Breaking Cat News by Georgia Dunn for November 16, 2018

I’m first?

Also, Elvis would not, as some have pointed out, be very dignified during the process, as he melted all over the place.

Our cat Larry would take offense whenever someone messed with his tail. He could sympathize, Elvis.

How very self aware of Elvis to realize he’s got a sensitive tail. Can’t wait to see Lupin’s reaction.

Digger is mello- “Stroke my tail? Cool, it’s all good”. The Demon isn’t bad about her tail, either. But I no longer fall for the roll over on her back and invite me to pet her tummy ruse… “ow ow ow ow”"

I stroke a cat by starting at the top of the head (between the ears) and slowly continue down his/her back. If the tail comes up (usually even with the back) I continue to the end of the tail, keeping the same pressure. The cats I know seem to like it.

You’re really missing out, Elvis. Veer, veer!

“Yes, Max, that’s my plan, or at least the essence of it. And it can work. Understand, any group of dogs is going to have its alpha, its leader. That’s the one I’m going to focus on. Turn him, and I may be able to turn them all. My hope is that it will start a ‘cascade’ of reversal on the main issue- the fight itself.” Maxie shook his head slowly; “Megan, I don’t know you like Tre-C does, but I have to ask; are you…” “Naive? No. Crazy? Maybe a little. But I’m going to do this. One stone thrown into a pond won’t displace much water, but the ripple will reach the shore.” Maxie looked at the floor, then raised his head to meet Megan’s gaze. He smiled; “Beautiful, smart, caring… and ballsy. You have a mate?”

Obviously Elvis means someone other than himself.

I’m waiting for The Woman to say “What are you doing to that poor cat?” My mother said that (a) when she saw my brother and I tossing Millicent back and forth between us, (b) when she saw us wrapping M in newspaper and then putting her into a box and closing the box to watch her escape efforts, and © saw me rolling M onto her back and sliding her across the shiny lino. Then my mother heard that, for (a), M was purring happily, and for (b) and © M asked us to do it again.

I think the Toddler has a bright future in front of him as a certified cat masseuse.

That’s right, Elvis. A cat has got to know his limitations.

Hm. My massage guy plays some new age music, and we talk about baseball. I will have to tell him about the toy car technique, and the associated sounds. Especially “beep beep.”

Unlike many of you, my cats do not wake me up. They are used to having breakfast later, around 9 or 10. Lucy sleeps on my bed, and as soon as I sit up, she comes for her morning rub. (Sometimes I really need to pee; she doesn’t mind as long as I come back). She likes a full backrub ending in the tail, also a gentle belly rub. Motley is more circumspect, sometimes she accepts gentle stroking, but no belly rubs. So after 15 minutes of cat cuddles, I come downstairs to my dogs. They compete for scratches and rubs, for another 15 minutes. So my day is always off to a late start, but it starts in a good way.

Same here, Elvis.

Miao-yin fusses if you pet the top of her head, she only likes cheek and chin skritches, Mokey is pretty fine with everywhere pets, and George is so laid back you can use him as a pillow. The new kitten? Anybody’s guess!

Elvis is always thinking of others.

think i’ll try The Toddler’s meditative chant, it seems to bring him great joy & happiness! wish i had someone to do the car massage part.

Prima donna, are we?

Is it just me, or has this strip run before? Elvis’ comment about having his tail touched seems very familiar.

Good Friday morning, orbsters and orbabies. I think Elvis is being very considerate and self-aware. He does not like to have his tail touched and, therefore, will not go near the toddler. This will keep him from inadvertently hurting the toddler and getting into trouble.

On the home front, everything is quiet. Due to the mail disruptions, several parcels which were supposed to arrive yesterday and/or today have been rescheduled for sometime next week, which delays me getting a couple of things out. Sigh…..

What’s with meesers and their tails? I was at a friends house and his Siamese was sitting on my lap, calm as could be. But, when I accidentally touched his tail, he whipped around and bit me! Not hard, but still!

