Visit Yahoo! Pets Send to Printer

Print:

Back to Post

Three things we could learn from cats

Posted Wed, Mar 12, 2008, 2:07 pm PDT
 

I've written so much about ways to train your cat, so I thought it was time to turn the tables. Let's talk about things you could learn from your kitty. He's really a marvelous teacher!

1. Have fun
Life can get so serious and you can easily find yourself running from one thing to the next without taking time to enjoy life. Cats truly know how to have fun, and they don't need lots of expensive toys to do it. Playtime is important to a cat's mental and physical well-being. Take time out of your busy schedule to have some fun yourself.

2. Share
If you have a multicat environment, watch how they time-share spaces. The cat who claims a particular chair during certain hours often allows another cat to have that chair during other times. Cats also learn to share litter boxes, food bowls, toys, beds. etc. Considering that in most cases, cats didn't pick their fellow companions, it's amazing how generous they can be with each other.

3. Communicate
How many times have you been accused of not communicating well, or have been the recipient of poor communication? Cats are masters of communication. They use vocalization, scent, and body language. They also use repetitive signaling to make sure a point is made.

Now, I'm certainly not suggesting you start meowing or scent-marking, but take a cue from how cats ensure that they have communicated accurately. Think of this when trying to solve a cat behavior problem as well. Keep in mind that the very undesirable behavior you're witnessing may be your cat's attempt to clearly communicate to you that something is wrong.

To read hilarious stories about some extreme communication problems between owners and cats, check out my latest book Psycho Kitty.

Showing 19 of 19 Comments

  • 1. Barbara D - 5:28PM on 03/12/08

    My baby Sasha is always talking to me especially if I ask her a question, we can keep this up for about 5 minutes and then she won't say anything. It's like okay I am done talking, why you still standing here. In fact she will even argue with me, now that is fun! Now Katie and Shelby don't really talk to me that much, except if they want something.

    Report Abuse

  • 2. Laurel - 10:57PM on 03/12/08

    Excuse me! What about taking naps?

    Report Abuse

  • 3. George S - 1:54AM on 03/13/08

    Communication experts! Pushia sits on my right at every meal. Somehow she knows when we are to dine. Punia is polite, she wakes Anna with a gentle tap. It's time to get up! They both sit in front of the fridge when they want cream. If I don't let them out, they turn to Anna...

    Report Abuse

  • 4. James - 7:28AM on 03/13/08

    My cat, Misty, gets so excited when I get home from work she runs from one room to the next playing hide and go seek. If I don't come looking for her right away she'll wiz right by me and hide behind a shoe box or something. When I get her trapped, she jumps high in the air and runs to the next obvious spot. When I catch her, she loves it. It's pretty fun and has become one of our favorite games.

    Report Abuse

  • 5. Karen C - 2:03PM on 03/13/08

    I just spent a whole weekend in bed sick. Guess who was there on the pillow beside my head the whole time? My sweet male Ragdoll. He never complained until I had to go back to work.

    Report Abuse

  • 6. holzherbabe - 5:02AM on 03/14/08

    I have 4 cats, but the boy orange tabby is by far the most vocal of them all!! It's really amazing, they can tell me just what they want. And they will keep at it till I get the point. Cats are great companions and friends!

    Report Abuse

  • 7. KayKay - 6:28AM on 03/14/08

    one of my cats, abbie loves to talk and will do so until her throat is sore from talking so much. She has always been a talker. She will just sit next to me and talk. Many times I don't even need to respnond but I do. My other cat, Shamrock, doesn't talk as much but is starting to. He is starting to let himself be known when he wants something, mainly when he wants me to pet him while he is on the back of the couch. He also lets me know when he is upset with me when I have turned off the tv and he wants to continue to watch. He loves to watch Cops so when I turn that off, he screams and yells at me. It's so cute.

    Report Abuse

  • 8. Sue G - 9:38AM on 03/14/08

    My cat Marmalade isn't much of a talker, but she can sure make herself understood. She really likes to sleep on my legs if I am lying on my bed reading, and if I am on my side, she will sit there and push my knees with her paw until I lie on my back and she can stretch out. Spoiled little smartie pants that she is!!!

    Report Abuse

  • 9. calimari - 5:58PM on 03/14/08

    let me out, play with me, brush me, stop stressing, don't go to work, i love you, i want fish!

    Report Abuse

  • 10. sandee - 10:51PM on 03/14/08

    I have three cats, all of whom were adopted. Pushkin, (who I think is a Bombay) is the eldest. She is an indoor lap cat who will whine and get very annoyed if I have to stand for any reason. Bijou, (who looks like the cat in the above picture under the title) is more mellow and laid back; while Windsor is the determined and adventurous one. Not only will he climb the tree to be near the birds, but he will also try to talk to them!

