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CAT LOVERS - fess up! Do you enjoy playing mind games with your cat?

 
MartianPrincess
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09/10/2013 11:20 AM
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CAT LOVERS - fess up! Do you enjoy playing mind games with your cat?
I know there's a lot of cat lovers on here (as well as tons of cat haters) so I wanted to compare notes with you guys.

I have a background in psych so it's fascinating to try to understand how their minds work. Does anyone play "spy kitty"? That's when you make eye contact with the cat and quickly hide out of their sight. Then after a second or two you pop up again, make eye contact again and quickly disappear - cats hate not knowing what's going on so they'll start getting closer to investigate. This is how you can play "green light red light" with them. If you don't know what that is, check out this video:

I like making anthropological observations of their behavior. I know this makes me sound like an old crazy cat lady, but I'm really more interested in understanding their behavior. I have noticed that if you whisper to a cat, you'll have its attention, not sure why that is. It has to be a loud whisper, but they seem to be intrigued by the sound. I've also noticed that cats like peer pressure.... I know it sounds crazy but it's true and I'd like to ask some of you with multiple cats to try it and let me know what your findings are. A stray cat we had temporarily taken in had a litter of 7 kittens which are now 2 months old and I hand-raised, so I get to observe all kinds of kitten mischief and cat culture. I have noticed that if you egg a cat on, they'll totally go for it.. say kitty spots a ball of yarn on the ground and is contemplating getting it, if you sit and pressure him by saying "do it, kitty", "go get it, kitty", "come on, kitty", "do it kitty, do it!" they will almost always immediately act on it. I first noticed this with my old cat Zeus, and I have noticed it as well with these kittens. Also, if they're feeling particularly playful and pouncey, and cat A walks by cat B and I tell cat B "go get him kitty", he'll do it about 75% of the time. I'd like to know if anyone else has tried this and if it worked.

I'd love to hear any other observations or anecdotes from fellow cat observers, please feel free to share! hf
Occam's Razor, morans!
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09/10/2013 11:23 AM
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Re: CAT LOVERS - fess up! Do you enjoy playing mind games with your cat?
Yes with magnets... ie magic
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09/10/2013 11:29 AM
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Re: CAT LOVERS - fess up! Do you enjoy playing mind games with your cat?
I love to take something shiny and reflect the sun off the walls in my apartment. It drives my oldest cat crazy, he will paw at the funny light and eventually get mad that he can't catch it and hiss at it.
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09/10/2013 11:31 AM
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Re: CAT LOVERS - fess up! Do you enjoy playing mind games with your cat?
I do that often yes.
Anonymous Coward
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09/10/2013 11:37 AM
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Re: CAT LOVERS - fess up! Do you enjoy playing mind games with your cat?
Haha! I do the red light-green light thing all the time! Its even better after a little catnip! 1rof1
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09/10/2013 11:45 AM
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Re: CAT LOVERS - fess up! Do you enjoy playing mind games with your cat?
Yes, we play chess and dominoes all the time together.
MartianPrincess  (OP)

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09/10/2013 11:47 AM
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Re: CAT LOVERS - fess up! Do you enjoy playing mind games with your cat?
Yes, we play chess and dominoes all the time together.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 46619519


angryface
Occam's Razor, morans!
MartianPrincess  (OP)

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Re: CAT LOVERS - fess up! Do you enjoy playing mind games with your cat?
I love to take something shiny and reflect the sun off the walls in my apartment. It drives my oldest cat crazy, he will paw at the funny light and eventually get mad that he can't catch it and hiss at it.
 Quoting: chuckles45


That's too funny. My old cat wouldn't bother to chase it, he'd look at it, then look at me like, "Really?".
@catnip AC - Catnip is awesome, I shall try your method soon.

The kittens we have now are very dog-like - they follow us around and then get on their backs wanting their bellies rubbed. I wonder if it's because they've grown up with our golden retriever? Do you all think it's possible for different species to learn from each other?
Occam's Razor, morans!
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Re: CAT LOVERS - fess up! Do you enjoy playing mind games with your cat?
Yes, we play chess and dominoes all the time together.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 46619519


Trouble is, the cat always wins!


