Cat Behavior Secrects Revealed
Pumpkin, The Halloween Cat
Excerpt : PUMPKIN, THE HALLOWEEN CAT Copyright 2005, Michael LaRocca The neighbor's car pulled into my driveway. She got out holding a stranger in her arms. "I found this cat in my yard. Is he yours?" "No."
PUMPKIN, THE HALLOWEEN CAT
Copyright 2005, Michael LaRocca
The neighbor's car pulled into my driveway. She got out holding a stranger in her arms.
"I found this cat in my yard. Is he yours?"
"No."
"Oh. I thought he was."
"Well, he's not."
"Well, can you hold him until I drive away so he doesn't follow me home?"
Oh yes, we all know how this story ends.
He was a beautiful little fuzzy ball of orange. Quite an affectionate, purring fellow too. And yes, I fed him. Knowing full well where that always leads.
I already had two cats. Witchie and Taz, both Siamese. It had taken quite a bit of time and effort for Witchie to accept Taz. Plus, Taz had been the sole male cat for several years. Another male? Not possible. But, I thought, why not have an indoor male and an outdoor male?
Since the new guy arrived in late October, and since he was orange, we dubbed him Pumpkin. He knew the indoors cats didn't like him, and he was fine with that. Their turf, not his. Besides, he loved it when my dogs,
Buy this Poster
Also see :
How to Train Your Cat on a Leash
Is it possible to train a cat to walk with you? Yes it is and
not hard to do. Patience, practice, time, and you will be
walking with your cat soon.
The best time to start to train a cat to walk with a leash is
when it is a kitten. When a...read more
Top Toys That Your Cat Will Have A Ball With
Cats need to play, no mater how young or how old they are, they
need to have some toys in order to stay entertained. Cats love
all kinds of different toys and just like people each cat with
have his or her own special preferences. Some of the...read more
|
Daisy and Bebe, came outside to visit him, even when they chased him up a tree, which was always. They were just playing. My dogs love all cats, and they licked him when he came down.
One Saturday afternoon, I went outside to play with my chainsaw. On the porch, I found eight dead mice, beside the front door in a very neat row. They were all on their backs, with their heads pointing the same way and their tails neatly aligned. This was obviously a gift from young Pumpkin, a show of his gratitude.
I worked with my chainsaw for a while, then went back to the house for a drink. Now there were only five mice. No doubt my young son had decided that he'd done his part. He'd offered them to me first. If I didn't want them, well, it was a shame to let a good meal go to waste.
Still later, I returned to the house to see only two mice remaining. Still later, half a mouse. Still later, no mice at all. No blood or fur, either. He cleaned up quite thoroughly.
It's obvious how Pumpkin survived before I began feeding him. It's also obvious why
Buy this Matted Print
Also see :
Cat toilet training - pros, cons & how to
Cat toilet training in easy steps:
Toilet training your cat is an easier task than you might think.
Several techniques can be used for training your cat to use the
toilet, and you can even buy products that will assist you in
toilet...read more
Training a Cat not to Chew on Dangerous Objects
Cats chew, lick, or eat non-food objects for medical and
behavioral reasons. Out of curiosity, a cat will try to chew on
most things. Easy to swallow items will need to be put up out of
reach of your cat.
Cats chewing and eating items,...read more
|
he didn't eat very much.
One night, I was typing on the computer when I heard a strange squeaking noise coming from the porch. I finally went outside to see what it was. Pumpkin was standing there, looking every bit the wild-eyed feral hunter, with a live squeaking mouse in his mouth. I just muttered "Good boy" and went back inside. Eventually, the noise stopped.
When the weather turned cold, I let Pumpkin come inside. Yes, it pissed off the Siamese coalition, but I decided I didn't care.
I paused to look at life through the eyes of Witchie and Taz, and here is what I saw:
Every species has its own identifying colors. For example, all dogs are black with brown eyes. All horses are brown with dark brown manes. All people are white-skinned, with brownish hair and blue eyes. And all cats, quite naturally, are blue-eyed shorthaired sealpoint Siamese.
Now they see this longhaired, fuzzy, orange thing with yellow-green eyes. It smells like the woods and it's protected by dogs. Surely it's a tool of the devil and an abomination in
Buy this Art Print
Also see :
Home Care for the Declawed Cat
Remember, you are now rehabilitating a handicapped indoor
animal, so plenty of TLC is necessary, especially for the older
cat. You will find that your pet is tender for at least the
first 2 weeks after surgery. The normal running, jumping...read more
How To Train Kittens To Use The Cat Litter Box
There are several things you need to do to help the mama cat train her kitties to develop good cat litter box habits. While the kids may try to follow mom's example, here's how you can help cement that success. First, since kittens are so...read more
|
the eyes of the cat gods, something that must be destroyed. I resigned myself to the fact that they would always hate Pumpkin, hissing and threatening whenever they saw him. It didn't seem to bother Pumpkin, so it didn't bother me.
