eftychia: Perrine (fluffy silver tabby) yawning, animated (yawn2)
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posted by [personal profile] eftychia at 09:46am on 2007-09-11

I really cannot tell whether my cat understands the difference between, "No, not right now," and "I don't know what you're asking for." Which means I can't tell the difference between her "Oh c'mon, pleeeeease?" and her "Let me repeat that because I don't think you heard me."

Some interspecies communication is very clear; some ... isn't.

Perrine does still have the problem of saying, "I want" without indicating the direct object, but she's learned to be clear about a few things. Most emphatically, when she wants me to brush her. (Though I'm not certain how often it's because she really wants the brush in particular, and how often she just wants attention and knows that asking to be brushed is one of the clearest ways to ask for attention.)

When I got home from rehearsal last night, she was quite vocal, uttering high-pitched squeaks. I'm pretty sure she was indicating how distressed she had been that I'd left, and how relieved she was at my retutn (there was body language to go with the vocalisations). The last time I'd gone out I wound up staying away a few days longer than intended, and that had her quite upset. I wonder how long she's going to keep doing this "I was so worried how dare you go away thank God you're home" thing for outings of a mere few hours.

There are 4 comments on this entry. (Reply.)
 
But my experience has been that most cats don't bother distinguishing among reasons for denying their requests/demands. And they very definitely have the American Attitude towards resolving communication problems: say it again, louder and slower.

As to how long she'll keep the "I was so worried how dare you go away thank God you're home" thing: my guess would be that she'll never give it up.
geekosaur: orange tabby with head canted 90 degrees, giving impression of "maybe it'll make more sense if I look at it this way?" (Default)
posted by [personal profile] geekosaur at 06:07pm on 2007-09-11
Re "I was so worried...": Maggie has always behaved that way, and as far as I can tell will always behave that way. Then again, I adopted her from a shelter (and she was terrified of humans at the time — except me; cats almost invariably find me irresistable).
 
posted by [identity profile] tattycat.livejournal.com at 12:20am on 2007-09-12
*laughs*

We have a new kitten whose primary communication right now is "PEEP!!" This is generally followed by a long, intense stare, as if to say, "Look, monkey. I know you're a bit slow, but could you try to work with me here?"
 
posted by [identity profile] fitfool.livejournal.com at 12:57pm on 2007-09-14
Most of the cats I've known seem to be very independent of their owners. I've only once been witness to a cat showering her owner with affection after he came back from a weekend away. She just kept rubbing herself against his legs, going up to his shoulder and rubbing his face with hers, and just circling, circling, circling him, as if she could bind him to the spot. So adorable.

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