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Re: CAT LOVERS - fess up! Do you enjoy playing mind games with your cat?
There is nothing more fun than pissing a cat off and then getting your arm shredded by their claws. A cat will remember what you are doing and then plot their attack when you aren't expecting it.
UnHappy Burnee
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09/10/2013 12:04 PM
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Re: CAT LOVERS - fess up! Do you enjoy playing mind games with your cat?
hf for being an animal lover but more so for being a cat owner.

you said 'I have noticed that if you egg a cat on, they'll totally go for it'. I couldnt agree more and if whispered too, that gets good results or so it seems. Spy kitty was played once during an acid trip and with a little tabby. (Hours of fun in a maisonette @ 2am).

With our kitty, she used to wolf her biscuits down without crunching/breaking them up. Believe me or not but if I say 'crunch' 'crunch' 'crunch', she does, she breaks them up before swallowing. She'll also sit on my stereo, stare at me intently till got my full attention and kind of licks her lips/makes a chomping sound as a signal for some treats.

Ive also demonstrated the 'telepathic' link by asking her to come home by just thinking the command, to turn up minutes later from somewhere outside. Its no fluke, she knows and smiles in her sleep. Methinks its a happy cat.

uHB
MartianPrincess  (OP)

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09/10/2013 12:10 PM
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Re: CAT LOVERS - fess up! Do you enjoy playing mind games with your cat?
hf for being an animal lover but more so for being a cat owner.

you said 'I have noticed that if you egg a cat on, they'll totally go for it'. I couldnt agree more and if whispered too, that gets good results or so it seems. Spy kitty was played once during an acid trip and with a little tabby. (Hours of fun in a maisonette @ 2am).

With our kitty, she used to wolf her biscuits down without crunching/breaking them up. Believe me or not but if I say 'crunch' 'crunch' 'crunch', she does, she breaks them up before swallowing. She'll also sit on my stereo, stare at me intently till got my full attention and kind of licks her lips/makes a chomping sound as a signal for some treats.

Ive also demonstrated the 'telepathic' link by asking her to come home by just thinking the command, to turn up minutes later from somewhere outside. Its no fluke, she knows and smiles in her sleep. Methinks its a happy cat.

uHB
 Quoting: UnHappy Burnee 44683239


Awesome!! Thank you for sharing this... I'm really intrigued about this "peer pressure" thing with cats now. The "crunch, crunch, crunch" bit is hilarious... I wonder if I can get mine to chew faster if I sit there and repeat it over and over. Lol.

Sounds like your cat is quite the happy little fella. Good job! hf

ETA: OMG - I too noticed that if you whisper the peer pressure, it works even better. Wow!

Last Edited by MartianPrimate on 09/10/2013 12:31 PM
Occam's Razor, morans!
MartianPrincess  (OP)

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09/10/2013 12:14 PM
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Re: CAT LOVERS - fess up! Do you enjoy playing mind games with your cat?
There is nothing more fun than pissing a cat off and then getting your arm shredded by their claws. A cat will remember what you are doing and then plot their attack when you aren't expecting it.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 46434560


ohyeah
I also like the looks they give when we piss them off. My older cat, whom I adopted at 3 months old and is now 8 gives me this look that says "what a BITCH" when I tell him to get off furniture or not to scratch someplace. He understands "food" "water" "outside" "inside" "there's no food right now" (this is when he gives me that look). Fucking cats want a buffet open 24/7 - I don't wanna be scooping up poop all day so I try to establish mealtimes.
Occam's Razor, morans!
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09/10/2013 12:24 PM
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Re: CAT LOVERS - fess up! Do you enjoy playing mind games with your cat?
Can I play with your kitty?
eekers
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09/10/2013 12:26 PM

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Re: CAT LOVERS - fess up! Do you enjoy playing mind games with your cat?
Ha! I gotta try spy kitty.

i do play with them with a laser pen, they love it. I usually reserve that for when i have to lure them out of a hiding place, it seems to be the only thing that works.

here are my fluffy kittehs

fatboycatbahhubug
"We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time." - T. S. Eliot
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Re: CAT LOVERS - fess up! Do you enjoy playing mind games with your cat?
I have a compassionate kitty. Whenever I am not feeling well or am injured, she stays right next to me at all times.

