I'd like to put a disclaimer on the next four paragraphs by saying if you're not really "into cats," I suggest you skip over them. For at the risk of being labeled eccentric or odd, I'm going to take an excerpt from a book I purchased a number of years ago, "The Natural Cat, A Holistic Guide for Finicky Owners," by Anitra Frazier with Norma Eckroate. It tells how to communicate to your cat that you're a friend and not a foe. This book has some really good, if slightly off the wall suggestions.

The chapter on communicating with your cat is what I've had lots of fun with, however. One dimension in interacting with your cat is throwing a "cat kiss," it says, I don't know as I'd go so far as calling it a kiss, but it really does work. A cat kiss is a long, slow blink with your gaze and attention fixed on the cat's eyes before, during, and after the blink.

I started blinking, don't laugh, at my cats and other cats I encountered while visiting others, especially at my son's apartment complex which is overrun with cats. The first time the cat may give you the impression of being surprised. Keep on doing it and you will get a blink back in return, maybe some body language showing the cat would like to be petted. I believe it conveys to cats that you're not a threat if they don't know you. Outside cats are probably mistreated a lot, making them wary of being friendly. To my cats it must say that I'm pleased with them and also, "Hey, she speaks Cat!"

Crystal responds by blinking back at me, sometimes to a degree which makes her look silly and squinty-eyed, as if her eyes are sore. I'm interpreting this to say she loves me "this much" much the way we spread our arms wide when saying it. I would never make light of her by laughing. Cats are very vain creatures and I would certainly hurt her feelings if I laughed.

Copyright © Betty Craiglow
March 8, 2004