Friday, May 08, 2009

Sphinx


Recently the Bibs has taken to perching on the edge of my computer table when I sit down to work. She nudges my left hand wanting petting. This would be okay except I am left handed. In the past, she would nudge my right hand and dislike it when I petted her with my left.

Whence the change? Sometimes I wish animals could speak. I know they speak through their behavior, but a couple of words might clarify the situation. So far all she's said is "Purrr."

19 comments:

Annie said...

Cats are so wonderful, and strange :-).
I know what you mean, my cat Spike opens all the cupboards in the kitchen everyday, I wish he would tell me why :-).

sukipoet said...

Annie, could he be searching for tuna?

Laura Doyle said...

I've recently noticed my cats trying to communicate with their eyes...only I don't think they're actually trying. I think they've been doing it all along and I just haven't noticed.

Maybe she's adapted to your left-handedness, Suki? Who knows?

Lynn Cohen said...

Keep listening...the language is from deep within the cat soul...takes patience and some mediating to really get the all of it. Henry requires I listen with my eyes more than my ears, which is a good thing since I am hearing inpaired. Chewing on paper means "I want to go out", and/or "I am terribly frustrated". So duel meanings can frustrate as well.
Laying on my chest with nose to my nose means "PAY ATTENTION TO ME NOW!"
Henry has a way of getting his point across with is behavior!

marianne said...

Cats are fascinating! If we could understand them 100 % they would loose part of their magic I think!
This one is a beauty Suki!
Lovely post!
Have a nice weekend!

ArtistUnplugged said...

I so wish I spoke 'cat'......

Cris, Artist in Oregon said...

How Cute is he. Yes They do communicate.. Dont you talk CAT? :))
After we have had them for years it finally becomes a mutual knowing what each other wants.
My Daisy gets in my lap in the mornings, after feeding her, when I am on the computer typing and leans into my hand until I can only pet her.. . . Or I throw her off. :))

Anonymous said...

I placed 4 plum tomatoes in a small bowl on the counter... then went out for a walk. Upon my return the bowl was empty. In my bedroom next to my bed I found all 4 tomatoes with big bites taken out of them. I laughed imagining my cat retrieving them one by one. Silly kitty.

sukipoet said...

Starlene, Bibbity came to me as an adult cat and I always figured her previous owner had been right handed and petted her w/their right hand. It's taken 5-6 years but the Bibs has finally accepted me as I am! :)


Lynn, Henry is so cute. I have been wondering if Bibs is saying she wants to go out, but I've only let them out once so far this spring. I worry too much though previously I let them out all the time. I think it's all the death/losses that makes me overprotective.

sukipoet said...

Marianne, you are probably right. Cats do have en element of mystery that keeps them intriguing.

Artist unplugged, i read somewhere that their ears talk too. forward means something other than when they hold their ears back. although i forget what.

cris, i have placed Bibs on the floor a couple of times. she needs/wants a lot of petting which most often i dont mind accomodating.

sukipoet said...

Chewy, that just cracks me up. i wonder if kitty like the taste, which is sort of bland i'd think. tuna balls might be tastier. but little tomatoes are fun to bat around i'd bet.

Mary Richmond said...

that's too funny--and the cat probably did figure out the left handed-ness. who knows what goes on in their sometimes devilish, always interesting minds?

~Babs said...

Well, she looks (sounds) very content! I'm sure she lets you know when she isn't. Often late at night, Callie comes to get me to go to bed,,it's really amazing how they do communicate.She jumps in my lap,,jumps down, sits by the bedroom door.Repeat.
They're so smart!
She hasn't been allowed outside since we moved here 9 years ago, and doesn't miss it. Never asks to go, even though she was in the wild when she adopted us 12 years ago.
Really nice post!
Reading the comments now, smiling at Chewy's tomato kitty.

Teri and her Stylish Adventure Cats said...

Sweet post. I liked what Lynn said, as I have numerous paper chewers and the big buzzword in vet med these days is Environmental stimulation and one of the suggestions is to give cardboard boxes to your cats to play in and chew on...

My cats come and sit with me when they want to calm me I think. I too, shoo them away and they persist for a while and then give up on "helping me" that time and wait for another opportunity

sukipoet said...

Mary, for sure my cats keep me amused. I wonder if I do the same for them?

Babs, how sweet the way Callie comes to invite you to bed. They can tell time somehow.

Teri, cats are always interesting. I'll have to put out a box for them. although I havent seen mine chewing paper, i know they might like a box to play in. Thanks.

Umā said...

cats are such wonderful companions. one of ours thinks he's a dog, marching into the house behind the dog and stealing her bed, which she is too wimpy to steal back from him. he doesn't jump on the furniture or do anything the dog wouldn't do. instead he and vixen follow j around the house like shadows. hysterical.

Mim said...

We once went away for a weekend and asked a friend to come over to take care of Spike, our black cat. She had done this many times and he loved her and she him.
This time, she got sick so she sent her husband over - and he is not a cat fan. He bravely did the chores and took care of the cat. But Spike did NOT like him...
When we got home, Spike spent 15 minutes telling us how unhappy he was with the care he had gotten, and how we had changed plans for him without telling him, and on and on. I could not believe what I heard!

Moral of the story - listen - they really can talk if you listen.

sukipoet said...

M. heart, that is so funny. Your cat is quite a character. Now my cats do follow me around like a dog but otherwise are undog like. Except that i have heard bibbity growl at times when seeing something out the window.

Mim, Spike. How funny a story. Poor guy. Thanks for the listening tip.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Maybe she feels your unease right now and wants to help you. Many Blessings.