Pussy Talk

The cat we keep has grown more dependent on me for food that it always comes out of her hiding place (and abandon her kittens until securing her kibbles) the moment she hears my voice. The puss in fact, has grown weary of other people at home that she never lets anyone touch her, stroke her fur or carry her around except if it was me. Even my mom doesn't have such privilege. Their last close encounter resulted in my mother hitting the pregnant cat with the first object she got hold of. The cat, according to her sprang from the window and jumped on her back. Caught by surprise, (for she was not just watching Agua Bendita on Kapamilya Network at that time, she was absorbing every dialogue spoken by the bida) the heavy thump made her scream while the cat (equally surprised, yet maintained a sense of grace) walked away as if her paws merely stepped on an inanimate object.

But it wasn't the case a year ago.

Desperate for food, the same cat would meow at anyone willing to throw her morsels of meat from the table. She was close to learning the art of sneaking around the sink when I realized our inhumane treatment of our house companions. Since getting her steady supply of dry cat food, the cat has become more secure of her place at home and instead, devoted her time annoying her master with her incessant meows, head rubbing and occasional harmless biting.

Johnny Cursive, in one of our drinking bouts said that it is the cat who owns its master and not the other way around. The idea he floated was not new to me. I first learned the feline's perception of humans while playing Sims2 before. In the simulation game, dogs, as pets, were portrayed more as the ever-loyal companion of its master. While cats on the other hand, maintain a certain degree of independence that it is often the human host who seeks attention from the snooty animal.

Following the example at home, our cat (which until now, has no identity because the maids call her "Muning" while my affectionate name for her is "Meowie") tries her best to maintain an image of self-reliance. But with the availability of food, which I source directly from Cartimar, the feline has no choice but to recognize her affiliation.

Driven by her need to survive, and motivated by my desire to care for the critters at home, our cat-human bond goes beyond her basic needs and in many solitary moments I find myself in, it is the cat who keeps me company when no one could.

Miss Meowie

Some helpful tips in understanding Cat Behavior:

• Cats can be extremely friendly companions. The strength of the cat-human bond usually depends on the human behavior: whether the human is always gentle and considerate, takes time for affection when the cat wants and knows when to stop when the cat grows tired of it, responds to the cat's needs and wants, and appreciates the cat. The formula for a successful relationship thus has much in common with human to human relationships.

• Some people regard cats as sneaky, shy, or aloof animals. Cats have an inherent distrust for predator species such as humans, and often seek to minimize any contact with people they do not perceive as trustworthy. Feline shyness and aggression around people with cat social skills is often a result of lack of socialization, abuse or neglect. Cats relate to humans differently than more social animals, enjoying some time on their own each day as well as time with humans.

In Communicating with Humans:

• Kneading with the paws on a person or, for example, a favorite blanket or sleeping spot shows contentedness. Young kittens knead their mother's nipples to stimulate the feeding reflex so that her milk flows. Cats may knead for a short or extended period of time; the extended period is sometimes interpreted by people as a sign of discomfort or restlessness, but it is more likely that the cat is happy. Most cats will demonstrate this for about ten minutes at the longest, although some have been known to knead and suckle on their favorite human's shirt or ear lobe over the course of an entire night. Researchers at Oxford University have demonstrated that cats derive immense pleasure from kneading, similar to the relaxing sensation for humans from snacking on favorite foods or being massaged.

• A pressing of the face or top of the head against a person's body (head rubbing, nuzzling), or rubbing in quick succession is a sign of affection. Cats may also blink slowly as an expression of affection or security. Many cats also use a question mark-shaped tail to show desire to greet someone they are fond of. They will also stretch to show they are content with their surroundings. Cats may also lick their owner or another person to show affection

Sources: