05-17-2014, 12:05 PM
A little anecdote from my everyday life.....
I am on pretty permanent cat-sitting duties. That is -for two years now!!
Let's disregard the 'owner' for a moment -that person who has gone away for an indefinite time, and who once asked me if "I would feed the cat for a couple of months".....
Let's also disregard the fact that the cat isn't the slightest bit interested in coming to live at my place. (1/4 mile away) Although we tried it, she was utterly dismayed by my attempts to offer her hospitality....She sat scrunched up and howled until I took her home.....
Let's just live in the moment. The cat is happy as heck. I visit her twice a day, spend time, have fun and games, and make sure she gets some love and affection. She is also extremely healthy.
She likes her independence. But also likes to know she isn't quite alone, and has someone she can relate to.
The one thing she doesn't like is her neighbour's cat! She hates his guts.
When he appears, she shrinks, she tries to creep away, she is scared of him. I have told her "Don't behave like prey. He will chase you if you do. Act tough. Like you OWN the place! Like you are taking no nonsense from HIM!"
But she doesn't speak English.....
So I whistle her a tune. I used to be able to sing really well, but can't do that any more. But my 'voice' seems to have gone into my 'whistle' -and it's not too bad!
We started with Beethoven, then progressed to Chopin Mazurkas (Some technical difficulties with whistling Beethoven's 9th Symphony but never mind...)
Now instead I just make up tunes. They sound a bit Irish or Scottish. Some are very nice and atmospheric.
And when I whistle a tune, she stands up against the neighbour's cat! She shows him who is boss. She doesn't run away or look scared. I don't say anything -just stand there and whistle. Whistling her some music always makes her purr, and then she becomes brave!
I am on pretty permanent cat-sitting duties. That is -for two years now!!
Let's disregard the 'owner' for a moment -that person who has gone away for an indefinite time, and who once asked me if "I would feed the cat for a couple of months".....
Let's also disregard the fact that the cat isn't the slightest bit interested in coming to live at my place. (1/4 mile away) Although we tried it, she was utterly dismayed by my attempts to offer her hospitality....She sat scrunched up and howled until I took her home.....
Let's just live in the moment. The cat is happy as heck. I visit her twice a day, spend time, have fun and games, and make sure she gets some love and affection. She is also extremely healthy.
She likes her independence. But also likes to know she isn't quite alone, and has someone she can relate to.
The one thing she doesn't like is her neighbour's cat! She hates his guts.
When he appears, she shrinks, she tries to creep away, she is scared of him. I have told her "Don't behave like prey. He will chase you if you do. Act tough. Like you OWN the place! Like you are taking no nonsense from HIM!"
But she doesn't speak English.....
So I whistle her a tune. I used to be able to sing really well, but can't do that any more. But my 'voice' seems to have gone into my 'whistle' -and it's not too bad!
We started with Beethoven, then progressed to Chopin Mazurkas (Some technical difficulties with whistling Beethoven's 9th Symphony but never mind...)
Now instead I just make up tunes. They sound a bit Irish or Scottish. Some are very nice and atmospheric.
And when I whistle a tune, she stands up against the neighbour's cat! She shows him who is boss. She doesn't run away or look scared. I don't say anything -just stand there and whistle. Whistling her some music always makes her purr, and then she becomes brave!
