CAT TALES: What They Say About Cats

I try to read about cats, so I have a better idea what to expect from these two of mine - that way I can better understand and handle them.

It doesn’t seem to be working.

Different sources say different things and then often reality is different from any other source…let me explain.

For example, I read somewhere that cats are color blind; last week when I checked in with SnappHappy Cat Sanctuary in Jefferson County about the two feral cats I had brought over there to hopefully get adopted, I was told that Goldie, the orange tabby who looked just like his mother, Momau, only hung out with the other orange cats.

Now how could he do that if he can’t see color? It’s confusing.

Next, I read that cats are loners, and don’t mind being left home alone.

My cat, Johda, a purebred Persian, who I had for 14 years before my current two (Momau and Beebe), was left alone one night during an emergency.

When I rushed home, she jumped into my arms, crying like a baby and didn’t stop for 20 minutes; she was a stand-offish, not very affectionate cat most of the time, but she shattered that myth that day.

She told me loud and clear that she did not like being left alone.

I didn’t read this, but several folks told me not to try and tame feral cats; I was told they they will never make satisfactory pets.

Momau - a former feral - loves being a pet. She loves watching TV lying while on a bed of pillows. She loves being petted and rubbing on my feet. If I take her in the yard to play with her, she insists upon going back into the house to use the litter box; she loves having indoor plumbing.

Another story about cats is that they are clairvoyant.

Tales of cats sleeping with patients who are about to die in nursing homes has furthered that notion. I choose to believe that there is some chemical or other scent that cats pickup on when one’s life is leaving their body, but I’m not sure of that.

I’ve heard that gamblers believe that being good to cats brings them luck and professional gamblers everywhere care for cats. I have no proof of this either way, but I wouldn’t put it past the cats themselves to be the ones spreading this rumor to assure available lodging, should it be needed.

There are tales of cats being lost and reuniting with their families months later. I do have a true story that happened to me.

Years ago, our house burned down; thankfully, all of us, including the animals, survived.

I moved into an apartment in Buffalo in the middle of winter and I got my animals (two cats and a dog) back from the veterinarian’s office where they were being boarded while I relocated, and moved them into the apartment with me.

They hated it.

The older cat, Bucky, leaped out of the house, when the front door was opened for a delivery man and ran away.

I chased after him through waist high snow, but could not catch him.

For six months I searched for him.

No one had seen him.

I cried every day all those weeks.

When our home had been rebuilt enough to move back into, we packed up the truck and prepared to move back home.

As I put the one remaining cat in the truck, who came strolling up, but a skinny and shaggy Bucky.

He rode home and remained with us for many more years.

I never knew where he’d gone or how he survived or how he knew we were going home.

Cats are amazing.

Another myth is that dogs and cats can’t get along.

This may be true at first, but once they’re part of the family, they curl up and sleep together, look out for each other, and share everything but their food.

I know because my kids always had cats and dogs.

I was told that cats can’t be taught tricks. I know that’s not true.

As a kitten, I used to twirl my finger at Beebe and say ‘rollover’.

Soon he learned what that finger twirl meant, and he would roll over - not for treats, but for the applause we would lavish on him.

Soon, he was rolling over when he just wanted attention.

Yes, cats can learn tricks, but I didn’t attempt to teach Momau any tricks…after all she had been feral.

Yesterday, Beebe was on the back porch, and I was petting Momau.

Beebe immediately began rolling over and over to get my attention.

I stopped and applauded and cheered him. Momau watched the whole thing. She looked up at me, then lay down and did her own version of rolly-poly.

I was amazed.

She didn’t need to be taught.She taught herself and had just taught me where the origin of ‘copycat’ came from.

More later, Judy and the cats.

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CAT TALES: What They Say About Cats

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Masters of American Photography opens at Gadsden Arts

The Dirt Road Wonder: My Old Friend, I Miss You

The Dirt Road Wonder: My Old Friend, I Miss You

Recommended

CAT TALES – Family Ties

Black history gala honors those who serve

Popular News

Newsletter

Category

Site Links

About Us

Welcome Back!

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Retrieve your password

Are you sure want to unlock this post?

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