Understanding Cat Behaviour

Understanding Cat Behaviour





Sometime back in 1999, I was suddenly saddled with having to take a cat into my life. My year-long relationship had come to a sudden end (no, it wasn't an accident and nobody died) and the unceremonious decision was that the cat gets kicked out together with me. So either I cart her (the cat) along, or she goes back into the streets.


Tiny was barely a year old and had just been weaned off low lactose milk. Then I had zero kitten experience, have severe allergies and am mildly asthmatic. I was also renting a room in a townhouse and there were a few other animals ( dogs and more cats) My thoughts then were: What am I gonna tell the landlord, how am I gonna intro a kitten to the rest of the menagerie, and where's Tiny gonna sleep???



And so we became room mates! And after some time getting used to each other, we got along fabulously.


















Tiny is:

1. warm, cuddly and loyal
2. transparent and truthful
3. expresses how she feels instantly, doesn't brood
4. doesn't keep record if wrongdoings and ill-feelings
5. not a rumour-mongering bitch
6. doesn't nag
7. not choosey about food

Now I'm wondering why I didn't choose the cat in the first place!

Tiny's short furred, light tipped sesame grey hair with white patches at the snout, belly and feet. Her eyes are green and she's got pink nose, lips and paw pads.



Portrait












I've had most people tell me that they much prefer dogs as all cats are aloof and unaffectionate.

Tiny would proof them wrong right away. She would greet me each morning and again in the evening when I'm back from work, and its a hounding for a stroke /pat/ chin-rub rather than to be fed. (This is in striking contrast to my other cat Merlot)


Taking a siesta in my study












Tiny's other un-cat-like traits:

• She responds verbally to her name. With Tiny, there's no need to peek under cupboards nor above wardrobes. Just say her name and she would retort from her hidey hole, wherever it is. And you'd never catch her acting kinda shady.

• Tiny loves to play 'fetch'. She finds irresistable, the rustling sound of a plastic shopping bag rolled and tied up into a ball. Hold one up, and Tiny'd be vivid eyed, chin cocked and pendulum tailed with anticipation. Fling it and she'd be off like a pistol. I used to have a good chuckle at the way she re-emerged, bag in mouth, from my tall wicker basket.
  
  

Profile-shot
















But Tiny is now full-fledged and no more the frisky kitten she was.

Days of springing from floor to countertop are over and she's happy to just watch the world from her window in the kitchen. I'm quite certain, there's a lot Tiny'd want to tell you about my neighbours.