My husband and I are selling our house. We have two cats, both Ragdolls, who are taken to our new house every time a prospective buyer wants to view the one we are selling. We do this because our cats are extremely personable and would be underfoot. However, our male cat has not adjusted to this moving about, and as a result, the doctor has put him on Prozac. Crazy, yes, but then he has gone, well, crazy! And I’m afraid before all is said and done, I will be too!
I did some cat personality research, and found a few unusual things about cats. See how well you do with this quiz.
1. An inexperienced cat owner attempting to give a cat its pill without proper preparation will NOT experience which of these? Deep scratches and severe bleeding (I have war wounds); calm, incident-free consumption of the pill followed by a request for a treat; shredded curtains, soft furnishings, carpets, and bedding; a traumatized cat.
2. The experienced cat owner knows that the precious feline must be comfortably but firmly restrained for the pill to be administered. Which of these methods is recommended? Give the cat a large bowl of brandy; hold the cat tightly by the scruff of the neck; calmly but firmly wrap the cat in a towel so no flailing legs escape; call for help in holding the precious kitty.
3. Why does my cat suddenly and aggressively bite me when I’m petting him or her? He or she is mean; my cat doesn’t like affection; my cat doesn’t want to be petted anymore; none of these.
4. Why does my indoor cat attack me or my other indoor cats when he or she sees an unknown cat outdoors? My cat is most likely showing he or she is in control; my cat is most likely showing displaced aggression; my cat thinks of me or my other cats as prey; my cat is most likely showing displaced fear.
5. This is a medium-large sized cat with medium long fur, a rounded, wedge-shaped face, and rather small ears. It has a long, slinky body, and its face, paws, and tail are colored while the rest of its body is white or cream. Birman; Ragdoll; Persian; Bengal.
6. Some cats have an obsession with licking anything that’s plastic, from trash bags to plastic wrapping. Why do some cats like licking or biting plastic? It reminds them of their time in the mother’s womb; they’re pretending they’ve caught a plastic mouse; licking plastic keeps their tongue clean; licking plastic relieves anxiety.
7. Why do some cats go crazy over catnip, doing all sorts of crazy things such as rolling their bodies in it, dashing, and performing leaps through the air, but the effects of the catnip never seem to last long before they’re fast asleep? What about catnip causes these activities? Catnip is an aphrodisiac; catnip contains addictive drug-like substances that cause cats to have moments of pleasurable behaviors; both of these; neither of these.
ANSWERS
1. Calm, incident-free consumption of the pill followed by a request for a treat. 2. Calmly and firmly wrap the cat in a towel so no legs escape. It’s important to arrange a tight (but not strangling) closure around the neck so no clawed forepaw can work its way out with the head, and to have the tail end also firmly closed to prevent the kitty from exiting the wrappings backward. Aim for a papoose effect, with only the head exposed. 3. He or she doesn’t want to be petted anymore. 4. This is known as displaced aggression. The cat can’t get to the cat outdoors, so he or she turns his or her aggression on the closet person, animal, or thing. 5. Ragdoll, one of the friendliest breeds of cat. They get along well with people, are very trusting, and are happiest when they’re with people. 6. Licking plastic relieves anxiety. Other possible explanations include the idea that plastic bags emanate an odor resembling fish or animal fat due to an ingredient in their manufacture, or that the cat is lacking something in its diet. 7. None of these. Catnip is a natural herb plant that has a substance in its leaves and stems called nepetalactone that causes cats moments of pure ecstasy. It’s safe and has no harmful or addictive effects. Not all cats are as delighted with catnip. The genetic makeup of a cat determines just how receptive they may be to catnip.