DEAR JOAN: I don’t understand my cat. Sometimes she rolls on her back and lets me scratch and rub her tummy, but other times when I try it, she rips my hand to shreds.
I can’t tell when she wants belly rubs and when she doesn’t. Is there a secret cat code?
Al G., San Jose
DEAR AL: Yes there is a secret cat code, and no, we humans aren’t allowed to know it.
Here’s the best we can do — treat every belly proffer with skepticism and fear. That’s because for the most part, cats do not enjoy having their bellies rubbed, even when they offer them up.
Unlike dogs, who brazenly offer their bellies at the drop of a hat, cats are way more protective. The stomach is the cat’s most vulnerable spot, and they are hardwired to guard it with all the gusto of a 290-pound linebacker protecting his quarterback.
That doesn’t mean, however, that they don’t sometimes lose their heads and let us touch that forbidden bit of flesh. You pretty much have to start the belly rubs when they are kittens. When a cat presents its stomach to you, it’s a sign they have confidence in you, even though we all know cats have trust issues.
When your kitty rolls on her back and tempts you to reach out, take a look at her overall demeanor. Is she calm and relaxed? Are her claws sheathed? If so, she might be welcoming your touch, until that fateful moment when she isn’t.
On the other hand, if she’s tense and feisty, back away. It’s a trap. Actually, it’s an indication she wants to play, but by now, you know better than that. Try rubbing a plush toy near her face and engage in that way, but don’t touch the tummy unless you’ve got a whole box of bandages nearby.
DEAR JOAN: I was just reading your response to the cat owner whose cat only drank from wet leaves and sprinklers in lieu of their water dish.
It may be doing that because the cat feels the placement of the water dish is unacceptable. I had a similar issue with my wonderful cat, Smokey. She preferred the leaky tub spout to water in any kind of dish, including one of those expensive fountains.
The problem wasn’t the dish, it was the placement of the dish next to her food dish. I tried putting the water dish at the opposite end of the kitchen and voila! She had no issues drinking from the dish.
She didn’t care that it was more efficient and aesthetically pleasing that her water and food dish were together, she wanted it the way she wanted it. But we could finally get that leaky tub spout fixed!
James J Gough, Monterrey
DEAR JAMES: It’s probably some feline feng shui.
DEAR JOAN: About the person who complained about his neighbors feeding the crows, this is a perfect problem for mediation.
I am part of a trained volunteer group in Marin. We offer free mediation. There is also a group, Seeds, in Berkeley. I am sure there are others in other Bay Area locations.
Ellen, Marin
DEAR ELLEN: I learn a lot from my readers, and mediation is an excellent option. What’s more, there are many organizations throughout the Bay Area that can help when both sides agree to it. Thanks for letting us know.
Contact Joan Morris at jmorris@bayareanewsgroup.com.
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Source: www.mercurynews.com