I had influenza last winter; she only left my bed to eat or go potty. She was right back next to me as soon as she took care of her necessities.
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Re: CAT LOVERS - fess up! Do you enjoy playing mind games with your cat?
My cat plays mind games with me. grumpy2
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MartianPrincess  (OP)

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09/10/2013 12:34 PM
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Re: CAT LOVERS - fess up! Do you enjoy playing mind games with your cat?
Ha! I gotta try spy kitty.

i do play with them with a laser pen, they love it. I usually reserve that for when i have to lure them out of a hiding place, it seems to be the only thing that works.

here are my fluffy kittehs

fatboycatbahhubug
 Quoting: eekers



Aww your fluffy babies are adorable. :)
You have a kittler too? What's he like?
Occam's Razor, morans!
eekers
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09/10/2013 12:39 PM

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Re: CAT LOVERS - fess up! Do you enjoy playing mind games with your cat?
Ha! I gotta try spy kitty.

i do play with them with a laser pen, they love it. I usually reserve that for when i have to lure them out of a hiding place, it seems to be the only thing that works.

here are my fluffy kittehs

fatboycatbahhubug
 Quoting: eekers



Aww your fluffy babies are adorable. :)
You have a kittler too? What's he like?
 Quoting: MartianPrincess


ha! yeah My kittler is a grumpy cat most of the time, but she loves to be picked up. I think she might be bipolar though bc she'll come to you for love but then bite the crap out of you. the other two are sweet as pie and wouldn't hurt a fly.
"We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time." - T. S. Eliot
MartianPrincess  (OP)

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09/10/2013 12:40 PM
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Re: CAT LOVERS - fess up! Do you enjoy playing mind games with your cat?
I have a compassionate kitty. Whenever I am not feeling well or am injured, she stays right next to me at all times.

I had influenza last winter; she only left my bed to eat or go potty. She was right back next to me as soon as she took care of her necessities.
 Quoting: Lady Jane Smith


Hey beautiful friend, good to see you! :) That is so sweet of your kitty, taking care of you. Is she fairly even tempered? You know, my older kitty did that all the time when he was younger; I remember one time he started laying by my side and not wanting to leave me, so I thought that was weird and a few days later I got really, really sick. He always stuck around if I was feeling sad or if I was sick. Do you think they can sense something is amiss? Their senses are obviously more finely attuned.
Occam's Razor, morans!
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09/10/2013 12:42 PM
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Re: CAT LOVERS - fess up! Do you enjoy playing mind games with your cat?
I know there's a lot of cat lovers on here (as well as tons of cat haters) so I wanted to compare notes with you guys.

I have a background in psych so it's fascinating to try to understand how their minds work. Does anyone play "spy kitty"? That's when you make eye contact with the cat and quickly hide out of their sight. Then after a second or two you pop up again, make eye contact again and quickly disappear - cats hate not knowing what's going on so they'll start getting closer to investigate. This is how you can play "green light red light" with them. If you don't know what that is, check out this video:

I like making anthropological observations of their behavior. I know this makes me sound like an old crazy cat lady, but I'm really more interested in understanding their behavior. I have noticed that if you whisper to a cat, you'll have its attention, not sure why that is. It has to be a loud whisper, but they seem to be intrigued by the sound. I've also noticed that cats like peer pressure.... I know it sounds crazy but it's true and I'd like to ask some of you with multiple cats to try it and let me know what your findings are. A stray cat we had temporarily taken in had a litter of 7 kittens which are now 2 months old and I hand-raised, so I get to observe all kinds of kitten mischief and cat culture. I have noticed that if you egg a cat on, they'll totally go for it.. say kitty spots a ball of yarn on the ground and is contemplating getting it, if you sit and pressure him by saying "do it, kitty", "go get it, kitty", "come on, kitty", "do it kitty, do it!" they will almost always immediately act on it. I first noticed this with my old cat Zeus, and I have noticed it as well with these kittens. Also, if they're feeling particularly playful and pouncey, and cat A walks by cat B and I tell cat B "go get him kitty", he'll do it about 75% of the time. I dont own a kat but my 18 does.

I'd love to hear any other observations or anecdotes from fellow cat observers, please feel free to share! hf
 Quoting: MartianPrincess
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09/10/2013 01:27 PM
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Re: CAT LOVERS - fess up! Do you enjoy playing mind games with your cat?
A good thing to try is to think things and see if they react. Cat telepathy!
If you look at them and blink and look away it is what cats do when they like you.
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Re: CAT LOVERS - fess up! Do you enjoy playing mind games with your cat?
Very nice, OP! I have 2 cats myself and I play a lot with them and also have certain rituals.
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Re: CAT LOVERS - fess up! Do you enjoy playing mind games with your cat?
I am under his mind control. He trips me if I don't give him a spoon of milk, scratches me if I don't let him feed the fish and scratches the door to open it. He is a cruel drifter.
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Re: CAT LOVERS - fess up! Do you enjoy playing mind games with your cat?
I have a compassionate kitty. Whenever I am not feeling well or am injured, she stays right next to me at all times.

