The Way of Cats

What did the original cat look like? We need look no further than feral cat colonies where cats are allowed to breed randomly. This results in a tendency toward brown mackerel tabbies with green eyes, suggesting that this is the common wild phenotype of the domestic cat.

Tabby patterns do not denote the breed of cat; it is a common coat pattern which can be expressed in any color except white.

The more tabby genes expressed in the coat, the more distinctive and prominent will be the “M” on the forehead.

This offers us a glimpse into the distant past of our housecats; the desert wildcats from 10,000 years ago, in the Near East.

All wild cat subspecies can interbreed, but domestic cats are all genetically contained within F. s. lybica.

This cluster of tabby genes explains the ubiquitous nature of tabby markings; excellent for camouflage, and delightful to the eye. There are four types of tabby. The mackerel tabby has stripes curving around the body from a central stripe down the back, and this is the expression of the wild-type tabby gene. Classic tabbies have swirls in a bullseye or butterfly pattern on their bodies, while ticked tabbies have the striping even on the individual hairs, resulting in a “salt and pepper” look. Spotted tabbies have the stripes broken up into spots, seen on the Abyssinian and Ocicat breeds.

The differences with the ancestral model show up in variations in coat colors, and probably even more curiosity, intelligence, and closeness with people. They wouldn’t have chosen cats with less, would they?

Biologically, the cat is identical to the cats who hunted small game in the Fertile Crescent, a desert environment which influences their diet and behavior in our cats of today. They have a third eyelid, the nictitating membrane, to protect against blowing sand, as does the fine screen of fur covering the entrance to the ear canal that is particularly noticeable in long-haired breeds. The appeal of the litter box is in the sandy texture that mimics their natural habitat. They love heat and fresh water.

All of this science fits well with my own theory; with agriculture came cats. With agriculture came grain storage. With grain storage comes voracious rodents. With rodents we have the hunter without compare, the cat.

So when people noticed that cats had shown up to take care of their rodent problem, it became a matter of survival to keep them around. This was apparently okay with the cat. A certain responsible hedonism is a hallmark of their personality.

How handy, for both of us.

With civilization came organization and specialization which led to jurisprudence, science, and the power to make plastic pouches of snacks we can’t open.

So we do owe the cat a lot.

After all, cats are responsible for civilization as we know it. So if they act a bit entitled… well, they’re entitled.

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Every cat has several Special Spots. Just as we have different places for different tasks, cats have Designated Areas for their different needs. Making sure the cat has good spots for their security, observation, and companionship routines creates a happy cat.

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The cat has no problem picking out their spots. Sometimes, though, the spots they pick will not suit us so well. If we have a cat who gets in trouble because of the places they choose, they need our help in finding a spot which gives them what they need, yet doesn’t cause difficulties for us.

One of RJ’s favorite spots is at the living room window. The view is one attraction; it looks out at the driveway, the house next door, and the lake with its abundant wildlife. But this is also where Dear Husband sits to work on various art projects. So while RJ is enjoying Fun Things to Watch, he’s also in a perfect position to get a stroke or a sweet word from one of his favorite people. Two buddies, doing things together. For a cat, it doesn’t get any better.

However, there was some negotiation involved before both got what they wanted. At one time, the desk where RJ sits had stuff in that spot. Dear Husband moved the stuff so it wouldn’t get knocked aside; this was his concession to RJ’s ardent desire to be there.

In return, RJ had to learn that he couldn’t play with any of the brushes, little pots of paint, tiny parts, and other tempting objects in the area. To reinforce this, Dear Husband puts small cat toys on the windowsill, so that each of them has something to play with. This makes RJ feel more a part of things, and keeps him from playing with Dear Husband’s tempting toys.

Cats want to be near us.

Here, Mr. Bond shares his Happy Chair with RJ (at a younger age than he is now,) so they can both participate in the movie watching in the living room.

They will cuddle with us on our chairs, but humans tend to get up often for snacks and bathroom breaks. If the cats want to settle in, yet still participate, they will seek out a spot no one else is using.

When we see a cat in one of their areas, we can “bless” the spot they have chosen by petting them and saying how nice a spot it is. This will reassure them that they have chosen a good spot that will not make us unhappy.

We should not take them out of their spot to pet them. Petting In Place is the way we show respect for the spot, and for their comfortable place in it. We like a kiss goodbye if we are still in bed; would we like it so much if we are hauled out of bed to get it?

