ideheights
Jr. Member
Posts: 43
Butter and Stan - Brothers in Arms
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« Reply #30 on: June 22, 2008, 09:34:02 PM » |
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Klondike - It's interesting that you say that...
Now that we're not so worried about their dominance displays, we can look a little more objectively at it. Last night, Butter was back on top of Stan, clamping down on his neck and kneading him with his front paws. And BOTH of them were looking impassively at me while they were doing this... the attitude was, "Look at what we're doing... what's your response?"
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Cats are smarter than dogs. You can't get eight cats to pull a sled through snow. (Jeff Valdez)
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kaffe
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« Reply #31 on: June 22, 2008, 10:31:37 PM » |
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ha ha ha ha The rascals! They are challenging you to do something now, are they? ha ha ha ha... if it were me, I would go, "shooooshh! 'nuf-nuff now!" (I try - in vain - to assert my leadership)
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Poco
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« Reply #32 on: June 23, 2008, 12:52:38 AM » |
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I love this thread, too.  Stan and Butter are real characters! ideheights, they way you describe them impassively looking at you is very funny! I can almost see them. You wonder if this is a continuation of a little game they played on their last owner, or if this is displacement behaviour of some sort. They must still feel a little anxious and may miss some of the routines of their old life. You could try this if Kaffe's suggestion does not discourage them and the episodes get to be too frequent. Instead of giving them attention, ignore them and engage in some 'Master of the Universe' behaviour of your own. Perhaps reposition their food and water dishes by an inch or so. Or move around some of their toys. Anything to distract them without paying attention to them or rewarding them. I'm sure you are giving them tons of attention right now, so I doubt they are that needy. Probably just anxious and maybe like Kaffe said, trying to outsmart you a bit. Let us know how it goes for you! |
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ideheights
Jr. Member
Posts: 43
Butter and Stan - Brothers in Arms
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« Reply #33 on: June 23, 2008, 06:00:09 PM » |
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They ARE characters, and now that we've just hit the two-week mark, we're learning more and more about how they get the attention they need. Stan knows that we're very concerned about them getting out, so he'll paw at the catch on the window and look at us, meowing, "Nya-ha-haaa... The minute you're back's turned, I'm OUT of here! Of course, if you decided to spend the next 40 minutes scratching my ears, I might reconsider." Butter's not so subtle... Last night I was studying Japanese at the dining room table when he jumped on the table and then climbed up my shoulder. When my neck bent under his massive weight, he settled down on my back, with his butt on the back of my head. A little difficult to memorize irregular verbs with your chin pressed against the book and a tail dangling down between your eyes...  |
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Cats are smarter than dogs. You can't get eight cats to pull a sled through snow. (Jeff Valdez)
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August
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« Reply #34 on: June 23, 2008, 06:56:50 PM » |
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LOL! How great that your new family members are feeling so at home! |
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kaffe
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« Reply #35 on: June 23, 2008, 08:50:06 PM » |
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They ARE characters, and now that we've just hit the two-week mark, we're learning more and more about how they get the attention they need. Stan knows that we're very concerned about them getting out, so he'll paw at the catch on the window and look at us, meowing, "Nya-ha-haaa... The minute you're back's turned, I'm OUT of here! Of course, if you decided to spend the next 40 minutes scratching my ears, I might reconsider." Butter's not so subtle... Last night I was studying Japanese at the dining room table when he jumped on the table and then climbed up my shoulder. When my neck bent under his massive weight, he settled down on my back, with his butt on the back of my head. A little difficult to memorize irregular verbs with your chin pressed against the book and a tail dangling down between your eyes... hrowrrr!!! what a howl! consider that bent back nose to the page your cat-mediated meditation stance now ha ha ha ha ha ha brings back a memory when my mother was still alive and I went to visit her for a few weeks with a young Kaffe in tow. Mom was bed-ridden by then but still bright and cheerful. Anyway, my sis and I were chatting in the living room when we heard my mom calling urgently: "Phoebe, Phoebe...!" we rushed to her bedroom and there found my mom flat out in bed, arms splayed, eyes bulging wide and... my cat Kaffe on the bed, on top of mom, busily kneading my mom's belly with his tail up and tushi almost hard up against mom's face... it was hilarious... "Kaffe, no!" I said... becuase I was trying hard not to laugh, the reprimand lacked conviction. |
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ideheights
Jr. Member
Posts: 43
Butter and Stan - Brothers in Arms
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« Reply #36 on: June 23, 2008, 09:09:05 PM » |
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Kaffe - That sounds like our daily life, now - what IS it with these two and their booties? It doesn't matter where you start petting them, their heads sink right away and their nether regions rise up into our faces - like a seesaw with only one kid on it. They're really overestimating the beauty of that view...
