Sophie's World

“When you’re used to hearing purring and suddenly it’s gone, it’s hard to silence the blaring sound of sadness.”
~Missy Altijd

Photo by Smudgie’s Ghost

“A cat can maintain a position of curled up somnolence on your knee until you are nearly upright. To the last minute she hopes your conscience will get the better of you and you will settle down again.“
Pam Brown

Photo by theogeo

Sophie’s in luck: our catnip plant is in flower. Dozens of blossoms are ready to be harvested and dried. She will have enough catnip to last for months.

Catnip is an interesting plant. It is a perennial. You’ll often find it on disturbed areas like the sides of a trail. Whenever we’re out walking, I’ll keep an eye for it. Trust me, it’s everywhere. Funny, Sophie always knows when I’ve picked some. She’s right there, searching for it when we come home. That’s probably not a difficult task since the scent can be quite strong.

Sophie rather enjoys the hallucinogenic effect of the catnip. She reacts immediately when I put some on the floor for her, rolling around with her eyes all dilated. She’ll bat at it, sniff it, lick it, and finally eat it. She’s actually quite amusing to watch.

The ingredient that causes the effect is nepetalactone. The sniffing initializes its effect. Eating the catnip will affect a cat like a sedative, as it does in people. In fact, the folklore reports that catnip was given to children that couldn’t sleep. A bit of nip, and they were down for the night.

I suppose that I give it to her for a similar reason. When she’s peevish or being a pest, I’ll give her a bit to occupy herself. Those moments usually come when I’m trying to cook dinner and she wants to play. She has her bit of fun. I get dinner on the table. It’s a win-win situation.

Our little catnip plant is not so little anymore. Though it attracts bees, it repels the mosquitoes, give and take. Well, when the flowers are harvested, the bees will be gone–and so will the bugs!

Photo by cygnus921

“Cats seem to go on the principle that it never does any harm to ask for what you want.”
~Joseph Wood Krutch

Photo by Georgio

For many cat owners, the news that cats use vocalizations to manipulate humans and get what they want is not a news story. We know it. Cats know it. Finally, researchers have figured it out: cats are intelligent and can learn.

I know my Sophie vocalizes differently to communicate her moods, which usually fall in the guise of “I’m hungry” or “When are you going to get on the couch?” It’s all in the pitch and tone of her vocalizations. I’m intelligent too. I’ve made the association between what she’s vocalizing and what she’s communicating.

The most recent study recognizes the scenario that cat owners know well–the cat detecting you’re awake and finding your head a good place to land. The study states that your head is the best place to position themselves to best hear their plea. Of course it is. Cats know this. They observe. It only makes sense that an animal closer to its evolutionary roots that it should be able to adapt quickly.

There’s another angle to this story. If your cat is indoors only, they are well-acquainted with the routine of the house. A change is easily observed. Just trying pulling out the cat carrier next time you have to take Kitty to the vet and see what happens. Likewise, they learn what works. They cry. You respond. Ah, a new way to get fed sooner.

So, next time you’re unable to hide the fact that you’re still asleep from your cat, remember it’s just another example of how intelligent and adaptable your cat is.

Photo by theogeo