Stepping out onto the terrace late afternoon to check on the animals, we addressed the Chelsea Grays with sweet nothings, and each in succession honored us with a big, pink social yawn (see Tiny, below). Our camera's eye missed the Babe's yawn but caught this classic feline moment (above) of suspended animation as he set the Think System on automatic during the countdown to supper. 'Reminds us of one of our favorite paintings -- blogged here and here -- an American primitive from the Karolik Collection of our own Boston Museum of Fine Arts that appears to portray a bird's-eye view of a cat.
Tiny's classical interpretation of the social yawn calls to mind the misnamed lion's "roar" of many a "nature" photograph. The yawn and the roar (scroll down) are two different things altogether, as the body language reveals to the patient field naturalist:
Yawn (left) vs roar. (Cathy McKinty photo left, whozoo.org photo right)
In our wild Serengeti rides of yore, the local lions, bored with the ubiquitous tourists as long as they didn't get out of their vehicles -- at which point they became fair game -- were often seen in the very pose of Tiny, above. We interpret Tiny's and Baby's yawns not as expressions of boredom, of course, but as signals of good-humored greeting to fellow members of their pride [AKA Grandma and Grandpa].
Tiny's yawn is truly classic.
Posted by: goomp | August 18, 2006 at 04:39 PM
I am kitty ... hear me roar, err, yawn. hehe.
Posted by: Marcy | August 18, 2006 at 05:00 PM
Check your email when you get a chance Sissy. I've sent you some info.
Posted by: Laura Lee Donoho | August 19, 2006 at 12:21 AM
wonderful post...
did you see this amusing Feline?
Cat Flushing...
Posted by: hNAV | August 19, 2006 at 03:02 PM
Cats gotta flush, birds gotta fly . . .
Posted by: Sissy Willis | August 19, 2006 at 03:08 PM
I love the contented look... but there's not much difference between Tiny's yawn and his much larger cousin. ;)
Posted by: pam | August 20, 2006 at 02:32 PM
There is something so wonderful about a pink-nosed kitty! Sam the magnificent (all 25 pounds of him) is a pink nosed kitty! Not that I love Tim (the blue point Siamese angel) any less - it's just that Sam is somehow more enchanting to me!
Tiny's yawn is a duplicate of one that I see at least 2-3 times daily at my house! Sam's hobby is sleeping! Tim's hobby is finding new ways in which to snuggle up to me. He is currently perching on top of my recliner, resting his head on top of my head, and becomes very incensed if I dare to move! Cats are neverending sources of fascination.
Posted by: Gayle Miller | August 21, 2006 at 10:11 AM
I would hate to see those big lions angry at anyone! Thankfully kitties are safe. Liz Barton has some interesting ideas on cat behavior. You can get in contact with her via her website if you're interested in training your friend :)
Posted by: Eathen Richardson | December 17, 2008 at 08:16 PM
Not only does the yawn speak of our place in their pride but also the bowing stretch and my favorite, the erect tail.
My ususal habit/pattern is to feed the chickens first and the goose 'goes off' with her demands. This signals the barn cats to trek up through the orchard to the back steps and wait for me to head to the barn for feeding. After much greeting and stroking at the steps I 'round them up' with my "comeon kitties" and we head down the path to the barn. They string out in a line, most in front and some behind but all of them walking with their tails up. If I see one down I just call them by name and their greeting tail pops up. What a delight.
Posted by: Clarence Close | June 08, 2010 at 04:31 PM