RocketJim's

Missed Ya!

It is almost one week after Charlie's death. I am coping very well...sad as it is, Life do go on. I miss him and wish so bad I still have a furry friend in the house but I guess, kittens do die. Like I'd said, I learnt a huge lesson and I really do know what to look for the next time I choose a kitty to join my family. My priority now is not only the kitty's temperament, but also its poop. If you stumble onto this blog and wonder what to look for in a healthy kitten - poop. Yes, POOP. Make sure the kitty's butt is dry and the poop is not watery. Diarrhoea is a killer in young mammals.

Also happen to quite randomly stumble onto a couple of sites that teaches people how to decode their kitty's behavior. Below are some excerpts (from http://www.cat-behavior-explained.com):

1) Cat body language: Tail

Swishing. A swishing tail (i.e. the whole tail slowly and gently moving from side to side) usually means Kitty is alert, curious and interested in his environment.

Lashing. A lashing tail (i.e. the whole tail moving from side to side in a fast, aggressive way) means Kitty is agitated and annoyed. Sometimes when Kitty is doing this he'll adopt a generally aggressive stance (more on this below.) The hair on his tail may also stand on end, giving it a bushy appearance. If he's doing this, leave him alone or you're likely to become the victim of an attack.

Twitching. If Kitty is twitching his tail at the tip, this usually indicates he's interested in something he's seen. However, it may also be the first sign of aggression - e.g. if another cat has just invaded his patch - and in this case it could turn to a lashing tail and aggression.

Charlie's tail was often swishing...I do remember reading from somewhere that if a cat moves its tail left and right alot, it is NOT happy. So when Charlie was swishing his tail, I was puzzled because I don't see anything that may agitate him. Now I realized he was actually busy checking out the house...a happy, curious kitten.

2) Cat body language: Eyes

Wide, staring eyes. This is usually seen before and during a cat fight, or before a cat attacks another animal or a human. They stare to try to scare the other cat / animal / human away.

Narrow, slowly blinking eyes. This means the opposite of above - the cat is saying he's happy with the other cat / animal / human and that he trusts them.

If you've ever wondered why cats make a beeline for the one person in the room who doesn't like cats, eyes are the reason. The cat lovers in the room will stare at Kitty, which will make him feel threatened, so he'll want to stay away from them. The person who doesn't like cats won't look at him because she's sincerely hoping he won't go anywhere near her. He sees her as the only non-threatening person in the room, so guess who he heads towards?! (Attention, Cherry!!! lol)

I was elated everytime Charlie narrowed his eyes at me because I knew he was being comfortable and affectionate....then again he was always sleepy. Still, being RocketJim I only believe in the good stuff. Haa. Charlie loved me!

3) Cat body language: Body


Why do cats knead? This is a sign of affection, comfort and contentment.

Rubbing against your legs. When Kitty does this, he's leaving his scent on you, effectively marking you as "his territory." It's a sign of affection.

Rolling onto his back and exposing his tummy. Kitty is being submissive. He's paying you a compliment, saying he likes and trusts you.

Bent / straight legs. If all Kitty's legs are straight and he has an upright posture, raised head and pricked ears, he's happy, curious and confident. In a stand-off, bent front legs and stretched back legs show that Kitty would rather avoid a fight, but that he will defend himself if he has to.

'Tummy time' with Charlie was always a highlight for me. I really loved that little furball. When I was cutting vegetables or cooking in the kitchen, he's always nestled himself between my feet. Cuteness max!

Animals are strange things. I am amazed how quickly they get into your hearts and find a place in there huh?