But I’ve house-sat for his cats enough that I think I’ve begun to understood what makes cats tick, as much as anyone can, which is pretty much “no one.”
This video really encapsulates for me what it is to be a cat.
Feel free to pop psychologize about what’s really going on in this video in the comments.
John Aravosis @aravosis | Facebook | Google+. Editor of AMERICAblog, joint JD/MSFS from Georgetown, worked in the US Senate, World Bank, Children's Defense Fund, and as a stringer for the Economist. A frequent TV pundit, he has been on The O'Reilly Factor, Hardball, World News Tonight, Nightline & Reliable Sources. Full bio and article archive.
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I wondered if the 2nd cat was intervening, saying, “Don’t hunt our friend the duck!”
condew
Nah, that was pure spite.
Don Chandler
John, you just can’t put a leash on Chris’ cat and expect it to cooperate. Cats are not cooperative by nature. Dogs, however, are pack animals and have cooperative instincts. That rooster would have been dinner if them kitties had worked together.
Joneses
Well as a cat person (I have three) any more my husband will move out of the house. I watch them all the time. They love to climb and pursue birds and occasionally bring live rats to my door step. My cats tend to live pass 20 years (human). The ones I have now are mainly outdoor cats, two sleeps overnight indoor, third cat does not. We also have a pomeranian that drives the cats nuts – LOL. Thanks for video!
Vegas Dave
That is so funny and so true. My husband and I have three cats and the antics never fail to amaze and amuse.
hoary_nodens
With very few exceptions, I prefer cats to people, and find them far more interesting to be around. They are beautiful, fascinating creatures.
milli2
Seems like a territory thing between the two cats to me. Even though my cats are brothers and get along well, they still have turf battles that I fail to understand. Especially true when they were younger – one would literally lie on top of a toy to keep it away from the other. They also can’t tolerate being on my lap at the same time. But man, introduce a common “enemy” into the picture that has one cat cornered (like a friendly but rambunctious dog who comes to visit), and the other will come to the others aid every time. There’s more going on in those kitty brains than we know.
UncleBucky
Lesson: IF I can’t have it, NOBODY can! :P
Krusher
Psychologize? PSYCHOLOGIZE? Jeez, John!
I think the gray kitty is carrying on a secret relationship with the goose, or whatever that bird is, and out of fondness was protecting it from the predations of the orange kitty.
http://AMERICAblog.com/ John Aravosis
Intentional mangling of the English language is acceptable. Now if you say “utilize” without intentionally trying to mangle, then you’ve got a problem :)
Krusher
I know I’m overly sensitive about this. I often spend large parts of my day listening to B school professors and students mangle the English language in unbelievable and often pretentious ways.
condew
I just wish the world would learn the difference between “effect” and “affect”.
bbock
This is the cat equivalent of drawing a penis on your drunk buddy’s forehead when he’s passed out on the couch.
http://AMERICAblog.com/ John Aravosis
LOL okay that me literally laugh out loud :)
Jim Olson
I dunno, I think I understand my cats’ motivations pretty well. Food on time. Clean litter box. Play, on their terms. Affection, also on their terms. You just have to have a different set of expectations of a cat than of a dog. Right now, my “shy” kitty who won’t sit next to me on the couch is wedged between me and the laptop keyboard on my desk, one arm and her head resting on my right arm, purring mightily and being sleepy. This is her way of being affectionate, and I accept it for what it is.
http://AMERICAblog.com/ John Aravosis
Yeah Chris grey cat, Sushi, does the keyboard trick – he likes to jump up and possibly sit on your lap, but preferably walk on the keyboard, while you’re working/typing.
hollywoodstein
I guess it’s the wonder of I alll
hollywoodstein
Yes, I afraid how it might pop psychologize. Then we are wondering how the skis are popularizing the gay.
Mike_in_the_Tundra
Could you translate that into English?
http://AMERICAblog.com/ John Aravosis
Depends if you’re dealing with good Hollywoodstein or his evil twin, HollywoodFrankenstein :)
hollywoodstein
I contain multitudes. ;)
hollywoodstein
I think it means I was up late posting last night. Was I posting last night? There’s an empty double magnum, a broken glass, and my head feels like someone hit it with a brick. Better check the dash board.
hollywoodstein
Oh dear…
Jim Olson
Friends don’t let friends write blog post responses drunk…
lilyannerose
A whole new take on cat and mouse, lol!
Phil
They have the most bizarre set of priorities! Yes, during a “hunt” they will assert themselves over another cat, but the other cat will not be especially interested in this act and will not take it personally. Yet they will brawl vigorously over which cat gets to lay in the sunny spot on the living room floor. My male orange tabby is zealous about his need to lay next to me when I go to bed and remains so all night. The female orange tabby is happy to lay next to my feet. Other activities, however, he may not approach, such as watching me shower or eat, as they’re “hers.”
Nic Peterson
I am fairly certain that the orange tabby knew that Muskovy duck would have kicked both of their kitty keisters across the street and back. He was only protecting his buddy.
Mike_in_the_Tundra
My cat has made it quite clear that my lap belongs to her. I have learned to use my laptop without using my lap, so here I was with the cat on my lap trying to be a jet black puddle of fur. Now she is sitting on the other side of the room with her back turned to me. When I saw the video, my laughing made her mad as hell. If only she knew why I was making so much noise.
keirmeister
Cats are hunters. If you hide behind a wall a peer out for them, they will pounce – it’s irresistible. Cats are also independent AND affectionate. It’s just that the affection is on their terms.
There’s a reason I’m called my cat’s “person” not her “master”. And I wouldn’t change it for the world.
…even though she scratches the s&*t out of my furniture. :)
http://AMERICAblog.com/ John Aravosis
I just love how one cat uses the hunt as an excuse to “hunt” the other cat.
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