Problem Solving & Advice by Pam Johnson-Bennett Cat Behavior Expert & Best-selling Author
As cat parents, we have so many things in common. It’s wonderful to meet other cat lovers and cat parents, whether in person or through social media, and share pictures, stories, offer or receive advice. It’s wonderful to enjoy the special bond we share. When it comes to the things we have in common, I’m sure you can relate to 15 things I’ve listed. Of course, there are many more things we share but here are just some common ones.
If you’re a new cat parent or are unfamiliar with cats, the list below will give you a peek into our special world.
1. We Don’t See Cat Hair on our Clothes
When we were novice cat parents we were careful about making sure to remove all traces of fur from our clothing, but after going through countless lint rollers, we started wearing that cat hair without a second thought. Now, when we find those hairs on our sleeve or jacket during the day while we’re at work or out in public, it causes us to smile because it reminds us of the precious furry family members waiting at home.
2. A Puking Cat is the Best Alarm
No matter what time of night it is or how deeply we’re sleeping, we can bolt out of bed in seconds to locate the cat in the process of puking. In some cases, it may be the only exercise we get for the day but we show our best athletic ability when we’re trying to move the cat off the carpet and onto the floor before the puke hits the surface!
3. We’ve Mastered the Art of Working at the Computer Despite Feline Obstacles
The cat walks back and forth in front of the monitor, paws at our hand as we try to move the mouse and when that doesn’t work, there’s always just lounging completely across the keyboard. After numerous attempts at placing the cat down on the floor or locking kitty completely out of the room (and having to listen to the very loud meows of disapproval), we’ve gotten quite good at sharing our work space. Who cares if we can’t see most of what’s on the monitor or that the cat’s paw hits a key that sends an email prematurely or deletes a file?
4. We Know Every Petting Sweet Spot and More Importantly, Every Danger Zone
Not all cats enjoy being petted but we know how, when and where our own cats enjoy it. There’s usually one spot that, when petted, brings on purrs of joy and total relaxation. We know where it is and even though our cats may enjoy being petted by other people, we take pride in the fact that we do it the best. We also know to stay away from those areas that elicit hisses, swats, growls or bites.
5. We Love Cat Kisses
People who aren’t familiar with cats may think a cat kiss is when a cat licks but we know better, don’t we? We know about those special cat kisses that are subtle and easy to miss. Cats can kiss by giving a slow blink with their eyes. As cat lovers, we know the difference between a normal eye blink and the slow cat kiss blink. The cat kiss tells us kitty is comfortable and relaxed. It’s an affectionate gesture that can be displayed when the cat is nearby or even across the room. After receiving a cat kiss, many of us have returned the gesture with a slow blink of our own.
6. We’ve Stepped on Wet Hairballs with Bare Feet at Night
Oh yes, I’m talking about hairballs. We keep our cats groomed and do all we can to reduce the number of hairballs from our cats. Inevitably though, we’ve gotten up in the middle of the night for a bathroom trip or drink of water and stepped on that freshly deposited, soggy hairball.
7. We Know Cats Love the Box More Than the Gift That Came in it
Whether it’s an expensive bed, or any other cat-related gift, we never throw out the box because that’s what a cat knows is the real prize. Holidays and birthdays become a feline wonderland as our cats explore and play with every box, bag, and piece of wrapping paper. New cat parents may initially feel insulted when the cat ignores the expensive cat bed but those of us who have lived with cats for a while know and accept the well-established feline rules of gift-giving. We appreciate the value of a good box.
8. We Don’t Leave Objects on the Edge of the Table
We know the rules. Cats love to test the laws of gravity. If it’s on the edge of the table then it’s fair game to be knocked off onto the floor. It can be a cell phone, glass of water, pen, set of keys or even a paperclip, but if it’s on the edge, it’s going over. Knocking things off the table is a favorite cat hobby and after having cleaned up a spilled drink, we quickly got smarter about where we leave our things.
9. When There’s a Cat on our Lap We Can Stay Still for Hours
It doesn’t matter if we’re uncomfortable, are late for something, or need to take a bathroom break, we won’t disturb the cat. When kitty curls up and falls asleep on us we become a piece of furniture regardless of how full our bladders may be.
10. We Have no Privacy
We can’t take a shower, a bath, or go to the bathroom without a small audience. If we try to close the door we know we’ll immediately see paws reaching underneath or hear the pitiful meows of a cat who needs to know what we’re doing at all times.
Photo: Pam. Johnson-Bennett
11. We Know All the Special Hiding Places
When it’s time to do a cat count or cat check before we leave the house, we know right where to look. When we were new at living with cats, we panicked when we couldn’t find every kitty but as time went on, we became very familiar with each cat’s favorite little hideaway.
12. We Have Countless Nicknames for our Cats
Oh yes, our cats have official names but we rarely use them or we have modified them as expressions of our affection. We have a long list of special names for our cats that may or may not make sense to others but they make perfect sense to us. The names may be a reflection of a cat’s appearance, personality, behavior, or simply an expression of our love and sometimes our frustration. For some of us, we probably haven’t called our cats by their original names in years.
13. Things we Bring into the Home Must Pass Cat Inspection
Whether it’s the new chair just delivered, or a guest’s coat tossed over the arm of a sofa, the cat must inspect every inch of it. The investigation always includes sniffing but may also involve sitting on the object, pawing at it, rubbing against it, and maybe even falling asleep on it. All of this is part of how a cat decides if the new object is an acceptable addition to the territory.
14. Our Phones are Filled with Cat Pictures
The cat pictures on our phones usually outnumber our human family photos. Other people may think many of our cat photos look exactly the same but we know the subtle differences between each one. For many of us, kitty is pictured on the lock screen and home screen as well. We can never have enough cat pictures and we’re more than willing to share them with anyone.
15. We Have Conversations with Our Cats
We ask questions and we always answer all meows. We know what each meow means and we dutifully respond. We know cats are great listeners and they’re the best at keeping secrets.
And So Much More
The above list is just a small sample of what we share as cat lovers. Of course, the most important thing we share is the absolute love we have for these beautiful and intelligent furry members of our family.
Would You Like More Information About Cat Behavior?
To learn more about cat behavior and cat training, refer to the books by best-selling author, Pam Johnson-Bennett. Pam’s books are available at book stores and online. We’ve included links to Amazon here on our website.
