Memoirs - My Cats - About Cats

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About Cats

I have been a cat lover and keeper for 15 years. I also have a good background in psychology and hands on experience in behavioral modification techniques.

When I adopted my first cats in 1991 (Willy and Melissa), I had my first experience as a cat owner. It has been educational and interesting as well as fun and loving. At one point I adopted a stray we called "Homer." This was a mistake but it taught me even more.

		The psychology of cats I have learned all about cat behavior during this time. Willy died in October 24th 2001 and eventually I adopted another kitty named "Tabby," - not a very original name! And while Melissa is still alive at 18, Tabby is probably a young 5 or 6 years. Homer was with us for a while but was one big troublemaker (more on Homer later). The most basic observations I made will not surprise seasoned cat lovers, but it may be of interest to some people. It is no surprise that each cat has a very distinct and different personality.
Homer

Also that cats can understand people - in different ways. One way is words. Cats recognize some words including their name. An authority on cats believes cats can understand up to 15 distinct words. More important they also are quite emotional. Some people do not think so, but this is probably because they cannot make facial expressions (they do not have the facial muscles to change facial expression). But I have observed that they absolutely express emotions by body language and also by meow signals. I have also seen unexpected displays of concern and communication regarding unusual situations. Melissa has on several occasions told me by body language and by actually leading me - that something is wrong regarding the other cat in the house.

More to add below -

Willy

Melissa

Tabby

Cat abilities

I learned about cats' ability to open doors when I moved to California. I moved into a "senior citizens complex." Here the doors have lever handles instead of round knobs. I guess these are easier for old folks to use especially if they are frail. It is also easy for a cat to use. It didn't take long for Willy to find out that he could open the front door by pulling on the lever which he could reach. Likewise Tabby soon learned the same thing. If I close the door to my bedroom he lets himself in by using the door handle. I must lock the door if I do not want him in the bedroom.

Finally I have a cat door installed in my bedroom that leads out to the balcony. Cats learn to use pet doors just like dogs. So now Tabby can get outside and back at will (Melissa isn't interested in it).

Communicating by Body Language

Tabby is good at communications. He tells me what he wants. He can communicate:
- when he wants to go out - he sits in front of the door in front of me scratching on the wall next to the door then looking at the door with a dedicated stare. Note: he cannot open the front or balcony doors with the handless. Those doors are too heavy.
- when he wants out to the balcony via the regular door in the living room (which is a glass door with a venetian blind over it), he rattles the blind with his paws.

Examples:
Once, when I lived in a multi-storey house in Massachusetts, her companion Willy, discovered that he could get outside through a window I had kept open in summer in my bedroom. The fist time he jumped out of the window to get out, I was away. When I returned Melissa met me at the door (not usual behavior). She immediately meowed and led me to the window. She was very upset (not at all like her usual self). It took me only a minute to realize what she was trying to say, that Willy had disappeared out the window. This was remarkable. The jump was almost 10 feet, so he could not get back up. As it turned out that was no problem since our house had a big backyard fenced in by secure storm fences. Eventually I let Willy out at will through a window more suitable for his coming and going.

Melissa understands the word Yum-Yum. It is the expression I say to her when food is on the way, and when I actually deliver it to her (she is old and was always rather sedentary so she only sometimes comes off her perch to come for food. At her age I think she deserves to be fed wherever she is. When I come into the room that is her territory with a bowl of food I say Yum-yum and she responds with a specific meow and sits up at attention. She has also learned to tell me when she is hungry by sitting up in that same posture - with a wanting look on her face (not an emotion) just the way she looks at me. I also use a tongue lick since this is associated with food.

Cat Adventures - more to add here

3 years getting Willy and Melissa to be "friends."

Walking the feral cats with Paulette

Willy

Willy was the most mild mannered sweet and friendly and well behaved cat I have seen. He behaved more like a dog that a cat in many ways.

Willy and Nash

Once after I started letting Willy out of the kitchen window on his own (via a landing of the rear stairway to the upper floor) a new cat "moved in" up the stairs with his owners, some college students who were out a lot. His name was "Nash" and he immediately made friends with Willy. Nash and Willy became real good friends, and since the window was left open and his owners were out long hours, he started coming inside and at first shared food with Willy. Nash might have been Willy's counterpart. Eventually he became so friendly that he started napping on my bed when Willy and Melissa took some daytime snoozes. There was Nash, stretched out on my bed. Finally one night the guys were out so late, that I let Nash stay overnight. He joined us for the entire night, sleeping on my queen sized bed (lots of room for me and three cats). In the morning the guys asked me if I had seen Nash, to which I replied "sure - he slept over."

Tabby:

Homer

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