Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Cat-and-Mouse

In many ways, Cammie is my most interesting cat. I think that may be due to her initial reluctance to trust me. I believe that has been overcome - and was, some time ago - but it has made hers a character that has been revealed only gradually. My other beasts are pretty much what you see.

Cammie has started to talk to her toys. I should clarify that she talks to one toy, the white and yellow fuzzy mouse. I first heard her one night while I was in the bedroom. She was making a moaning sound that began at medium pitch and descended; this was repeated numerous times. I thought it might be the first stage of throwing up; though it did not sound like Josie’s ‘wow-wow-wow-wow’ that presages vomiting, I could not think what else it may have been. I walked into the sitting room and found the princess crouched in front of the mouse. She ceased speaking to it when I entered.


This incident was replicated another evening. And then on a third, I found Cammie talking in a corner. This mildly concerned me, as I thought she may have retreated to isolation to be sick. I tested her by immediately lying down on my back, and patting my chest. She trotted over and crouched on my chest and started purring. She clearly was not feeling ill. After fifteen minutes or so, she left; that’s when I saw the fuzzy mouse, in the corner. She had trapped it and was taunting it.

Now when I hear the princess talking in such a way, I don’t disturb her. She is obviously carrying out some phase of her hunt, telling the mouse just what its role is in life. Tungsten taught me long ago that cats can pretend, even using their imaginations to conjure up prey, so it is hardly surprising that a cat can see a real mouse in a toy, and give it what-for. I was rather surprised that it was Cammie who did this, but then, in many ways, as I have written, she is my most interesting cat, and more surprises no doubt await me.

20 comments:

  1. so adorable....good job Cammie - protect the house from fuzzy mice

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  2. Jack has phases where a particular toy gets the full treatment and I am expected to heap praise upon him for his kill - which I do, every time, even at 3am..

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  3. Maybe she's reciting sonnets to her mousie love. :-D

    Nicki used to be quite vocal at night with some of the toy mice, he'd carry on, and then carry them up the stairs, meowing at full volume all the while. He doesn't do it that often anymore, and that's not something Derry ever has done.

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    1. As he gets older, Nicki may have more sympathy for his human trying to sleep.

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  4. Aaaaaaaaw What a cutie she is. Mees new sisfur Raena chats it up with everythin'. Me only has a couple toys dat elicit confursation, but me can't reveal what we're sayin'. Ifin Cammie wants ya' to know, she'll tell ya'. MOL

    Luv ya'

    Dezi and Raena

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  5. What a neat cat! Siamese cats are known to be talkers, and I've seen cats that will carry on a conversation with people or other cats. But I've never known of one that talks to its toys. But then, we're aware that Came is special. I love the photograph - it shows just how gorgeous Cammie is.

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    1. I love hearing Cammie talk. She usually speaks in a creaky voice - but not to her mouse.

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  6. That is interesting - maybe she is telling the mouse her secrets?

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  7. Isn't it interesting the way in which they reveal themselves to us. Cats have eternal patience it appears.

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  8. my stars girl, I have a nightly discussion with medium sized pink yarn fuzzy ball as it is totally ill mannered, rude, unkempt and any other number of adjectives I can place upon it......does it LISTEN to me.....undoubtedly....no ...as I fear I must have the SAME conversation, every....single.......night

    hugs from dai$y =^..*= ♥♥♥

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    1. You'd think the fuzzy ball would have learned by now...

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  9. Hey, you just have to make sure the mousies know who is boss!

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  10. "Cammie is my most interesting cat"

    The Siamese ones always are :)

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  11. That is too funny that Cammie converses with her mousie :)

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  12. Yes, maybe she is singing songs, reciting poetry to her mousie as Fuzzy Tails suggested. She really is such a character!

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  13. Cammie is such a sweetie! Flynn doesn't talk to his toys, but he does talk to us...constantly. He always has to have the last word too.

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  14. I think you've only begun to experience all of the engaging and interesting things that are a part of Cammie's personality. She'll never fail to delight you.

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  15. I agree with Anony mous. Siamese kitties are very interesting. No two seem the same!

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