In Taz's case, it also happened to be a male thing, and the only evidence he's ever given that he's an adult. He still looks and acts and vocalizes like a kitten, no doubt because his "mother" was a dog.
But Pumpkin never threatened back. He ignored the hissing and moved away from the attacks. Given his lack of aggression, I decided to just let him stay inside, Siamese be damned.
A month or so later, something strange happened. Taz started lying beside Pumpkin instead of lying beside Witchie. Oh, Witchie's face showed her outrage. Taz showed nothing but guilt. After a time, Taz started playing with Pumpkin. They became best buddies. I don't believe Taz was ever forgiven for that. Witchie can hold a grudge for years. She still hasn't forgiven me for bringing home uncivilized Bebe. (Half dachshund, half
Buy this Photographic Print
Also see :
Reasons For Neutering Your Cat
Cats are warm blooded carnivorous mammals and they certainly feed on protein-rich meat. They are predators and hunters and they usually prey upon rats and mice. Cats are also known for their great fighting skills. Some can even win a fight...read more
Tips for Introducing Two Cats
Adding a new member to your feline family is usually more exciting for you than your current cat. Even though they are solitary by nature, most cats eventually learn to accept or at least tolerate newcomers. Because they are very territorial, the...read more
|
doberman, all moron.)
Once or twice, Taz and Pumpkin slept side by side on my chest between the two dogs. My sons were the same size, since Taz was the runt of the litter and Pumpkin was probably underfed as a baby. Before learning to hunt, of course.
I didn't show him the litter box, by the way. He found it himself. If he clawed something he wasn't supposed to, I scolded him once, verbally, and he never did it again. Again, the gratitude thing. "Show me the rules and I'll follow them; I'm just happy to be here."
Daddy had a problem with rats in his barn, so I told him he could borrow Pumpkin as long as he didn't shoot him. (Daddy doesn't like cats.) Nobody fed Pumpkin while he lived in the barn, but every time I went to visit, he was lying on the floor with a swollen belly. I took him home a week later, because he was going stir-crazy without human contact. Meanwhile, Daddy had no more rats.
Before I left the barn, I held Pumpkin up to to my horse's face. He sniffed and sniffed, quite fascinated. Then the head moved, and he
Buy this Matted Print
Also see :
Nutrition for an Aging Cat
All cats are created equal, right? Wrong. Senior cats have
special dietary needs, different from adult cats and kittens.
Their bodies require different things.
Sometimes, you will have to supplement in order to provide them
proper nutrition....read more
Training a Cat Around The Plants
Oh but kitty loves plants, Grow them one? Yes, cats love green
grass or plants.
Wheat, oat grass, catnip, or heather are just some of the plants
that you can grow a garden for kitty indoors or outdoors. Going
along with growing some grass...read more
|
realized that big thing was alive. It scared the hell out of him. I rushed him home. He always loved riding in the truck. A day with Taz and the dogs, and he was restored to his good old Pumpkin self.
I think I had Pumpkin for a year. In a manner of speaking, as no one truly owns a cat, especially not an independent fellow like Pumpkin.
Pumpkin vanished for a few days, then came home looking skinny and with a stomach swollen as if he'd swallowed a tennis ball. A trip to the vet confirmed the worst -- intestinal blockage -- and I made the hard decision. I borrowed Daddy's rifle and ended his pain myself. It was a sad day.
For several weeks after that, Taz kept looking at the door, waiting for his best friend Pumpkin to come inside. Finally I adopted another male from the Humane Society, but that's another story.
About the Author
Michael publishes a free weekly newsletter, WHO MOVED MY RICE?, which is dedicated to proving that you can't eat grits with chopsticks. http://www.chinarice.org
More Cats Articles
"How to Keep Your Cat Free from Diseases with This Quick Guide to Cat Parasites"
Parasites are organisms that survive by feeding off of other creatures. Among cats, parasites...
Leashing a Cat
Shadow had been the cat in our house for over seven years
when we moved from the country into...
Buy this Art Print
For Cat Lovers Like You and Me
|
sitemap
copyright www.kittykittystore.com 2006
|
Recently Added Cats Articles
Behavior Training For Your Stubborn Cat
Learning cat behaviors before you start training them would be an good idea for anyone that is going to train a cat's behavior.
