Are you ever amazed

Because of your kitties?

I mean - I know we all are. But sometimes... their ability to have a relationship with us just blows my mind.

It can be a simple game. Shelly's sitting in the middle of the bed. I pop my head out the bathroom door and say "Where's Shelly?" And quickly pull my head back. I crouch down - and pop my head out again. He's looking at about where I was before - but now his eyes are all big. "Where's Shelly?" And his head bobs around. This time, instead of popping my head out, I step out, in a lunge, at him - and he takes off, tearing around the house.

"I'm going to get you!!!!" as I stomp after him. He zings around the back of the couch, zips across the front dash, LEAPS most of the length of the living room, and FLIES up the cat tree, flops on his side, rabbit kicks the "trunk" of the tree and peers out around the support - and pulls his head back to pop around at me out the other side, as I stick my face where his head was while saying "WHERE'S SHELLY?"

Or their desire to nurture us when we're sick, or their giving kisses, or hugs; or some of you have kitties that'll have conversations with you!

And here are these magnificent creatures, living with me!

I know I keep them "locked up" inside, and they had no apparent choice in living here. But nonetheless... they're happy! AND they let me know it.

What's the most recent thing your kitty did that made you go "wow"?

Not quite my cat but family cat was what I posted about smooch earlier, never thought he would allow himself to be affectionate haha

But it sounds like you and shelly had lots of fun

That TOTALLY counts! AND he batted/grabbed your hand because he wasn't done with you petting him!

I'm constantly amazed by my kitties and their ability to love and forgive me for my fiobles, like this morning when their breakfast was late.

Just this afternoon, I went down to the bedroom to check on them. Hannah was napping in her normal spot in her green "ball", and Tumbles was on the bed in his "spot". Without even opening his eyes, he started purring without me even talking to him! He's such a happy boy. Just a few minutes ago, I went back down there for something and I just rubbed his head with the back of my forefinger. He flopped over on his back and gave me the belly! He's never done that and he doesn't like to have his belly rubbed! Made my day!!

Midnight's pouncing ability is a big he can really jump high! His loud purr amazes me. Never heard a cat purr as loud as him before! When we first got him, that's all he did was purr, day and night. He only stopped when he slept! Plus he's huge, he's going to be a very big cat when he grows up!

Luna amazes me because she chose my father as her favorite. She follows him around, will let him hold her longer than anyone (she doesn't like being held). I'm amazed at this because she was abused by who ever had her before us. She hides from every other man she see's (except my grandfather, she did come over to see him once). But the moment we brought her through the door, she bonded right away with my father. Also I like the way she says words when she talks. "now" "down" "dad" "yeah" "no" "Joe" "here" "out". Never had a talkative cat before.

Lynxx amazed me because he hugged me. He always put his paws around my neck and kneaded. I've never been hugged by any other cat, before or since him. I never even saw a cat do that until I met him.

Originally Posted by LDG

What's the most recent thing your kitty did that made you go "wow"?

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The cat dynamics are really changing in my household right now. I lost 4 cats in the last 6 months, and my alpha Stumpy is turning 16 soon and has basically given up his role as alpha.

Stumpy has been my chief dog trainer for the last 15 years. Doesn't matter if its one of our dogs, or a dog visitor (our neighbors bring their dogs over for visits). To teach the dog respect for cats, he would walk up to them and do a full body rub against them. If the dog got snippy, he'd slap them silly to put them in their place. Dogs learned really fast to respect all of the cats thanks to Stumpy's communication with them.

Enter Duke, our neighbors 100+ pound puppy who hasn't fully gotten his dog manners in our house. Stumpy made a single attempt to train him, gave up, and now only sits on the table and hisses at him when he walks by.

This is where we witnessed who the next alpha cat will be (it was a toss up between Spanky and Lucky). Duke was in the kitchen being a little bit hyper (he IS still a puppy) when Spanky walked up to him and did the full body rub like Stumpy used to do. When Duke didn't calm down, Spanky thwacked him just like Stumpy used to do. Duke calmed down. Spanky walked away.

DH and I just laughed at all of this. It was as if Stumpy was sitting on top of the table, telling Spanky if he didn't get in the kitchen and do his job with Duke, that he wouldn't be the next "chosen one".

Shortly after that, Spanky started to snuggle up next to me where Stumpy used to snuggle. Spanky has always been a leg snuggler. He is now a chest snuggler. He still defers to Stumpy when he wants my chest, but has learned to take that place when available.

My WOW moments often come from the language that crosses between the cats, and even more so when it crosses to the dog species. I'll watch them closely and look for signs of their communication and more often than not it is lost on me.

Actually I got another one I saw flash and sooty earlier (woohoo) and o picked flash up and she instantly purred and soots got jealous and head bumped my leg he hasn't done that the last few times

I have been going through a lot of inner turmoil with Holland lately... I adopted her just before I was laid off, and although it's embarrassing to say, I was unemployed for two years... I got a new, wonderful, amazing, fulfilling job just after Thanksgiving, but it has been an adjustment. Holland was used to having me around all day, every day, and now I have to leave her for 10 or more hours a day!!

We play in the morning after my shower, but as I am getting ready, she has the saddest look on her face because she knows what's coming. Yet, every night when I get home there she is, ALWAYS ready to eat first, but even though I feed her when I come through the door she will take a few bites and then will ignore her food for a while because she simply wants to play, or to sit on my lap, or to give me head-bumps, or to get kisses. It is both rewarding and heartbreaking to know how much she misses me during the day. And how much I miss her...

