the handling of creatures

[elionwyr]

I was cleaning Hades' ears last night. (Do I know how to party or what?)

She needs this done regularly - the other cats are fine - and she lets me know when it's time by shaking her head a lot. (I used to be afraid she had ear mites - nasty, horrible things...do you know that you can actually hear them in your ears, chewing?? *gag*.)

So I sat on the sofa with her cuddled up against me, purring as I cleaned. And I did what I always do when "torturing" small mammals - I frequently leaned down and kissed her on her head.

I've realized I really do do this a lot. I'm not sure when this started. I think it was fairly recently. Cat, opossum, ferret, fox - it doesn't really matter. It's a reassurance sort of thing, though I'm not sure, of course, if it translates well across species. And it's not limited to just healthcare moments. When I wake up and Livingston is spooned up against my stomach - when I wake and see the back or shoulder of my bedmate - a kiss is given in some strange acknowledgement of life.

Comments

[brenda927.livejournal.com]

ugh I remember having to do that with some of our cats....poor critters! We did get some drop-like salve from the vet that cleared the mite problem up though (i have no clue what it was called but it worked)

I do the same thing.... and after it's all done I snuggle them for awhile to calm them down

I wonder why people do that? maybe because we found it reasuing when we were little and we think of the animals almost as little kids and treat them accordingly?

Re:

[elionwyr.livejournal.com]

It must be something like that...

[foxyshadis.livejournal.com]

I think it's more because we found it reassuring as kids (connecting it to those we trusted and knew most), and thus we still find it reassuring, as so many things from infanthood stick with us. So we pass it on knowing others will feel that way, as well, unconsciously. It's probably the same story with animals, except that it's buried deeper down in instict. (I suppose it could be with us as well. hrm.)

[cissa.livejournal.com]

I do that with our cats too, and I think the emotion comes across.

Although if I do it too much, they get the Outraged Cat look and inform me that "Cats are not for kissing! Cats are for appreciating in a more dignified manner!" But they lie. Cats are for kissing.

[brenda927.livejournal.com]

But they lie. Cats are for kissing

they just fake like they don't like it after awhile because of the ego attached to cats....but yes they very much are for kissing

Something that cracks me up

[elionwyr.livejournal.com]

I have a cat named Lurk - named for his ability to do just that.
But he's become a mommy's boy. I'll turn and find him sitting and staring very very intently at me. If I ask him what he wants, he chirps at me, pushes himself forward, and head butts me - HARD - in the eye socket, if possible.

- That was very random. Sorry.
He's a big fan of kisses...but only when the other cats aren't looking. heh

Re: Something that cracks me up

[cissa.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know! Mine are so goofy that way. They don't apreciate snuggles (when I want to, snuggles are great when it's all THEIR idea), and yet when I'm snuggling one and it's doing the Strangled Cat look for the audience, the others get SO jealous!

And they don't object to the snuggles at all if the other cats aren't watching. They even enjoy it....

They're so much fun to watch!

Re: Something that cracks me up

[vainkitten.livejournal.com]

One of the greatest things that Shane came with was a tan and grey motteled (sp?) long haired cat named Mina. She's the most gorgous thing (in my opinion) and she's almost dog like in her love for us. Her favorite place to sleep is curled up either in between us or in the nook behind my legs. She brightens my life with her constant vocal need for love and treats. She's also a "cave cat," constantly trying to find somewhere to hide (cabinets, the fridge if we let her, sheets). I miss her so much during the week, and every time I'm on the phone with Shane and she's near enough to hear, she makes so much noise that it's hard to hear him. *grins* I miss her a lot right now.

She also does the hard head butting. It's almost like a battering ram into that bone where my eyebrow sits. But I know she loves me.

Rachel