How domesticated are your cats?

[Guaranteed]

I have four cats. Three of them are really great, and while they love us, they aren't so comfortable with us that we can really "roughhouse" with them much. They get sick of it or scared pretty quick and run away.

But, my fourth cat, Smitty- well, THIS guy tolerates just about anything. I consider him the most domesticated, because he sits in our laps and lets us pick him up and make him "dance" or hold him upside down or act out other things, like "flying." He really doesn't seem to mind it. I guess he just thinks he's human or something, and we're his real parents.

How about you guys? What's the playing threshold with them? What does it take to get them to run away?

Any theories on the behavioral differences between cats?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. One alows me to pet her

That's Fluffy. The others run away when I look like I'm going to pet them. They are all outside cats, and ran off the one who would allow me to pick her up and cuddle her.

[shrike]

2. Our cats won't leave us alone

They sit on us, follow us around the house. They've got to be in every room we are in.

[Spinzonner]

3. Have you checked for a pulse (his, not yours) lately ?

[Guaranteed]

6. LOL he's actually very active.

He's just really submissive, too, I guess. Seems to enjoy it, sometimes.

[Spinzonner]

8. This is beginning to sound a bit

like a Sado-Masochistic relationship.

Of course, that can be said of most cat-human relationships but the cat is usually dominant ,,,

[Guaranteed]

9. The other three use the whips and chains on US. nt

[patdem]

4. Well, I got one sleeping on top of the monitor, one on the chair beside

me and one on the chair behind me. The other is somewhere in the house, and is usually sleeping on the desk. In fact I have room for all four cats top of monitor, on top of the printer, top of desk (deep desk) side of desk (desk is long) and that is where they usually stay when I am on the computer, which is about 90% of my time home..and then they follow me into the bedroom when I go to bed. One on a chair one or two on the bed and the other maybe on top of the dresser depending on how cold it is..the higher the better for that one! She has even jumped on top of the door and loves it! :hi: Cat lover here!

[Spinzonner]

10. Better keep them well fed

Don't forget they're carnivores.

SOunds to me like they're just keeping close track of a contingency meal ...

[Jeebo]

5. That's one of the things I love about cats...

...and one of the reasons I love cats even more than I love dogs. I read something about cats somewhere once years and years ago that I never will forget. The author said that even the tamest domestic house cat is always "stalking the jungle's edge." They were domesticated by humans much more recently than dogs were, and so they are instinctively closer to their feral origins. This is why cats are a lot more independent and less slavish than dogs are. A lot of people see this attitude in cats and describe them as "aloof." I always respond that cats aren't aloof, they're noble, they're regal. They have this attitude that says to me, "I like you and I like staying with you and I want to be your friend. But I won't be your slave. I am somebody too, I am important too, and your recognition and acceptance of that fact is one of the ground rules I am establishing as a condition of our relationship."

So, to answer your question, my cat likes affection that is bestowed upon him while he is on his own feet. But anything that goes beyond that ... well, he barely tolerates being picked up and hugged, and that only for a few seconds. He wouldn't put up with any of the silly, stupid bullshit that humans so often try to inflict on their pets. I've never tried to inflict any of that bullshit on him, but I don't have to try it to know that.

Ron

[Guaranteed]

7. We're just playing with him, though...

In fact, the really odd thing is that we play with him in much the same way as one would play with a baby...my girlfriend holds Smitty in her lap with her arms around him in almost EXACTLY the same way one would hold a baby in one's lap, sitting up....

[Allenberg]

11. My cats are contrasts of each other

My 18 month old fat male cat loves attention and affection, and will sleep next to my wife at night, and by me during the day (I work nights). My 2.5 year old female is very cautious about recieving affection, despite having her for over a year and a half. She wants attention on her terms, and her terms only, and will walk away with her nose in the air when she's sick of me or my wife. She even used to randomly bite my wife in the ankle, but has always favored me.

hehe.