Relating to pets / other animals

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1. I'd say that I understand them equally well.

2. Yes. My cat's got very many different sounds. The offended miaow when I shut her out of my bedroom at night, the happy greeting when I let her in, the request for food, please. She's a right chatterbox, my cat. Talks all day.

3. My cat is a very social animal. She loves being with people. If we have guests she comes to be with us, trying out the different laps, looking into people's eyes and chattering with them. She grew up together with a dog, so sometimes I think she believes she's a dog, too. She's attentive and often obedient (imagine that, in a cat!) and she gives great comfort when I need it. I'm convinced she can read my thoughts and emotions, because often when I think "Where is the cat?" she replies from wherever she is, underneath the sofa or on the stairs. She's the most lovely creature there is and we love her.

Welcome aboard, Jaydee! It's amazing about the telepathy you mention!

TiredGeek, how does the cat show you what she wants? And would you like to tell how you rescued her? I love rescue stories...

Yeah, dogs tend not to keep grudges. Birds on the other hand seem to be able to keep one forever.

I understand my pets pretty well. The birds are simpler because, well, they talk; but I have no problem catching on to what the cat wants or her general mood. I kind of wish people would listen about the birds when they come over though. If I tell you one of them is getting pissed at you and is going to bite you, don't laugh me off and then get mad when you do get nipped.

My cat is a total spaz, and I honestly think she is aspiring to be a dog when she grows up. My cockatoo is pretty much just as much of a spaz (no surprise that they are best friends). My macaw is a total trickster and loves to play jokes, but for the most part prefers to be allowed to do his own thing. I had two cockatiels until recently, but one passed from complications while laying her first brood and the other suicided later that day. (If you need any proof that animals have personalities, there you go. Suicide in breeding pairs is common when one of them dies). I miss them a lot, especially because they would act much as Jaydee described their cat. If I was the least bit depressed there they would be wanting cuddles and trying to preen me until I felt better. One would always stick her beak in my ear if she thought I was about to cry because it made me laugh.

Awww I love these stories... So sad about the cockatiels

1. Yes. I know that with my cat, a straight up tail and ears that face forward mean she is happy. If they are flat back against her head, it means she is angry.
If she is lying on her back, that means she is content.

2. Yes, generally. I know when she want something and just wants to talk

3. Diva's personality is drama queen. She likes the spotlight, and to be the center of attention.

Animal body language is so much easier - they don't ever use verbal language or try to fake posture/gestures etc. to hide what they are really feeling. If a cat puts its ears back it's not just pretending to be upset or frightened/aggressive, and it won't ever tell you 'no I'm fine' whilst displaying contradictory signals.

I have experience with both cats and birds - and I think I have a very good understanding of the signals both of them use to communicate - there's never any ambiguity or mixed messages or contradiction between verbal and physical. It's very straightforward. Because they never try to hide their feelings (and don't even understand the concept of trying to do so) it is much easier to 'learn' their language than it is to learn the very intricate and complex rules of social interaction with other people - when those rules often include shielding your true feelings, or saying something you do not really believe, just for the sake of propriety.

Feather, I think you're saying that the nonverbal is easier to understand than the unsaid... Have you seen THIS THREAD on this topic?

I had this weird experience with my cat. I perfectly mimicked a cat's meow that like to follow him around the street. I thought he would claw my face off but he got quite ahem...amorous.
I think I just decoded the feline mating call.