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Cats are smarter than dogs. You can't get eight cats to pull a sled through snow. (Jeff Valdez)
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kaffe
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« Reply #37 on: June 23, 2008, 11:41:10 PM » |
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Kaffe - That sounds like our daily life, now - what IS it with these two and their booties? It doesn't matter where you start petting them, their heads sink right away and their nether regions rise up into our faces - like a seesaw with only one kid on it. They're really overestimating the beauty of that view...
ideheights: Cats are of the opinion that we mere humans should feel HONORED when they presnt their butts to us --- it is their equivalent of our silly tradition of shaking hands --- oh, yes... in case you didn't know this yet --- when a cat presents his butt to you, he fully expects you to sniff it in acknowledgement of his greeting.  |
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catbird
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« Reply #38 on: June 24, 2008, 06:14:08 AM » |
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Yes, the "elevator butt" thing means they are feeling happy and sociable. Despite their "threats" to move out, it sounds like the boys are feeling glad about being with you. Yes, they do expect that you will acknowledge the greeting, as kaffe said. IMO dogs are far more gross about it... So you have one of those sit-on-your neck cats. I do, too. (Isis) Loved the story! |
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Poco
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« Reply #39 on: June 24, 2008, 01:12:55 PM » |
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 IMO dogs are far more gross about it... |
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catbird
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« Reply #40 on: June 24, 2008, 01:30:39 PM » |
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Is that Poco's comment on my opinion, or his demonstration of it? |
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Poco
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« Reply #41 on: June 24, 2008, 02:13:35 PM » |
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Is that Poco's comment on my opinion, or his demonstration of it? There he is! The little rascal got loose on me again! I never know what he is thinking for sure, but I know he tries to follow the 'rules' as best he can. He is a red-headed terrier, though. |
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catbird
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« Reply #42 on: June 24, 2008, 02:44:58 PM » |
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He is a red-headed terrier, though.
I have a red-headed cat, too. |
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ideheights
Jr. Member
Posts: 43
Butter and Stan - Brothers in Arms
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« Reply #43 on: June 24, 2008, 06:19:45 PM » |
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As charming as the culture in catland may be, I have no intention of sticking my nose in Stan or Butter's behinds... and I don't expect them to stick their noses in mine, either!
They are pretty sweet-tempered, but I'm worried about them getting bored when we're out all day. They're pretty unimpressed with the cat tower we bought and are very disdainful of the toys we bought for them. ("I do not see the mouse... I do not see the mouse...")
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Cats are smarter than dogs. You can't get eight cats to pull a sled through snow. (Jeff Valdez)
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kaffe
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« Reply #44 on: June 24, 2008, 07:27:01 PM » |
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If you have a very secure window, you can put up something where the cats can perch and look out to see all the interesting things outside. My two boys love to perch by the windows to watch, wathc, nap and sometimes even eat! You'll need to provide a perch that's big enough to accomodate both cats or better yet - one perch for each cat (sometimes cats don't like to share - my boys don't, so they have one perch each by my bedroom window.)
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