The Cat Behavior Answer Book - Arden Moore [46]
Count yourself fortunate you have a lovable lap-seeking feline friend in Jessie. Her presence in your lap can serve to bring you feelings of contentment and relaxation as well.
The Cat-Crinkle Connection
Q My cat can be snoozing, but if I take a piece of paper or cellophane or foil and form it into a wad, she instantly wakes up and looks like she is ready for a hunt. She loves crinkly sounds and will run after a paper ball if I toss it down the hallway. If I rattle a paper grocery bag, she comes running. She will actually jump inside the bag if I leave it on the floor. What’s the big attraction of crinkly-sounding objects for cats?
A Even though these everyday household items are inanimate, the crinkling sounds they produce mimic the high-pitched chatter of birds, crickets, mice, and rats, thereby triggering a cat’s predatory response. Your cat’s imagination is fully engaged as she pretends these items are the real deal. You are giving her the chance to hone her hunting skills and show off a bit in front of you.
FELINE FACT
Munchkins, a breed of dwarf cats, possess short legs due to a dominant gene mutation. They are named after the little people in the movie classic The Wizard of Oz.
Some cats show the same interest in shiny objects. A few breeds, specifically Manx, Japanese Bobtails, and Munchkins, have a tendency to collect and hoard glittery objects, such as jewelry and silver coins, and stash them in strange places, such as inside a shoe or underneath a recliner.
MANX MANIA
The tailless Manx is one of the oldest cat breeds, but its history is a mystery. According to a biblically inspired Celtic folktale, the Manx cat was the last of God’s creatures to climb aboard the ark, barely making it before Noah slammed the door shut, cutting off its tail. Upset, the cat fled the ark and swam from Ararat to the Isle of Man, where it found a home.
Another folktale claims that the Irish stole kittens to use their tails as good-luck charms. To save their kittens, wise mother cats bit off the tails of their young, thus producing the tailless cat.
The real reason behind the missing tails? It is likely that the breed developed from cats dropped on the Isle of Man, an island in the Irish Sea between England and Ireland, by visiting ships. Centuries of inbreeding in an isolated environment resulted in a spontaneous mutation and the disappearance of a tail from this friendly, affectionate breed.
Some Manx cats do have tails, either full or partial length, and although still considered pedigreed, they cannot be shown in championship classes at official shows. Only the completely tailless “rumpy” Manx and the “rumpy riser” Manx with one or two vertebrae can compete, though cats with “stumpy” tails or the rare “longies” with an almost normal length tail are still valuable for breeding or as pets.
Sky-High Tail
Q My cat, JJ, instantly raises his butt and tail high in the air whenever I pet him or scratch his back. It’s obvious that he enjoys the contact. He doesn’t seem to mind that he is “mooning” me with his rear end, but I don’t like it. Why does he do this and can I get him to stop?
A JJ is demonstrating what’s known among feline fans as “elevator butt.” You push the right button by scratching just the right spot, and he can’t help but raise his butt up high. After all, he has been doing it since birth.
Kittens raise their back ends and hoist their tails high for their mothers to inspect and clean. This early stimulation was both functional and pleasurable. Now as an adult, JJ’s so-called mooning is just his way of telling you that you are worthy of scratching a sensitive area that feels good to him.
Stopping JJ’s hardwired behavior would be like trying to keep your eyes open when you sneeze. It’s impossible. Just relax and appreciate his enjoyment of your attention. If he performs this in front of company (and you know he will), let humor be your guide and simply declare that it is “elevator butt” time. If it embarrasses you, don’t scratch his back in front of your guests!
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