A cat can jump and land on its feet as this is a natural instinct for a cat. When a kitten is born the cushion in...read more
Cat Litter Box Problems: 7 Essential Keys To Solve The Problem Quickly!
Has this ever happened to you? Your cat's peeing outside the litter box, and you're desperately trying to clean up after your cat, wondering if you're actually doing anything to stop it from happening in the first place!
Well, if...read more
Cats Indoors!
Keeping Cats Indoors is for the Cats...
Each year, millions of cats are run over by cars, mauled by
dogs, poisoned and lost. Hundreds of millions of birds and small
mammals are killed annually by free-roaming cats. The suffering
of both...read more
"CORRECTING YOUR CAT'S BAD BEHAVIOUR - HOW TO DISCIPLINE YOUR CAT - YOU WILL BE HAPPY AND YOUR CAT WILL BE, TOO"
At some time or another even the sweetest cat "misbehaves." Ironically, a cat's bad act is usually quite normal behavior for her, but may have a result humans don't like or want. Screaming at the cat or physically punishing her won't alter...read more
Teach Cats To Use Scratching Posts
REQUIREMENTS FOR REPRINT: You have permission to publish this article free of charge in your e-zine, newsletter, ebook, print publication or on your website ONLY if it remains unchanged and you include the copyright and author information (Resource...read more
If You Seriously Want Your Cat To Be Happy and Healthy, You Must Help With Grooming
Although your cat may take the time to clean himself through
licking his paws and face, he does still need you. Cats don't
want to be dirty and they need you to help them stay clean.
Grooming your cat has to happen. You need to do it to...read more
Is Your Cat Behaving Badly?
If your cat is anything like mine then he or she loves to
scratch at all kinds of things, things that you really do not
want to see scratched up. Cats are one of the most amazing and
wonderful pets to own but they can wreak havoc if you let...read more
Train a Cat to Listen
Cats cannot be discipline as you would a dog. With a dog they
are social dominant that can be trained to have you as the
dominant one. The reason that cats will not react as a dog is
that cats have social groups only by respect and social...read more
Training a Cat to Have Likeable Behaviors
Cats can be very finicky at times. When you are trying to change
bad behaviors, this can be hard. Cats will not always do what
you want them to. When you are trying to change a bad behavior
you need to introduce one good behavior. Redirect them...read more
"You Can Help Reduce the Number of Unwanted Cats - Spaying and Neutering of Cats"
Every year, hundreds of thousands of cats and kittens are destroyed because they are unwanted. Animal shelters that take in these animals and try to find them homes are overcrowded. With so many animals in need, they cannot support all animals...read more
How To Make Your Cat Adore You
Some News About Cats
- Cats: Coming Soon
The stage is set and the stray cats will soon be strutting onstage at the Wichita Theatre.
- Cats desperate for redemption: Ablett
Geelong star Gary Ablett says the Cats know what went wrong against St Kilda last Friday night and are desperate to redeem themselves.
- Cats fans bare claws for Freo faithful
A brave Fremantle Dockers' family living in the Geelong Cats' heartland are flying the purple flag for Friday night's game and wishing for a win.
- Cats desperate for redemption
GEELONG star Gary Ablett says the Cats know what went wrong against St Kilda last Friday night and are desperate to redeem themselves.
- Cats break attendance mark again
NEW BRITAIN — The New Britain Rock Cats’ poor season afield did not deter the team’s fan base in the least.
- Cats' tall order to stop Sandilands
Retired All-Australian ruckman Jeff White has warned Geelong that tactical tweaking will allow Fremantle's Aaron Sandilands to protect his sore knee and monster the Cats in Friday night's semifinal at the MCG.
- River Cats ride momentum as PCL playoffs begin tonight
After roaring back from a 121/2- game deficit to win their division, the River Cats begin their playoff push tonight at Raley Field.
- Lady Cats place third
The Whitesboro Lady Cats came away with a third-place victory at the Whitesboro Tournament Saturday.
- Reigning cats and dogs
Following the hit, 2001's Cats and Dogs , a new team of filmmakers tried to copy the success of that American- Australian production. Done at a budget of US$60 mil lion (RM186 million), Cats and Dogs grossed around US$200 million worldwide. Not bad.
- River Cats hope to carry momentum into playoffs
Since clinching their fourth consecutive playoff appearance, the River Cats used the regular season's final three games against Colorado Springs as preparation for their "second season."
|