Tuesday, September 11, 2012

How to Talk to Your Pet




The baby, Jolly, and his elder brohter, 20-lb. Rocky
If you have pets, you know how fun and enlightening a conversation with them can be.
My twenty-pound, orange and white cat, Rocky clambers onto the loveseat while I’m reading. His nose nudges my hand. “Meowrrr?” he says.
“What’s that, Rocky?”
“Meowrrr?” he says again. He probably thinks I should have listened the first time, and then he wouldn’t need to repeat himself.
I force my gaze from the book to scratch his head. His amber eyes glisten with joy. I once read in a mini-paperback while waiting at the checkout counter that cats hear high tones better than low ones.
I want to make sure Rocky knows I care, so I raise my voice three notches.  “What’s goin’ on today?” I squeak.
“Meow,” he says, closing his eyes. Is he disgusted at my Minnie Mouse talk, or in kitty heaven?
 Just to make sure, I switch to baby talk. “Tell me all about it, Rocks. I know you understand these things.”  
He purrs, and arches his back. Good—it’s kitty heaven. “Meow,” he answers.
“That’s wonderful,” I chirp, “I’m so glad to hear it.” I return to my book, still petting him in an absent-minded fashion. “You are so wise. You amaze me every time we talk.”
 
Dog owners tell me that words are unnecessary—their canine pets can read moods and communicate with their eyes and body language. The owner of a pot-bellied pig used in therapy claims the little porker can help patients overcome depression. The day of my brother’s funeral, my uncle’s talking macaw gave me a huge release from my grief by making me laugh.
I might one day consider owning these other types of pets. But I’d hate to lose that unique ability to communicate with my cats in their own language.

14 comments:

  1. This past year is the first we have ever had a pet in the house. Ours is a little Maltipoo puppy. I'm learning how to communicate with him. He does say a lot with his eyes. He can bring frustration but a lot of joy as well.

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  2. Barb: Would that be a cross between a Maltese and a Poodle? I'll bet he's adorable!

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    1. Yes it is. We think he's pretty cute. His name is Lambeau...named after Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI.

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  3. Love this.

    My dogs do watch my eyes. I have a border collie, and it's in their blood to watch movements and eye contact. Smart dogs.

    My daughter has a 20lb cat named Kitty Kong.

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  4. LOL I talk the same way to the cat next door. Sometimes she looks like she really can stand me when I do it, most times she yawns and returns to sleep.

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    1. Terri: Cats like to pretend they don't need us, but they really like humans. Just in a different way than dogs do.

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  5. As I'm commenting on your post, I'm playing 'nurse' to my 88 lb. Golden Retriever who just had surgery on her torn ACL. I think my voice has spanned the pitch spectrum as I've tried to calm and soothe her this afternoon! I can definitely relate to your cat voices! Have a blessed week!

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  6. I loved this post. It is so true. My dear puppy, coco, and I have some wonderful conversations.

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  7. Oh look at that kitty's lovely smile! I have a Havanese puppy named Mateo. Exactly 8 months now. I love him so dearly :)

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    1. Lea: I've not heard of Havanese dogs. I bet they are cute!

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  8. nice post thanks for sharing ...looking for to visit more...blessings

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