Tue 22 Apr 2008
What is a Good Cat? Charming and disarming
Reaching back a few years, when Nicky really was un gatito…
We’ve never had a problem with the cats clawing the furniture, having trained them to use the cat tree in the living room instead. But after several years of daily scratching, many of the carpeted areas on the tree were pretty ragged and shabby — not the kind of thing you want in the living room when visitors arrive. It took several trips to area stores to find a replacement, but at last we found a nice cat tree on sale, and brought it home and put the old one in the basement. The new one has carpeted areas for the cats to lie upon, like the old one, plus sisal rope and cedar logs for them to sharpen their claws. At least, that’s what the cats are supposed to use. However, Pat came downstairs one morning and found Nicky vigorously clawing some of the carpet on the new tree. Without raising her voice, she said in mock exasperation, “Nicky, we just got this and you’re shredding it. If you keep this up, in a month this will look as bad as the last cat tree.” She paused in her extra-gentle chastisement and looked at the kitten, who had stopped clawing, but he didn’t appear to be feeling guilt or shame for his actions. In fact, he was purring contentedly. When Pat told me the story, the first thing I thought of was the line from Lewis Carroll’s “Through the Looking Glass”: “It is a very inconvenient habit of kittens … that, whatever you say to them, they always purr.” |
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Pat’s gentle chastisement was also about as effective as the quiet riot act Alice read her own black kitten in Chapter One of “Through the Looking Glass”. And, this being the Internet and all, here’s the whole book. So we know that cats purr (especially Good Cats). The next question is: Why? This page might have the best answer of all. But if you really want to know the answer to something, you need to send your question to Cecil Adams (and his loyal assistant Ed Zotti) at The Straight Dope. |
Susan said,
Tue 22 Apr 2008 at 12:34
My Michael did not even once clawed the cat tree
I think, that he do no like the shape. It is too short, but it is like with all the things that my father brings home… Instead the cat is scratching one old piece of furniture and a carper in the living room. He also want to do it in my room, but there it is banned 
The carpet in the living room is only a small piece and it can be quickly replaced, so it is not a big deal.
If Michael do something bad, he just looks with those big eyes like he sad: It wasn’t me
Daisy said,
Tue 22 Apr 2008 at 13:46
I like to purr, but very, very, very softly.
Captain Jack & Dante said,
Tue 22 Apr 2008 at 14:45
Cats also seem to purr louder as the humans get angier. We’ve never really liked the cat trees that you are suppsoed to stratch. We prefer our stratchy box made from cardboard or the furniture!!
Quasi said,
Tue 22 Apr 2008 at 22:18
My attitude is: if it’s in the house, and I feel like scratching, then it’s scratch-worthy. Couch, post, leg, carpet, clothes, winerack, you name it.
Sandy's Opal said,
Wed 23 Apr 2008 at 13:07
Humans! They buy china and silverware, that they only use for “guests” along with other ’special items’ that they rarely use. Cats know better. Use your best stuff yourself and enjoy the day. We know that special stuff is for US to use. So don’t bring it home if you don’t want it used! Now where’s that cavier my mistress bought……………?
Gandalf & Grayson said,
Wed 23 Apr 2008 at 17:52
As we often say, “Turn up the purrs”!