    Report Abuse

  • 11. DAVID H - 5:40PM on 03/15/08

    OK - about cats talking, and bad habits. My cat Noel is 23 (really) and now insists on sitting on my chest at 4:30 in the morning and meowing at me to give him some food. He has dry food, really just wants a spoon of canned food. Does anyone know anyway I can break this senior citizen's habit? If I do not feed him, he just continues meowing, and if I close him out of the bedroom, my 12 year old (also a senior citizen) greyhound freaks out during the night.

    Report Abuse

  • 12. Barbara D - 7:02PM on 03/15/08

    In answer to David H, you are not the only one. Katie my 17 years used to wait unit at least 6am, but one year when the time changed her stomach stayed at the old time and since then (she doesn't eat that much dry food) so she starts waking me up by washing my face ( you have that sharp tongue going across your forhead) and my hair or pounding on my arm until I get up. So now all of my cats Shelby (6) and Sasha (6) and Katie have to be fed at around 4:30am. So get used to it. It is hard to break. I have stopped arguing and just get up, feed them and go back to bed. Good Luck!

    Report Abuse

  • 13. Caitlyn - 4:04PM on 03/17/08

    My big baby Baxter is a talker. He loves just talking to anyone. He'll be the one to stir a conversation. Then he'll follow me around when i don't answer him..he loves to sleep with me but he sometimes thinks the bed is all his..he tries to push me off..he loves his two brothers and they love him, they're always laying together grooming each other...i love it..

    Report Abuse

  • 14. Caitlyn - 4:05PM on 03/17/08

    My big baby Baxter is a talker. He loves just talking to anyone. He'll be the one to stir a conversation. Then he'll follow me around when i don't answer him..he loves to sleep with me but he sometimes thinks the bed is all his..he tries to push me off..he loves his two brothers and they love him, they're always laying together grooming each other...i love it..

    Report Abuse

  • 15. ronigmvb - 8:36PM on 03/18/08

    My siamese, Kali, sleeps every night on my body pillow snuggled close to my tummy. When my husband became seriously ill 5 years ago Kali began sleeping next to him and wouldn't ever get far from his side, even when not in bed. When his health improved about a year later, Kali came back to her pillow where she still sleeps. My husband is now 4 years cancer-free and he believes strongly that Kali's love helped in his fight against colon cancer.

    Report Abuse

  • 16. lkvlkvlkv - 10:38AM on 03/20/08

    My two year old, Theo, insists on talking and getting attention the minute I get home from work. I find just spending a couple of minutes with him when I first come home helps me settle down from the stress of the day. I live with somebody and he has to just wait until Theo gets attention first, otherwise we would have a jealous cat on our hands.

    Report Abuse

  • 17. Darlene S - 12:06PM on 03/25/08

    I have 7 cats and they all have different personalitys, Samson, when he wants attention-petted I will ask him what do you want? he will respond with a meow or lay on his back with his paws as if he is begging, and Keanu (he is a seal point himmy) I call him my small dark & handsome boy he is so jealous even of my husband he is a one cat person, My Crissy lets me know when her tummy is upset & needs some grass to eat no they do not go out so I have to cut grass & hand feed her, would you say I have spoiled them or not??

    Report Abuse

  • 18. Darlene S - 12:06PM on 03/25/08

    I have 7 cats and they all have different personalitys, Samson, when he wants attention-petted I will ask him what do you want? he will respond with a meow or lay on his back with his paws as if he is begging, and Keanu (he is a seal point himmy) I call him my small dark & handsome boy he is so jealous even of my husband he is a one cat person, My Crissy lets me know when her tummy is upset & needs some grass to eat no they do not go out so I have to cut grass & hand feed her, would you say I have spoiled them or not??

    Report Abuse

  • 19. lalaw.2008 - 12:02AM on 03/28/08

    My SIAMESE BABY, Tickles just went thru "major" surgery 3 weeks ago, was on special canned (vets) smelly food..She's very vocal! After 1 week of special diet, she ripped a hole in her purina cat food..Great sign that she's gettin' back 2 normal!! I've taken care of my 86 year old Father 4 last 7 yrs. B4 me moving in he was adamant "NO CAT!!". Right, guess who sleeps on his lap every day & gets him up every morning? U guessed it-- Tick !! Now he can't imagine a house without Tick in it. Today he couldn't find her, went crazy looking. Gave up & decided to make his bed..U got it, Tick was wrapped up like an eskimo in his comforter..snug as a bug in a rug..I mean comforter!! He figured out why it weighed so much, a 9# Siamese refuses 2b ignored !! Cat Lady !!

    Report Abuse