I had influenza last winter; she only left my bed to eat or go potty. She was right back next to me as soon as she took care of her necessities.
 Quoting: Lady Jane Smith


Not only that, they know where your health problem is. When I'm ill in bed, my cat leans against the part of my body that is in pain and stays there a long time. They can heal some diseases.
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Re: CAT LOVERS - fess up! Do you enjoy playing mind games with your cat?
I love to take something shiny and reflect the sun off the walls in my apartment. It drives my oldest cat crazy, he will paw at the funny light and eventually get mad that he can't catch it and hiss at it.
 Quoting: chuckles45


That's too funny. My old cat wouldn't bother to chase it, he'd look at it, then look at me like, "Really?".
@catnip AC - Catnip is awesome, I shall try your method soon.

The kittens we have now are very dog-like - they follow us around and then get on their backs wanting their bellies rubbed. I wonder if it's because they've grown up with our golden retriever? Do you all think it's possible for different species to learn from each other?
 Quoting: MartianPrincess


Yes, they do learn from each other.
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Re: CAT LOVERS - fess up! Do you enjoy playing mind games with your cat?
My cat plays mind games with me. grumpy2
 Quoting: TheEndIsNigh2013


Never forget, they're the ones who are in charge.

When I am being thoughtless and hurting one of my cats' feelings, my "conscience" goes and sulks in the bathroom till I "get it." It's very effective. He hasn't had to do that for a long time now. He has taught me a lot!

P.S. They understand a lot of our speech - when they want to!
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09/10/2013 02:06 PM
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Re: CAT LOVERS - fess up! Do you enjoy playing mind games with your cat?
We actually rescue cats and have kept the ones that we couldn't find their "forever homes". It's amazing how different all their personalities are. We play the red light green light game, hide and seek, laser tag and they actually have a whole toy box full of cat toys. Yes, they are spoiled! Some are cuddle bunnies, some are end of the bed loungers, 3 of them are big time talkers and one thinks he is still a baby and wants to be held all the time (he's 4 years old now but we got him when he was about 3 weeks so basically bottle fed him etc...). Most of them for some odd reason sleep on their backs with their legs sprawled out, guess it's comfortable to them. It can be bit expensive and time consuming taking care of them but well worth it. I can't imagine my life without them. Three cheers to all the animal lovers and rescuers out there!!! hfmoshpit
CharlestonSC

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09/10/2013 02:11 PM
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Re: CAT LOVERS - fess up! Do you enjoy playing mind games with your cat?
My cat plays mind games with me. grumpy2
 Quoting: TheEndIsNigh2013


Never forget, they're the ones who are in charge.

When I am being thoughtless and hurting one of my cats' feelings, my "conscience" goes and sulks in the bathroom till I "get it." It's very effective. He hasn't had to do that for a long time now. He has taught me a lot!

P.S. They understand a lot of our speech - when they want to!
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 32008295



Yes, they do understand a lot more of what we say than people realize. And yes, they ARE the ones "charge". I actually get the "eat sh#!" look from one of mine when i piss her off. Those are the nights i want to sleep with one eye open. Too funnylolsign
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09/10/2013 02:13 PM
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Re: CAT LOVERS - fess up! Do you enjoy playing mind games with your cat?
We actually rescue cats and have kept the ones that we couldn't find their "forever homes". It's amazing how different all their personalities are. We play the red light green light game, hide and seek, laser tag and they actually have a whole toy box full of cat toys. Yes, they are spoiled! Some are cuddle bunnies, some are end of the bed loungers, 3 of them are big time talkers and one thinks he is still a baby and wants to be held all the time (he's 4 years old now but we got him when he was about 3 weeks so basically bottle fed him etc...). Most of them for some odd reason sleep on their backs with their legs sprawled out, guess it's comfortable to them. It can be bit expensive and time consuming taking care of them but well worth it. I can't imagine my life without them. Three cheers to all the animal lovers and rescuers out there!!! hfmoshpit
 Quoting: CharlestonSC


Yes! Before I knew them up close, I thought all of them were the same. But no, they are full beings being cats now, and each one has a different character.
CharlestonSC

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Re: CAT LOVERS - fess up! Do you enjoy playing mind games with your cat?
My cat plays mind games with me. grumpy2
 Quoting: TheEndIsNigh2013


rofl





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