Monthly Archives: March 2011
big cat roarsday: pallas’s cat
Pallas’s cat, also known as the Manul, is a wild cat found throughout Central Asia. It’s a relatively small cat, only about the size of a domestic cat.
Look at this guy! These cats seems so unreal to me, like something you’d see in a fantasy film.
the bobcats – episode 2: tuesday
The Oatmeal has come out with a new episode of the Bobcats! Here are a couple of my favorite panels.
Have you seen Episode 1 yet? No? What?! You are totally missing out. Here’s a sneak peek:
Oh, and apparently there’s a Bobcats coffee mug. Sweet!
cat body language!
The longer you’ve owned your cat, or the more time you’ve spent with him or her, you definitely start to notice certain stances, tail movements, and even facial expressions that are certain indicators of your cat’s mood. Cats have to use non-verbal communication as signals, and knowing these signs are an important step to understanding your kitty. I’ve done some reading up on the web to find out what some of the more common kitty mood indicators are (click each image to view its source–some pages have additional info about cat behaviors and expressions)!
We’ve all seen this look, before! A kitty with his tail up means he’s feeling friendly toward you. This signal is often also a greeting or a show of confidence or pride.
A kitty with his tail curled at the tip can indicated caution or pause to assess another person, cat, or situation.
Ever seen your kitty spooked, angry, or fearful? Then you’ve likely seen a huge, puffy tail! Cats bristle their fur to make them look bigger when they feel threatened. A few of my cats over the years have scared dogs out of the yard simply by puffing up.
When your kitty’s tail is swishing back and forth rapidly, this is almost always a sign that she’s pretty miffed and wants to be left alone. I was particularly interested in this tail movement, as Pickles does it constantly, even when she doesn’t seem to be upset. Interestingly enough, I read that this doesn’t necessarily always mean “anger,” but can represent a state of internal conflict. This would make sense, as she seems to do it more when she looks about to decide on what she’s about to do. My vet also told me that this can indicate a very active mind in a cat.
Another common cat behavior is kneading. I always assumed this was just a way of kitty getting more comfortable, but it’s a sure sign of happiness or restfulness. I didn’t know this, but kitties also have some scent glands on their paws, and this can be used as yet another way for marking territory.
One of my personal favorites is the head/body rub! I’ve called these “kitty hugs,” as cats obviously don’t usually put their arms around you. Instead, they rub their heads and bodies along you as a warm greeting or sign of affection. Rubbing the head on a person or object is also yet another way of marking scent to claim something… My cats rub on everything, no wonder they think they own the place–they technically do!
What odd behaviors do your cats have that can’t seem to be explained by science?
easter kitteh shirt
From Doctor Cat creator Sarah Sobole comes another fabulous LOLmart t-shirt!
Isn’t it great?! I love that the kitty is writing internet slang on the eggs, haha. The shirt is $15 (with free US shipping) and is only available for 5 more days!
cat vs human: conversations with non-cat ladies
I’m glad I have Hellcat as a friend. All we pretty much do is talk about cats, haha.
