The Way of Cats

What are the Cat Types?

They are the three main cat personality types.

Choosing the right cat for the right place is a path to satisfaction.

It becomes crucial in tricky situations:

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Know the Types: the Alpha

Last modified on 2008-07-26 15:47:20 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Alpha cats are the mad scientists of the cat world.

They want to manipulate their environment to suit them. Their lack of thumbs is the only factor keeping them from World Domination. That, and those naps.

Photo from the Pendotech site, Mad Scientist division.

Alphas are marvelous cats, but they are not for everyone. As kittens, they are the reason china cabinets have doors and kitchen cabinets have baby locks. If something can be opened, unfastened, switched, rearranged, or button pressed, it was an Alpha who did it. Their boundless curiosity and free running intelligence is fastened on their reason for being; experimentation. If a thing does interesting stuff when dumped in the water dish, it will be dumped in the water dish.

Alphas would prefer opening their own cans and getting their own water. Since their robot is not quite built yet, they will allow you to make arrangements, but expect an Alpha to add their own customization touches. If they are hungry and you are doing something interesting in another room, they will take a mouthful of food into the room where you are and eat it there. Alphas have been known to use their behind as a pushing tool to move the litter box to a better spot. Alphas know you are here to cater to their whims, or why did you sign up? When you do cater to their whims, they melt all over you with affection. You understand! You think they are great! Well, you are great too!

Like everything else in the environment, you are a promising subject for Alpha experimentation. Alphas are the most likely to train you in ways you didn’t expect. Suppose they are locked in the bedroom with you at night and they want to get out. If other attempts to rouse you are not developing as expected, they will, soon or later, walk on your head. Exasperated, you get up and evict them from the bedroom. Congratulations! Your Alpha has now trained you to open the door when they walk on your head. You need to be able to see these things coming.

The most likely ways Alphas will catch your attention will be doing something that got praise, or laughter, from you in the past. They love the spotlight. They not only like to be with you while you are doing things, they will do their best to do those things too. If you don’t want your Alpha playing with your art set or adding their own ideas to your embroidery, you will have to provide your Alpha with a reasonable facsimile of your own hobby, so the two of you can do the same things, side by side. Few things thrill an Alpha more.

Alphas can more than handle busy households, and most other animals. The biggest problems with Alphas and other living creatures are their tendency to take over any social hierarchies. Timid cats will be terrorized with attention, mild-mannered dogs will start saluting when they walk by, and soft-hearted humans will do their bidding. Anyone without the ability to give and take with an Alpha will need social support to hold their own.

When it comes to toys, the more complicated, the better. They love having cat-safe versions of your favorite toys, and are the challenging target for the makers of puzzle boxes, treat cubes, and remote controlled mice. Pick up busy boxes and other interactive toys for toddlers at garage sales to keep them occupied. Because if you don’t come up with something, they will.

More than any other cat type, Alphas need to be disciplined with persuasion. They want to please you, but when something interesting moves across their sensitive radar, they forget. Sometimes the only persuasion that works are cat traps; motion sensors that spritz water or make loud noises, putting open catalogs over bookcase edges, or leaving tippy boxes full of empty soda cans in forbidden areas are often the only persuaders Alphas understand. They have to make their own mistakes, and take their own consequences. Deciding to leave certain things alone must be their own idea.

Some breeds noted for their Alpha tendencies are Abyssinian, Siamese, Rex cats, and other “Oriental” breeds. Their mixes are easily spotted because of their long legs and lean bodies. Devoted acrobats, they retain their kitten playfulness and energy most of their lives. But any cat can be an Alpha. In kittens, look for a laser like gaze that seems to be constantly computing angles and trajectories, and a stubborn insistence on reaching what they focus on. In shelters, Alphas can look droopy and depressed, because their need for stimulation is so thwarted in this situation. Make some faces at them. If they show interest, they are still open to overtures. Ask the shelter folks for “really smart, kind of nutty, has to have toys” and soon you’ll be the Igor in your home laboratory.

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Know the Types: the Beta

Last modified on 2008-07-07 22:17:58 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Having a Beta cat is like having a Dr. Watson to your Sherlock Holmes. They are boon companions, best buddies, and always interested and admiring of your efforts on their behalf.

