On cat quirks and foibles

[chickenfeet]

All cats are different. This batch of kittens for instance do stuff I've not come across in other kittens. For a start they are incredibly noisy. If one goes into the kitchen and does anything even vaguely food related they sit in a ring and yowl like a nestful of starling chicks. They also sleep in the middle of the floor. In my experience cats will sleep almost anywhere but usually they want a bit of cover and/or comfort. These guys will curl ,up in the middle of a tile or hardwood floor. It's quite disturbing. The little black and white guy is also the most assertive kitten ever. More so even than LJG. We have to shut him in another room if we want to eat in anything like peace because otherwise he just won't take no for an answer.

Talking of my darling Lady Jane, I think (hope!) she's going through a bit of a phase. She's always been very assertive, even a bit aggressive, but recently she has definitely been getting too rough with the kittens. It doesn't usually last long before she's back to being a snuggle kitten but it isn't especially pretty while it lasts. I really wonder what happened to her during her first few weeks. She was in poor shape when we got her and her sibs appear to have died. She often shies away when one extends a hand towards her which is odd for a cat who loves to jump up in my lap for scritches and cuddles. I guess we'll never know.

Comments

[ginny-t.livejournal.com]

Daisy does a similar thing. She's a Great. Big. Suck., but if I'm reaching out to pet her head-on, she does shy away. I try not to worry about it.

[c-mantix.livejournal.com]

She often shies away when one extends a hand towards her

Here's my non-scientific method to 'cure' this 'syndrome'. Pick her up at odd times, almost unexpectedly (it's good before a meal when she's hungry), and hold her to your face/the crook of your neck for about 20 seconds. You can even go through the moves of 'scenting' her with your cheeks. Then, gentle place her in a safe place or in front of her food bowl. This has worked for me twice in the past. The cats in question usually responded within 10 days and were better within 1 month.

[a-d-medievalist.livejournal.com]

Mine are both kind of like that. Soppy McPervBoy will not let you touch him unless you are sitting/lying down. Girlie Girl will flirt and present tummy, but it's often a ruse so that she can take a bick chunk out of your hand!

[frankie-ecap.livejournal.com]

My cats are like your kittens.

[marnameow.livejournal.com]

Moon Unit often flinches when I reach down to her, and she often backs away when I step towards her, especially in narrow places. She's far less wary of the human beasties than she was a year ago, but these habits remain.

Roswell is utterly unafraid of any human. I don't think I've ever know a cat so trusting as her.