They want our attention. Often, they want our attention for a purpose. When we respond, the cat not only gets what they want; we get a more communicative cat.
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What triggers the Twirl is the cat’s desire to move somewhere; but not leave the immediate area until we come too. So they go in a circle. This expresses going somewhere without going somewhere… yet.
This is the key to what I call the “Lassie Move.” On the TV show, Lassie was always trying to get someone’s attention by barking at them. Cats will do The Twirl. We should respond the same way; by asking the cat to Show Me, and teaching the cat we will follow them.
Sometimes, all the cat wants is to show us is that they love us. They can use Show Me as an invitation to rub their head on our ankles or flop over for a belly rub.
Sometimes, the cat wants to show us that the water bowl has crumbs in it, or that the #@^% squirrel is taunting them from outside the window, or that some other cat is hogging the best sleeping spot.
Whatever it is, the cat wants to consult us about it. Whatever we do, we have acknowledged the cat.
That, to the cat, is priceless.
Only Alphas are comfortable taking a situation into their own paws; and even they have times when they must acknowledge that they need the loan of opposable thumbs. Betas and Gammas rarely feel they can or should rearrange things for themselves; they would much rather have our input and help.
The Twirl can become a reliable and joyous way for our cat to signal our attention. Instantly responding to this signal trains the cat to use it more, since a reliable signal is going to be reached for, first.
This might cut down on more annoying signals, like walking across our keyboard or breaking into the cupboard to find their own treats.
Wouldn’t we rather those signals get saved for emergencies?
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There’s more ways to understand our cat with The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See all of my posts on WHY CATS DO THAT.
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my dear cat baggins swirled to be asked to be picked up and carried after our walk up hill ….. he died of cardiomyopathia
he had a undetected heart problem and needed to be carried
how could i know that was his problem.??how could i know he was in trouble?? i just knew i needed to carry him
pardon my mis typing….its been 5 years and i still grieve
Of course you do, catlindy. We always miss them.
But you made him as happy as he could possibly be. Not just anyone can do that, you know.
Not my blog, but I am so sorry, Catlindy. The communication gap between human and cat is sometimes a really sad one. They can’t always tell us what’s wrong.
*hugs*
I know I love my girls, and will miss them terribly when they are gone, and I don’t think I will ever NOT miss them. You must have loved Baggins very much, and I am sure he loved you.
hi i love cats so much!!!!!!!!!!!!