The Cat Behavior Answer Book - Arden Moore [17]
These cats have enjoyed centuries of close association with humans, particularly high-ranking Thai government officials, nobility, and representatives of foreign governments. Si-Sawats were cherished by their owners, regarded as good luck cats, and given as wedding gifts. Some people trained them to check for scorpions before the baby was placed in his crib.
Today’s Korats are exceptionally bonded to their own family and home. They follow their owners around the house, communicating through a variety of expressive sounds. A Korat is a “listening” cat, always watching, deliberately cautious. The world revolves around a Korat, who generally prefers a quiet household and always expects people to do the adapting.
In describing Korats, the first attribute mentioned is usually intelligence. Most cats have smartness based on instinct, but Korats display ingenuity. They easily learn specific words, play fetch, and can get into any cabinet. Korat fanciers around the world enjoy exchanging examples of their cats’ exceptional memories, ability to think, and problem-solving skills.
A couple in Seattle always took their Korat on boat trips. She was not allowed on the open deck unless she had on her harness and leash. When she wanted to join them on the deck, she would pick up her harness and carry it in her mouth to the porthole.
Korat kittens like to select their own owners. When a litter is shown to a potential owner, all of the kittens will be curious, but often one kitten decides this is “his” person and proceeds to climb in the lap, perhaps chew on the hair, and become irresistible, while the other litter-mates act aloof or shy.
These remarkable cats are still treasured as much for their winning personalities as for their stunning beauty.
Contributed by Joan Miller, all-breed judge
Cats and Birds and Mice, Oh My!
Q In a Brady Bunch–style union, my new husband and I are trying to merge our teenagers as well as cats, birds, and mice under one roof. We are optimistically hoping for harmony. I have two curious cats. He has one talkative bird and a handful of pet mice. He has never owned a cat. I have never owned birds or mice. Can these different animals live in harmony with one another?
A Prevention is the key here. It is unlikely that your grown cats will come to regard their new housemates as anything but potential meals. Even though some cats are not big hunters and would rather enjoy bowls of hand-delivered kibble, don’t take the chance that the activity of the bird or mice might trigger an instinctive predatory response.
Even if your cats seem uninterested in the bird or the mice, never leave them unsupervised together. If no one in your merged family is available, make sure that the bird and mice are safely in their cages out of paw’s reach. You don’t want a case of feline “fowl” play or a mouse murder in the house.
It is important, however, that you convey to your cats that the bird and mice are part of the family. Pay attention to signals from your cats that they are feeling more aggressive than amused by the smaller critters. Prey-focused cats tend to display overt curiosity, sit very still and stare fixedly at the prey, or twitch their tails slightly and fold their ears back. Another big clue: predators don’t vocalize before they stalk and kill. However, many cats do make a distinctive chirping or cackling sound when they become aroused at the sight of birds.
It is important to reward polite, acceptable behavior in your cats by praising them and offering them small treats when they are relaxed around the bird and mice. If one of your cats displays unwanted behavior, such as pawing at the birdcage or pacing around the mice container, you can toss a small pillow or squirt water near your cat to startle and distract him (don’t actually hit him!). The message you want to deliver is that unpleasant things happen when he paws or stares at the caged critters.
Although I am not a big fan of remote