h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My cat Dora has a lot to say. Of all the cats I've had over the years, I have never had such a vocally expressive cat. She makes so many different sounds - maybe I'm anthropomorphising here - but it's very obvious to me what she wants. For example, she has managed to make me understand that when she's outside and I'm inside, and she moews in a certain and rather loud way, she doesn't want in. She wants me to come out. I can putter in the garden, I can sit on the step and pet her, I can stand around sipping my coffee, but I should be outside, according to Dora.

I've had cats over the years come to greet me at the door when I come home, but Dora is the only one who seems to want to tell me about day.

Today I had a job interview, and it went rather well I thought. Oddly I really don't want a job, because I'm trying to start my own business. Starting one's own business may be rewarding but it doesn't pay the rent. Keeping a roof over Dora's head, at least when she wants in, keeping her bowl full of kibble, and the occasional trip to the vet, these things take money.

i had a chatty cat too

soo... what does nora tell you about her day? you've got me curious.

Hi fluffykerfluffle,

Thanks for visiting.

I wish I knew what Dora was talking about. She makes a huge variety of mews, prups, rowrs, eeeps. When she puts so much effort into the discussion, I feel rather stupid my contribution is, "Who's my good girl? Yes, Dora's a good girl."

Sometimes she herds me into the back yard to look at something. Or possibly to smell something, something outside my range of sense of smell.

>>I wish I knew what Dora was talking about. She makes a huge variety of mews, prups, rowrs, eeeps. When she puts so much effort into the discussion, I feel rather stupid my contribution is, "Who's my good girl? Yes, Dora's a good girl."<<

yeah... when we are alone with our cats we forget we can actually talk to them like we would a human and no one will hear our foolishness. ie going beyond the acceptable who's my good girl. funny thing is... when i moved back in with my aging dad to help him... i was so used to having conversations with my kitty that i continued... after a while that garrulous old man was talking to her too (when he thought i couldnt hear ) and she was talking back!

so maybe its okay if we look foolish if it turns folks on to the fact that we can actually have conversations with our cats. .... thing is, its not really the words themselves or the meows that each of us understand... but making our sounds helps us send the meaning via mind and body english..

thats what i think anyway!

I think you're right.

Dora has some firm ideas about what people should do and has put in the effort to train me. If I engage in an approved activity, she hangs out and purrs and makes happy sounds. If I do something else, she brings out some strident yowls. And she'll herd me by meowing at me, walking a few steps, and meowing loudly, so that I follow.

She loves it when I read in bed, she hates it if I sit someplace indoors to read, and goes herself to bed and yowls. It's okay if I stand while reading, apparently standing doesn't count. She loves it if after dinner we watch a DVD, and sometimes I've put one on for her so I can get some work done. She likes me to go outside with her and do anything - especially gardening - but anything outside will do, I can eat breakfast, sip coffee, reading, work on projects.

She came from the shelter, and I'm guessing that her favorite hobbies - reading in bed, watching TV, puttering in the garden - were her original person's hobbies.

>>It's okay if I stand while reading, apparently standing doesn't count.<<

am picturing you standing and reading for your cat's comfort...


...ive done similar

doubtless you are right about her previous person's habits... its soooooo nice for her that you are so sensitive and compliant to her... i guarantee she, if she hasnt already, will give back in full measure.

i rescued my kitty from the outdoors... abandoned sick and injured... and i brought her home to a home with windows always open for easy coming and goingness... and mended her... and we were together for 12 years!

one thing she gave back, besides her patience with our cross country treks, was that when i had a tummy ache she would come over and knead my tummy ....and it helped!! i might add she was not one of those (please excuse the upcoming pun) kneady cats... heh heh ...so now that she is gone... when i get a tummy ache? i knead my tummy and you know what? it helps! she has given back in full measure and keeps on doing so

What a good kitty to be your massage therapist!

oh yes

oh... another thing i just thot of... since my kitty had spent some time out in the asphalt jungle before i found her... and, then, when we moved to a big city and she got surprised a few times when out and about on her own... since then she always wanted me to come with her outside... which i was wont to do because after all outside is very nice

thinking about that and other things about her... i realise now she did become a bit less confident of her safety outside and my presence allowed for her to relax and enjoy it all

all that said... diminutive little kitty, all fluffy pink and white, would chase dogs... any dogs... any size... and they would run... yea even unto the first look from her and the first step towards them... hightail it they would

i am sorry that stories about kitty have to be in the past tense... but that is the way life goes....
and right now i live in a house that has quite a few cats!!

Aw, sorry your kitty isn't with you any more. Their lives are so short, but so intense. It's good that you have kitty friends though.

bye