Beta cats see us as the way to get their environment the way they want it. So they are great talkers, or if not, big on the “Lassie Move” where they catch your attention and try to get you to follow them to the object of interest.

They want to please us, so a few corrections is usually all it takes for them to leave things alone, but they have a lot of energy and playfulness, especially as kittens, so it’s best to put Grandma’s hand blown vase somewhere safe until they grow up.

Betas will come when called, sit on your lap when invited, and have been known to fetch. They are the cat type most likely to be praised as, “My cat is like a dog!” But of course, they are cats, and obedience still has the caveat of, “Is there a good reason for me to do this right now?” The Beta’s favorite toys tend to be prey facsimiles, such as fuzzy mice and small stuffed animals, but they are also fond of any toy that scuttles, bounces, or otherwise acts like something worth stalking.

Betas love companionship, whether it be respectful dogs or properly coached children. They are the most likely cat to meet strangers, especially if the guests are sensible enough to admire them. If your business needs a “greeter cat,” look for a Beta. This outgoing quality makes them especially easy to care for, because if the food dish is getting low or the litter box isn’t being kept up, you will know about it right away. Always be swift to correct problems, and Betas will shower you with love and attention in return.

Encourage your Beta’s communication skills by talking to them often, with a lot of dramatic body language. This will appeal to the ham in them, and even if they don’t understand the words, they will pick up so much of your body language that their comprehension will be the next best thing. So always make a point of telling your Beta if you will be gone overnight, that the store was out of their favorite flavor, or that the cat pillow needs to be washed, but it will be right back. In multiple cat households, Betas will be your translator, able to convey requests and news to the other cats.

Betas are known as “Supervisors.” They love watching you do things. They especially love watching you do things that concerns them, such as litter cleaning, planting kitty grass, or putting the windowsill shelf on the correct window. Betas are the best cat for newbies, because Betas love the chance to train you properly, and are forgiving when you mess up.

Some breeds known for their Beta qualities are the Tonkinese, Manx, Scottish Fold, Maine Coon, and Norwegian Forest Cat. The last two breeds are long haired, but “natural,” so need less grooming than other long haired breeds. Which is so Beta of them. Betas tend to have muscular, rectangular bodies and a calm, inquisitive expression.

Any cat can be a Beta. In kittens, look for the thoughtful ones who pause a millisecond before they attack a new toy. They make eye contact easily, and are usually the first in a litter to show interest in people. In the shelter, they are often the ones who rub their faces on the cages or make polite noises to draw your attention. Ask the shelter folk for a friendly, playful cat, and soon you will have your own “Dr. Watson.”

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Know the Types: The Gamma

Last modified on 2008-05-24 18:14:37 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Gamma cats are sweet and mellow. They are somewhat shy, but once their trust is won, they love affection and have winning little ways.

They always have time for you. The challenge of the Gamma is not immediately apparent. You must make time for them.

They are so deferential and unassuming that they will not assert themselves except in an emergency. It’s up to you, as a responsible Gamma owner, to keep tabs on them, making sure the water bowl is fresh, and the food keeps coming.

Gammas hate to make a fuss. When they do, it’s likely to be in very nonverbal ways; leaving the not tasty food untouched or trying to catch your eye with their pleading face.

People who love Gamma types treasure their mint Hummel collection, tend to leave for work and come home at the same times each day, and cherish the good book, the cup of tea, and their cat, somewhere in the vicinity. Gammas can be lap cats, but they will study you for a bit, figuring out the times and places where they know you will plant yourself for a while, before hopping up on your chair or finding a handy hassock. When they want to be out of the way, they find hiding places, and when they want affection, they will appear.

Gammas don’t mind being only cats. You are their companion. When you are away, they will drowse in windowsills, play only with their own toys, and prowl the apartment like little ghosts. They are the most geographically oriented type of cat, feeling secure when they know where everything is, and when those things stay there. A Gamma can be disconcerted momentarily when the couch pillows form a new configuration or their old food bowl breaks and they are presented with a new one. They like to know what to expect at all times, and bond with people who feel the same way. Their favorite toys tend to be the small crinkly balls or fluffy feathered things, but will chase a wand toy gladly when it is offered. They have less need than other cats for new toys, becoming fond of their old ones.