If a cat chooses a spot which does not please us, we can’t just make the Spot off limits. The cat has chosen it for a reason, and we must provide a good alternative. Cats like places which are off the floor, not too open, and ideally, cushy enough for good stretching and relaxing. Any Spot which has things looming over them or too much traffic and disturbances nearby are not Good Spots.

Anywhere in the house we like to hang out should have a Spot for kitties who want to share this happy time. I’ve had cats who recognize that I spend a lot of time on the computer, and want a Spot nearby to be with me. A cardboard box, lined with a towel, was my way of appreciating their affection, and keeping their tail off my mousepad.

By listening to the cat, and observing their actions, we can find ways of making us both happy.

Together.

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One of the cutest things Mr. Bond did to show he cared about the new kitten, RJ, was to try to warn him about the vacuum cleaner.

As it was being rolled out and having its cord unwound, RJ started playing with the cord. Mr. Bond checked his headlong flight and came back to try to convey: that this was dangerous! We are supposed to run away! Come on, kid, listen to me!

It wasn’t until the vacuum was about to be turned on that Mr. Bond abandoned RJ to his fate.

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RJ ignored Mr. Bond, so absorbed was he in exploring this new object. But soon the noise drove him away, and now he eels out of the room as soon as it makes its appearance, just like most cats.

Cats do not care for noisy objects. The vacuum is probably the noisiest appliance we tend to use around the house, though they do not care for coffee grinders or whistling teakettles, either. But the vacuum has other features that makes it truly the Cat Godzilla.

It is big and it moves.

It moves everywhere, right at their level, roaring as it goes. We find it loud. Cats, with their better hearing, find it much louder. They usually aren’t around to see us if we suck up some drapes or pennies, but if they do, it only confirms their suspicions that the vacuum is something to be heartily avoided.

Which is probably just as well. I was vacuuming the couch near Smidget, who came off the streets as tough as they come. He was one of the few cats I’ve known who would make a point of not leaving when the vacuum came out, to keep his reputation for fearlessness intact. But as I was trying to nudge him aside to get that section of the couch, the hose, which I was using without an attachment, sucked up the tip of his tail.

He wasn’t hurt. But he did whip around with incredible swiftness, pinned the end of the tube to the couch, and gave it three sharp raps with his paw. Don’t ever do that again.

Of course, something smaller… that might not be frightening at all.

So we should respect our cat’s avoidance of the vacuum cleaner. Announce its imminent appearance. Give cats time to clear the room. As we go from room to room, turn off the vacuum and give them time to get past us.

It may seem amusing. But cats have good reason to avoid it.

Just as we would avoid Godzilla.

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Kittens always find ways to keep themselves amused, bless their busy little hearts. But, just like us, mature cats are not so easy. They have bright and active brains that often do not get the level of stimulation that they want and need.

How can we tell if our cats are bored?

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A bored cat does not lie around and sigh. Frantic activity and misbehavior are the signs of a bored cat. A cat with natural high energy, with few outlets for expressing it, will demonstrate that bad attention is better than none. They can’t help playing with whatever appears, even things they know they shouldn’t, if they are left too much to their own, inadequate, devices.

A young cat left alone in the house all day, with us finding mayhem when we get home, is probably begging for a playmate and companion. Don’t think this will mean there will be twice as much mayhem. Having two cats, and things for them to play with, will result in less mayhem. Having another living creature to relax with will often result in the frantic cat being able to calm down and relax.

Older, less energetic cats will express boredom in less dramatic, but no less worrisome, ways. They can start scratching where they shouldn’t, knock over things they’ve always left alone, or pace and wail, especially at bedtime, when the prospect of a long, lonely night is looming.

We shouldn’t get exasperated with a cat who is, from our point of view, suddenly acting unhappy. The cat doesn’t feel that they are doing anything suddenly. It’s just reached a point where they can’t handle it anymore.

Usually, these are ways a cat will complain of neglect. After all, what do mature cats find to be the most interesting toy around?

That… would be us.

They aren’t the little balls of fire they used to be. Too often, this means the people in the house concluded they don’t want to play anymore, so they don’t. While pulling out the wand toy will certainly be appreciated, the best way to keep the adult cat from getting bored is to come up with ways to interact with them when we are home.

Consulting them about their care, sharing our activities, and seeking them out will not only keep us invested in our evolving relationship, but give them things to think about while we are not around.

This keeps everyone happy.

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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.