Cat Lovers

[swarfrat]

engage in behaviors they're bound too, but get no enjoyment out of, definitely the compulsive aspect.

Ouch, yeah. My cat will knead my belly, even when her claws need trimming, and it's hurting both of us - me getting nicked, and her when her claws get stuck in my shirt. But does it stop her? Noooo. What does she get out of it? It's kind of like getting a card from someone which flops. Neither one of us really enjoy it, but its the thought that counts. Seriously, some behaviors are obvious - they like it when you rub their cheek. But the ones like what I described are really interesting, for the reasons I mentioned. Cats get a bad rap for being aloof/selfish/etc... But they're quite capable of attachment, they just don't express it in terms of pack/leader/submission type behaviors like dogs do.  I really do think that their intelligence actually is a de-motivator for trained behaviors and such. What's in it for me? Just give me the darned treat and skip the stupid game, ok?!

 

[Tonar8352]

Tonar, was your buddy that close!?

Right under the tree just like he was on this bad boy.

 

[Cagey]

Cats that exhibit the "kneading" behavior are reliving the nursing instinct, and it's usually because they've been separated from their mothers too early. It's a comfort to them. Also, it doesn't hurt her to get her claws stuck in your shirt or whatever. In fact, they will stress them much more severely by trying to remove the upholstery from your furniture or some other unforgiving item to exercise the muscles behind the claws. Those are weapons, necessary for survival. That's why you need a "scratching" post. Outdoors, they'll usually use trees for that.

 

[hannaugh]

We got a scratching post that we spray catnip oil on.  The cats lose their minds!  Mr. Tumnus and Ripley love it if I put some of my laundry on the bed for them to knead too, but I'm not putting catnip oil on my clothes. 

Also, I have been taking lots of good pics lately:

 

[swarfrat]

She has ZERO interest in any scratching post I've ever bought her. Not when my wife's couch is around. Doesn't matter what we put on it (The post or the couch) - I think maybe the couch is stuffed with catnip or something. My wife actually gets upset if I buy her any more toys, because she doesn't use them. Doesn't want cat furniture in the house, but wants the cat to respect her furniture. Duh.

I know about kneading behaviors, and I have seen her get caught when it was obviously painful. (Once in my shirt at the vet while 3 of us tried to control her. The next vet didn't exactly kick us out, but they did say she didn't need to come back for routine visits, only if there was a problem.)