Gammas must be protected in households with dogs or children, and then they can get along. Without proper support, even with other cats, they can feel constantly under siege in these situations, and will misbehave only because of the stress, which they have difficulty communicating. Make sure they have places to unwind and times when they know they can get our attention, and they will be able to cope.

The only times a Gamma will get in trouble is when they find an unsuitable spot for sleeping or they are chasing a toy into a forbidden zone. At such times, a gentle correction and moving themselves or their toy into the right spot is all that is needed. They hate to be a bother.

Gamma kittens can be as playful as any kittens, but will show a tendency to be quiet and relaxed at other times. Even when they do misbehave, a gasp of shock is all that is needed to make them take notice of your distress. Many Gammas are long haired, and need to be groomed often. Acclimating the kitten to a grooming schedule, and following it with treats, is an important part of their raising.

Some breeds known for their Gamma qualities are the Persian, Chantilly-Tiffany, Chartreux, Himalayan, British Shorthair, Ragdoll, and Birman. Mixes with these qualities tend to be long haired and broadheaded, with stocky legs and a compact body. But any cat can have a Gamma personality. Look for them as kittens; they hang back from new toys at first, tend to have a wide-eyed stare at new things, and will usually be found in the corners of cages at the shelter. Ask the shelter folk for quiet, gentle cats, and soon you can have one of these “teddy bear types” for your very own.

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Crazy Cat Person: The Warning Signs

Last modified on 2008-07-26 23:04:48 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

No one wants to be known as “The Crazy Cat Person.” Personally, I prefer the term “Cat Appreciator.”

Apparently, the rest of the world thinks one cat is okay. Stray comes by, brother moves to Prague; you know, these things happen. One cat implies that the person didn’t do it on purpose. But two cats… that sounds more deliberate. That bears watching.

More than two cats? It’s over. We are Officially Crazy.

I don’t know how Cat Appreciators got mixed up in the public mind with Crazy Cat Persons. We both feed cats, but any resemblance ends there. Cat Appreciators take their cats to the vet, and play with them, and love them, and don’t have more than we can do that for. Crazy Cat Persons don’t do that, and go waaaaay into the double digits, or beyond, into numbers that cannot be properly cared for. They are, in fact, victims of serious mental disorders.

Cat Appreciators have discovered, somewhere along the way, that cats are actually amenable to our wishes, highly companionable, and extraordinarily affectionate. Along with being both amusing and much smarter than the rest of the world realizes.

Cat Appreciators know that we might have this many anyway. But of lot of us have so many because the rest of the world has so few.

Which is a shame. If only more people knew what we knew… they’d be Cat Appreciators, too. Cats can be friendly, but the deepest parts of their hearts are available only to those who understand and treasure them. We know, despite what an often indifferent world might think, that cats are very special.

And that some people just don’t know what they are missing.

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When a Cat is Not For You

Last modified on 2008-08-22 02:04:40 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

People have made cats the most popular pet in the United States, United Kingdom, and many other countries. Yet, the cat is still maligned and misunderstood.

While cats are low maintenance in many ways, their emotional needs are even more challenging than dogs are. People don’t realize that, then don’t meet the cat’s needs, then complain that cats are not affectionate or interesting.

Much of the cat’s appeal lies in their reputation for easy care and lack of walks. Busy apartment dwellers can especially appreciate these qualities. Yet, if we regard the cat as a second tier pet, something we get because we can’t get a dog, the relationship will not work if you don’t regard a cat as capable of affection and interactivity.

If you think otherwise, I have to break it to you… it’s you who is being unaffectionate and uninteresting.

A common saying is, “You know the problem with kittens, don’t you? They grow up to be cats!” That’s because when kittens start to be adults, they start expecting adult relationships from their humans. You know adult relationships, don’t you? Those are the ones that are the result of respect and mutual regard between two equals.

That’s what a cat wants.

The cat doesn’t want to bear the full burden of the relationship. The cat doesn’t want to be the one who is always asking for affection or to be fitted into your schedule. The cat wants to be regarded as interesting, adorable, worthy. The cat wants to know they are loved.

So if you think cats don’t need affection or attention, you are mistaken about the low-maintenance aspect of a cat’s emotional life. It would be better for all concerned if you went for the goldfish instead.

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