tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19129587.post3322453506025808702..comments2024-01-13T08:49:14.041-08:00Comments on Myrhaf: Cats and DogsMyrhafhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16340507405537605164noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19129587.post-3283796624141434772007-10-03T05:34:00.000-07:002007-10-03T05:34:00.000-07:00Myrhaf, I have two outdoor cats, and I must admit ...Myrhaf, I have two outdoor cats, and I must admit I made the mistake of introducing the second one (Brownie, a male) immediately to the first one (Stormy, a female).<BR/><BR/>Stormy basically laid down the law with Brownie, who was a kitten at the time. Ever since then, Brownie is completely submissive with Stormy, although they do play together every now and then.EdMcGonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05892046331126818396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19129587.post-9261119391404258432007-10-01T20:16:00.000-07:002007-10-01T20:16:00.000-07:00Me: "(Purring is also the medium of communication...Me: "(Purring is also the <I>medium of communication</I> between a mother cat and her newborn kittens, which is thus a sort of comfortable background cats set up with other cats when they're friendly.)" Um, no, not a "medium of communication" at all, but just a simple communication like a homing beacon.Adrian Hesterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13394227341130065130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19129587.post-81026414119200384882007-10-01T19:54:00.000-07:002007-10-01T19:54:00.000-07:00GB: "As an aside, it makes me wonder just how muc...GB: "As an aside, it makes me wonder just how much genetics or early imprinting plays in establishing basic personality traits in all mammals, including humans. I am referring to traits such as extroversion, introversion, being fearful or fearless, jumping into new situations or being afraid of them, etc." And for kittens at least, between genetics and early imprinting there are apparently interesting hormonal effects in the womb. There are behavioral patterns in cats associated with the male and female hormones, and while a male or female cat has a sort of baseline set by the hormones its own body produces, this baseline can be shifted by hormones from the neighboring kittens in the womb. A male next to other male fetuses will be souped-up in the male behavior department, while next to females will be more retiring; similarly with female fetuses.<BR/><BR/>Jennifer: "I read a book on cat behavior a while back, and it said that cats exhibit the same behaviors with "their" human that they do with their mother: a cat attached to a human is a perpetual kitten." Which is something to keep in mind when you think of petting cats as being like licking their hard-to-reach parts--that's what cats do with their littermates, mothers, offspring, and any other cats they form friendships with. Cats are largely independent and solitary hunters, but a lot of their behavior is shaped by the pleasures of the litter. (Purring is also the medium of communication between a mother cat and her newborn kittens, which is thus a sort of comfortable background cats set up with other cats when they're friendly.)Adrian Hesterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13394227341130065130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19129587.post-4027748561985130252007-09-29T20:15:00.000-07:002007-09-29T20:15:00.000-07:00Hey, what do I know, 'Haf, I'm just a Simpsons-quo...Hey, what do I know, 'Haf, I'm just a Simpsons-quotin' fool anyhow.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>;) <------obligatoryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19129587.post-65982481042310831602007-09-29T18:36:00.000-07:002007-09-29T18:36:00.000-07:00I read a book on cat behavior a while back, and it...I read a book on cat behavior a while back, and it said that cats exhibit the same behaviors with "their" human that they do with their mother: a cat attached to a human is a perpetual kitten.<BR/><BR/>Keeping their human in sight is a safety/reassurance issue for these cats in much the same way that it is for human babies (and if you've ever been around a human baby when it's just old enough to start experiencing separation anxiety, you'll see what I mean).<BR/><BR/>Some cats probably don't form this attachment: my parents' primary cat, Candy Corn, is very independent and uses your desire to pet her as a method of leading you to whatever she wants you to do. (It's amusing to watch. She'll let you pet her for a second, then step just out of reach and wait, let you pet her, step just out of reach and wait, and next thing you know you're at the bottom of the stairs and there's her food bowl, empty.) <BR/><BR/>The emergency backup cat, Yin, however, loves nothing better than to cuddle up with someone and have them pet her for hours and hours. But she's a nervous cat and likes to be reassured a lot.<BR/><BR/>I guess you could call being a security blanket "affection".Jennifer Snowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00039865566870992465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19129587.post-39248277430524274042007-09-29T14:19:00.000-07:002007-09-29T14:19:00.000-07:00I'm glad you two enjoyed that one, but what do you...I'm glad you two enjoyed that one, but what do you mean you're surprised, Inspector? Did you think I was some fool before you read this post? Here I let you go on for 39 comments with Ergo only to discover that you have nothing but contempt for me. Ingratitude, thy name is Inspector.<BR/><BR/>(Okay, just because there's someone out there who thinks I'm serious, here is the obligatory... <BR/><BR/>;))Myrhafhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16340507405537605164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19129587.post-91370904333947793162007-09-29T13:52:00.000-07:002007-09-29T13:52:00.000-07:00I'm... surprised and impressed, Myrhaf.I'm... surprised and impressed, Myrhaf.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19129587.post-86661004614191697492007-09-29T13:14:00.000-07:002007-09-29T13:14:00.000-07:00I enjoyed this essay! I have had 9 cats in my life...I enjoyed this essay! I have had 9 cats in my life over the years and every one of them has had a completely unique personality. That is something I just love about cats.<BR/><BR/>As an aside, it makes me wonder just how much genetics or early imprinting plays in establishing basic personality traits in all mammals, including humans. I am referring to traits such as extroversion, introversion, being fearful or fearless, jumping into new situations or being afraid of them, etc. Every one of my cats seems imprinted from kittenhood with these characteristics. Human children I have observed also seem imprinted from infancy with these basic personality traits.<BR/><BR/>Getting back to cats, I agree completely that it is our projection of human traits on cats that makes them so enjoyable. And I also agree that petting to a cat is just grooming of hard to reach places. Funny, but true!<BR/><BR/>The other thing about cats is that they always seem to get their way, at least in my household. I spoil them terribly, not something I would do with a human child, but something I shamelessly do with my furry monsters.Galileo Blogshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02592692929747610846noreply@blogger.com