Fido is the head-butt king. Soon he’ll settle down to lap-level and all is well (with a satisfying purr). O’Malley, on the other hand, is a bit more stand-offish. She does beg for the belly rub, but it can only last a few seconds. She loves ear skritches and a nice stroke along the back. When I get to the base of the tail, a quick tickle gets me the “question mark” tail. Until a few weeks ago no chin skritches would be tolerated, but now it’s OK as long as she’s in the classic sphinx position.

Py The Imperial had issues with having his tail touched. And never once in nearly 17 years did he ever show me his belly or let anybody touch it. TD’s only off limit place are, surprisingly enough his cheeks and ears. Otherwise, you can ruffle his fur any which way you want and he’ll come back for more. Scooby’s feet are ticklish, but otherwise, anything goes. Now my grandcat Daisy, (aka The Real Basement Cat) her entire body is an off limits zone unless you’re my son. Her sister Kiki on the other hand while skittish, once you get her settled she loves a good cat massage.

Love how nonchalant Elvis is about his “attack powers” when one touches his tail.

A lot of cats are a bit cautious when iy comes to their tail!!!

Sometimes Sally acts as if she has no control over her tail….she watches it twitch with increasing annoyance, then attacks it. Or, when she’s curled up for a nap, if the end is twitching she’ll open one eye, put one paw over the end, then close the eye again.

Most cats (and dogs) are terrified of vacuum cleaners. But when I was a kid, we had long-haired “Heinz 57” cat that would come running anytime he heard the vac. He loved having all his loose hair vacuumed off.

One of my young relatives literally grew up with a cat. His mother got a kitten when he was about 7 months old and the earliest picture shows the kitten snoozing beside him in the crib.

Then pictures from age 12 months to about 3 years show them getting into mischief together, never apart.She died when he was about 17 and had literally been his little friend all his life. I credit her with fostering his gentle nature.

But where is that earring thieving mouse!!! The dudes are going to have trouble with the cat standards board over their lack of mousing skills!

One thing about Elvis, he has a very healthy self awareness.

All my cats love to have their tails rubbed. You see they have never been around children and I am always gentle with them unless I have to catch them for a trip to you know where (usually if I leave the carrier with a towel that smells like me for a few days I just have to extricate the cats I don’t want).

Kitten update! Black kitten’s ulcer in her eyes (from the kitty herpes virus) healed and I was given some drops that were a combo steroid and antibiotic for her. They couldn’t give her the steroid before because it impedes healing. That did the trick. I have to get her in good light to make sure but I think the cloudiness is all gone! I’m so glad because it had grown to cover most of her eye.

In other good news, Kira decided yesterday she was ready to face the kitten without a barrier (been graduating from doors closed to gates draped, to gate). She lets kitten know her boundaries and so far kitten is paying attention. I’ve seen a few bops but from the kittens reaction they were soft and claws in. To be expected. I’ve been able to engage both in play around the corner from each other and last night Kira even engaged in a separated chase game (kitten on the floor and she went along the furniture). It was definitely play and not agression. So proud of everyone!

Bet Elvis makes an exception for His Baby Girl…

Sis says Onyx will stay in the Kitty Condo (AKA the bathroom) for another couple of weeks (a full flea life cycle) just to make sure all the fleas are gone. Sis is spending a lot of time in there with her & says “It sure beats a cage in a shelter!” The two of them seem to be bonding pretty well – the other day sis sent a pic of her foot with Onyx zonked out across it. “Guess I’m stuck…”

I read an article lately that claimed to have the rules on how not to pet your cat. Never touch the belly, the tail, the base of the tail, etc… I think the only correct part of the whole article was the last paragraph, which said, “The cat will tell you what is acceptable and what is not.” The author should have skipped the whole rest of it and just written that conclusion.

The only thing missing is Puck’s motor running in the middle panel. “PURRRRR! PURRRRR!”

Goldie update. It’s a slide show, so click the white arrow on the right side of the first photo to see the next ones.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqQETkMlH5A/

Somehow I’m not surprised about Elvis’s tail.