing on me) and meows at him, as if to say "Come on, I dare you!"
    Which usually ends up making us both laugh.... our cats sure do have a
    knack at keeping us in line, huh???
    

    B.K. only gets "aggressive" if you sneeze!  He seems to think this
    is some kind of threatening gesture and will let out a growling
    type cry that definitely lets you know he is annoyed.
    
    
    
    
    Lynne (Casey, B.K., Rusty & Pepper)