Cats see things we don't

Not just another pretty face, Tiny is a mindreader. We're loading up the car with Chelsea Baked Beans and baggage for the ride up to Goomp's for Beans 'n' Franks tonight and Memorial Day Cookout tomorrow, and already she's suspicious. Note slightly turned-back left ear and intense inward-focused stare. Cats are hyperattuned to their surroundings, always ready at a moment's notice for fight or flight.

Tiny and Baby despise riding in the car, and whenever they think they might have to, Tiny -- especially -- makes herself scarce. A "sixth sense" always seems to figure it out just before we're about to grab her, so every time we're about to head up to Goomp's, we make a game of trying to outwit the crafty feline, self-consciously acting and talking "normal," even resorting to using hand signals to warn each other that she might be on to us.

Her favorite maneuver is to run upstairs and hide under the master bed, a huge Cottage Style Victorian just wide enough that if a cat huddles right in the middle, neither of us can quite reach her.  So far, we're blogging to try to throw her off the track, and it seems to be working.  We'll post now and report back once we're at Goomp's to report how it went.

Update:  It worked! A Miss Moppet moment as Tiny realized there was no escape.  Now she'll be suspicious every time we approach her for the next period of time. But meanwhile, we're Down East, and Tiny and Baby are taking full advantage of free-range privileges.

Comments

[Mr.Kurtz]

I can't find the reference, but there is a charming story from Konrad Lorenz about the ESP-like senses of animals.

His Alsation, Tito, always knew exactly when Lorenz was taking her for a walk and would eagerly trot to the door and wait expectantly for the leash and her outing. When he was going out without her, she wouldn't stir.

Being the good experimentalist (and no mean observer of animal behaviour) Lorenz embarked on the natural experiment. For several weeks, he regularly began the pre-walk routine - leash, coat and all, but with no intention of taking the dog.

The dog didn't stir. Not once.

My cats always know the difference between my going outside and my leaving the property.

Have a great weekend!

[Sissy Willis]

Wow. Fascinating. You have a great weekend, too. :)

[Janette]

My kitty always wants to ride. He gets exicted when he finds out the dog is going somewhere and he always wants to go along with his 50blb best friend. Problem is he gets car sick after about 5 miles. I swear the poor orange kitty turns green and if we don't get him on solid ground fast . . . well, let's just say it's messy. But the next time the "pack" goes for a ride he wants to go again.

[Hal]

I have known cats are psychic since I was
11. I have one that knows when I am sad and jumps into my lap. Her purr heals too.
Nature has its ways with us. We need to listen to her.