Originally Posted by stephanietx

I'm constantly amazed by my kitties and their ability to love and forgive me for my fiobles, like this morning when their breakfast was late.

Just this afternoon, I went down to the bedroom to check on them. Hannah was napping in her normal spot in her green "ball", and Tumbles was on the bed in his "spot". Without even opening his eyes, he started purring without me even talking to him! He's such a happy boy. Just a few minutes ago, I went back down there for something and I just rubbed his head with the back of my forefinger. He flopped over on his back and gave me the belly! He's never done that and he doesn't like to have his belly rubbed! Made my day!!

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Tuxie purrs when you look at him.

And yup - the purring itself amazes me. So does the kneading, in fact. A non-stressed cat LIKES to be happy!

Originally Posted by Momofmany

My WOW moments often come from the language that crosses between the cats, and even more so when it crosses to the dog species. I'll watch them closely and look for signs of their communication and more often than not it is lost on me.

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Amy, first of all, just...

And I KNOW more often than not their interspecies communication is lost on me. I am amazed every time I realize, however, that they know each others' names - no matter how many kitties we have in here!

@ Mystik Spiral - but ALL of that just points to Stephanie's point about being amazed at kitties' ability to love and forgive!

Every day Lola's alive she rediscovers new & simple things. She is a blank slate every morning, re-learning how to jump & climb, eat, drink, & walk. The more she ages, the more every day becomes a struggle, I can see it become harder & harder for her to function.

Every day is a miracle. So blissfully happy, so innocent. Only 2 years old, wise beyond belief.

Originally Posted by LDG

Because of your kitties?

I mean - I know we all are. But sometimes... their ability to have a relationship with us just blows my mind.

It can be a simple game. Shelly's sitting in the middle of the bed. I pop my head out the bathroom door and say "Where's Shelly?" And quickly pull my head back. I crouch down - and pop my head out again. He's looking at about where I was before - but now his eyes are all big. "Where's Shelly?" And his head bobs around.

This time, instead of popping my head out, I step out, in a lunge, at him - and he takes off, tearing around the house.

"I'm going to get you!!!!" as I stomp after him. He zings around the back of the couch, zips across the front dash, LEAPS most of the length of the living room, and FLIES up the cat tree, flops on his side, rabbit kicks the "trunk" of the tree and peers out around the support - and pulls his head back to pop around at me out the other side, as I stick my face where his head was while saying "WHERE'S SHELLY?"

Or their desire to nurture us when we're sick, or their giving kisses, or hugs; or some of you have kitties that'll have conversations with you!

And here are these magnificent creatures, living with me!

I know I keep them "locked up" inside, and they had no apparent choice in living here. But nonetheless... they're happy! AND they let me know it.

What's the most recent thing your kitty did that made you go "wow"?

Click to expand...

OMG! You are just as crazy as me !! ORRRR....Shelly is just as crazy as Maia rolleyes: ....take your pick . Doesn't matter where Maia is or what she is doing, if I do the hide and seek, she is all game! Every morning she does the 'I'm so cute you want to pet me, catch me if you can' chase!
There are so many things she does that blow me away........ like when I whistle, she comes running. When I get loud, if it's yelling in excitement at the TV or having a fight with my ex, she comes running and wants to touch my face. When I am sick, she is right by my side......and so much more

One of the things that gets me is they know when you need them the most and they are there

Your thread came to mind when I read this. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41763121...s_and_animals/

Thanks for that link! Very interesting!!!!!!

My favorite quote is

A human and a cat can mutually develop complex ritualized interactions that show substantial mutual understanding of each other's inclinations and preferences

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I think the dog study will be interesting. I do love dogs too, but I suspect that human-kitty relationships are more complex.

Originally Posted by LDG

What's the most recent thing your kitty did that made you go "wow"?

Click to expand...

Just the fact that my BIG kitties let me into their lives, make me go wow And my domestics always have to be at the door to greet me when I come home. Just shows how strong of a bond cats have with their humans

With my current two cats, Molly's is partly that she is still with me, she has defied the odds twice now. She loves me so much, she spends part of her night round my head and partly under the covers, and grumbles when i dare move! She also loves to lie on my chest even tho she hisses at me on a regular basis for walking near her!
I also love watching her play, despite her age and illness.
Buster is one of the most annoying cats i have come across, but he is incredibly gorgeous, everyone passes comment on him. When he is being good, which is a rarity, he is wonderful end makes me glad i gave him a home to live his life out, rather than the rescue.

Most of my bridge babes and some of the fosters have had cute little habits that made them a bit more adorable.

Great question and thought. Cats have always amazed me, they are so intelligent, sensitive and inquisitive. I remember one time, this was last year, Pipsqueak kept pestering me after I went to bed. I kept gently pushing him away telling him, you had your snack, your litterbox is clean, and we already had our play session. Well, he persisted. So I got up and turned the light on. What is your problem PipCheeks (one of his nick names), he ran out of the room. I followed of course . I figured it was his mouse lost under the fridge game we play. But he ran downstairs. I followed again. Turned the basement light on, and walked down the stairs. He was sitting right by my DH's office door which we always keep shut. Then, I heard it, Potise was quietly meowing from behind the door. DH must have accidentally shut him in there before he came up to bed. Pipsqueak was telling me that his buddy was locked in that room. NOW ISN"T THAT AMAZING . Pipsqueak is a very sensitive cat and truly runs this household and all of it's occupants