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Yesterday I said, \u201cWhat a different and interesting world it would be if a cat could say more than MEOW.\u201d Wouldn\u2019t it be fun and fascinating to hear a cat\u2019s stories from the cat herself\u2014where was she born, who were her parents, where did she live, how did she end up on the street (in a dumpster, under a car, in your neighborhood, in the stables, in a field, at a shelter)? All we can do is guess at where she came from and how she got there.<\/p>\n
When you take in a cat, however, and spend every![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/catMillicentsFancy-289x300.jpg\")
morning, noon, and night with her, you begin to understand what her MEOW means, what her looks and stance and sound and body language mean. My daughters when they were young were astounded that I knew what our cats wanted. \u201cOh, you want out?\u201d I\u2019d say to the cat and she\u2019d walk to the door and I\u2019d let her out (years ago, mind you\u2014before I became a believer in the total house cat). The cat would rub against my leg while I\u2019m in the kitchen and I\u2019d say, \u201cOh, are you hungry?\u201d I\u2019d feed her and she would eat.<\/p>\n
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\u201cHow do you know what the cat says?\u201d my daughters would ask me. Most of you reading this know the answer. Or do we? I always thought it was a matter of observation. If the cat is at the door meowing, she wants out, right? If she comes into the kitchen with you and engages you, she\u2019s probably hungry. If she\u2019s racing around the house or brings you a toy, she wants to play. If she climbs up into your lap, she wants to snuggle. It\u2019s simple, right?<\/p>\n
Over the years I\u2019ve changed my mind a bit on that subject. I think there\u2019s more to it than that. Have you ever had a cat comfort you when you\u2019re distraught? ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/lilyyawncutesing-e1578656755900-225x300.jpg\")
Does your cat sometimes respond to your command or even a thought of a command? Mind-talk. I\u2019m a firm believer in mind talk with cats\u2014at least some cats.<\/p>\n
How many times have you thought about going into the kitchen to feed your cat, when she crawls out from under the sofa, stretches, and either meows at you or walks into the kitchen expecting you to follow? For those of you who take your cat outside, do you sometimes just think, \u201cI think I\u2019ll go outside and do a little pruning,\u201d and here comes the cat trotting into the room looking eagerly at you? Is she reading your mind? Probably.<\/p>\n
I had a reluctant cat once crawl out from under a corner table where she was hiding and into a carrier after I used mind-talk with her. Yeah, it\u2019s a thing. Try it. I\u2019d love to hear your mind-talk stories.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Yesterday I said, \u201cWhat a different and interesting world it would be if a cat could say more than MEOW.\u201d Wouldn\u2019t it be fun and fascinating to hear a cat\u2019s stories from the cat herself\u2014where was she born, who were … Continue reading