The Cat Behavior Answer Book - Arden Moore [19]
At the end of each day, it’s not the words you speak that matter so much as it is your tone of voice and your willingness to spend quality time with Maddie. But don’t ignore Whisper — just because he doesn’t speak up doesn’t mean he won’t appreciate your attention and affection!
Can’t Stay Away
Q My two cats often avoid visitors who want to pet them but will always march right over to my friend who has terrible allergies! Why do cats seem to make a beeline for the one person who wants to stay away from them?
A While some people — and dogs — enjoy being rushed by admirers, cats exhibit their own brand of class. Anything that moves quickly toward them is likely to be regarded as a threat. So even if your Aunt Lilly simply adores your Persian and wants to smother her in lipstick-coated kisses, your kitty wants no part of such overwhelming attention and flees the scene.
Cats like to call the shots and control introductions. It is safer that way, not to mention more dignified. Your friend with the allergies is doing his best to avoid making eye contact with or physically touching your cats. In cat communication, he is showing good feline manners. Your friend mistakenly thinks ignoring your cats will make them not interested, but it has the opposite effect. They regard him as non-threatening and friendly.
Silly as it sounds, ask your friend with the allergies to clap his hands and wave his arms when your cats approach him. You don’t want to terrify your cats, but these gestures may be just unwelcoming enough for them to decide to keep their distance.
The easiest solution is probably to put your cats in another room and keep the door closed during your friend’s visit. Make sure that room offers cat amenities like a litter box, water and food bowls, comfy bed, a toy or two, and a great perch to do some “nosy neighbor” watching of outside activities.
With your cat-admiring friends, suggest they enter the room quietly, act like a log, and not budge off the sofa for a few minutes. They should not reach for or make eye contact with your cats. With quieter body language, they may achieve the desired interaction with your two cats.
The Purpose of Purring
Q My cat, Felix, loves to purr and does it quite loudly. All I have to do is pet him and he starts rumbling away. But my sister’s cat, Ginger, hardly ever purrs, even though she seems to be happy and is quite pampered. I’ve heard a lot of different things about why cats purr. What’s the real story?
A The phenomenon of purring has fascinated humans for ages. A lot of research has been conducted to figure out this feline mystique, but no one knows for certain why cats purr, though it is believed to be a voluntary act initiated by the central nervous system. In other words, cats purr on purpose, not just as an instinctive response.
Scientists report that cats produce purring sounds by using the diaphragm to push air back and forth across vibrating nerves in the larynx. Purring occurs in a frequency range between 25 and 150 hertz. At the lower end of the range, that rumbling sound can resemble an idling diesel engine, which has a similar velocity.
FELINE FACT
Did you know that cats can purr while inhaling and exhaling? That’s a feat we can’t imitate. Try making a purr sound as you inhale and as you exhale. It is tougher than trying to say “toy boat” 10 times fast.
All domestic cats and most wild felids are born with the ability to purr. Cats, from young kittens to senior citizens, purr when they are happy, such as when they are being petted, anticipating dinner, or snuggling on a warm, cozy bed. Mother cats purr when nursing their kittens, and kittens purr