Cat Update

[kaasirpent]

Lucy is the Queen Empress of the Universe when it comes to the whiny purr that the Internet was all abuzz over last week. Those of us that have cats have known about this sound from about an hour after we first became becatted. Silly scientists and their slow-to-catch-up-to-what-everybody-already-knew ways. :)

Last night, I heard her (it had to be her; you have to understand the weight differential between the two cats and the differences in the sounds they make because of it, not to mention Lucy only having three legs) dashing around madly in the kitchen, making a lot of noise, her claws scrabbling on my wood-laminate floor. Then I heard her "yelp" and this plaintive meowing. I have no idea what went on, but when I called her name (I had just gone to bed, and was still lying there, awake), she got suspiciously quiet.

Cats.

Matt is progressing. Last night he remained in the room even after I stood up, although when I looked in his direction, he scurried toward the door. But then later, I picked him up while I was in The Chair *evil chord* and deposited him in my lap. He remained in my lap whilst I petted him and talked to him. He didn't wound me in any way, and he was purring up a storm. Also, his tongue was poked out from between his teeth. I think he's missing his grooming teeth, and that this should not be interpreted in the "Awwwww!" way most people would leap to intuitively. :)

After about 30 seconds of togetherness, his feral nature resumed control and he jumped down, but in a casual way, not like he was afraid I was going to eat him.

And this morning, he let me inch toward him to put a bowl of wet food in front of him, although he still didn't actually eat it. Weird. So Lucy once more got an entire can.

As I remarked to a friend this morning, at the rate Matt is going, he'll be a total lap cat by about Christmas of 2012. At which point, of course, the Universe and everything in it will come to a crashing end, so it won't matter.¹

Pictures of the cats are forthcoming, although Matt's will have to wait a while. It's hard to get a picture when he's always under or behind something, and when I look at him (like I would have to do to get a picture), he scurries away. Perhaps I should say "pictures of Lucy are forthcoming." :)

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1. Well, no, it won't, but I thought I'd give the 2012 conspiracy nuts a little hope that they'd had a convert. :)

Comments

Whatever Lucy broke in the kitchen...

[ddreslough.livejournal.com]

You'll figure out...eventually. When you need it most. :)

Hooray for Matt! :) Marley was like that. Skittery as all get-out, but now he gingerly climbs into my lap and sits for a while. He always purrs...always plays...but didn't want to be picked up or held at all at first. We're slowly getting him to be a lap buddy, though.

[mrsadsmguy.livejournal.com]

Yea!!! I'm so happy they are making progess!

[fontosaurus.livejournal.com]

That's awesome re: Matt. An ex-girlfriend adopted a feral cat from a no-kill shelter than had been there for since he was a kitten, and for about seven years. He's developed into a somewhat shy, but semi-cuddly cat over the course of the last couple of years. It's an amazing transition for a cat who used to run and hide from every human he saw.

[bramblekite.livejournal.com]

You're doing good with Matt :)

That was an interesting article about the cat purrs. More proof for my only semi formulated theory about crazy childless cat ladies.

[obviouspseudo.livejournal.com]

Fantastic! I expect Matt will come around sooner than you think. Our twitchy cat Carson, who was always running away from people because they were going to eat him, has turned into a complete slut of a lap cat since Tristan is no longer with us. He's also one of the whiny cats who we all knew from minute one was manipulating us. The interaction between him and the dog is just amazing to watch.

I wonder if the scientists who produced that study didn't ever have cats themselves.

[slymongoose.livejournal.com]

I'd say you are becoming a true Cat Charmer, but perhaps, like me, Matt is merely trying to get closer to that big gem in your turban...
*SHINY!*

[slymongoose.livejournal.com]

Oh, and Carol's cat, Java Jive is a big guy. But he has the MOST PATHETIC cry /EVER/ when he wants Carol to pick him up to the counter where his food bowl is.
It is heart rending and at the same time, hilarious because he is such a big boy and it's a noise you expect out of a heartbroken, starving, drenched little kitten. I have to try to record it for you all to hear.
He is perfectly capable of leaping up there. He just wants mama to pick him up and lift him to the counter. Carol is about 90 lbs soaking wet and Java is around 15, making this even more ridiculous.
Here are pictures of the big 'ol baby trying to get someone to give him a belly rub:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14501113@N06/sets/72157607842359109/