| Of course they do, they talk to each other and they | | | | has to wait but continues to make her impatience |
| talk to you. You just have to learn to be a good | | | | known. After all, she has four others depending on |
| listener. It's sort of like a dog's training class, the | | | | her for their daily treats, so, she continues improving |
| trainer isn't training the dog, he's training you. | | | | her vocal demands and I know exactly what she is |
| For instance, my oldest cat, an eight and a half year | | | | saying. |
| old Ragdoll, is a whiner. I often ask her if she wants | | | | Then, there is Precious, sister to Little Bit. Precious |
| whine with dinner. But, apparently, her whining has | | | | was given her name before we discovered her |
| gotten her what she wants and she's not about to | | | | personality. Now, when I speak of her, I often say |
| change. | | | | "Precious...NOT." Don't get me wrong. She is very |
| So, when she comes into my bedroom at 5:30 or | | | | lovable. She is also very vocal. She can be loud when |
| 6:00 in the morning, I first know she wants me to | | | | she paces the house calling for her sister. She gets |
| get up. But I've come to understand there is | | | | cross, like a sleepy baby, when she wants me to |
| probably a good reason she wants me up. She has | | | | take a nap with her and I'm too busy. She will |
| become the 'spokesman' for an empty food dish. But | | | | sometimes spend an hour or more following me |
| then, she has four other felines depending on her to | | | | every step I make, asking me to take a nap(I swear |
| make sure the food and water fountain are filled and, | | | | she says mama, over and over), until finally she gives |
| believe me, she is very good at it because she is | | | | up and finds a place to nap by herself. She also is like |
| persistent. | | | | a little girl, watching my every move when I'm folding |
| Then there is Smokey, our seven year old Russian | | | | clothes or some other task, as if she's trying to learn |
| Blue. He is responsible for getting the pet door to | | | | how, in order to help me. |
| their outdoor kennel opened, first thing in the | | | | Last, but certainly not least, is Squeaky, a three and |
| morning. That's why he is uncharacteristically loud | | | | a half year old gray Tabby . She got her name when |
| early in the morning. He also takes responsibility for | | | | she was a 'stray' living outside and only showing up |
| reporting back in, to us and his housemates, if the | | | | for meals twice a day. I would call her for her food |
| weather is cold or if it is raining. On cold, wet | | | | and not realize she was there until she was right next |
| mornings, he wastes no time with his report. I can tell | | | | to me because of her faint meow. She is still quiet |
| he wants us to do something about it. I just comfort | | | | and shy with other humans, basically only trusting me. |
| and sympathize with him until he calms down and | | | | She has become friends with Precious and they |
| finds another spot inside to relax. | | | | snuggle together at night. Even though she is shy, |
| Our third vocal kitty is Little Bit, a two and a half | | | | Squeaky does talk, mostly to tell me when Little Bit |
| year old Manx with a stub of a tail. It has fallen to | | | | or Smokey are bullying her or when she needs a little |
| her to scold the others, chasing them while she does | | | | love from me, often demanding it, quietly, by jumping |
| it. She's the most mischievous one in the family. It | | | | into my chair if I'm working at the computer. |
| has also befallen her to be the beggar of treats, | | | | So, you see, they all talk, some more than others. |
| starting about 5:00 in the afternoon. Since I like to | | | | Once you understand the personality of each cat and |
| wait until dusk to bring them in, with the shaking of | | | | you learn to listen to them, their communication will |
| the treat container like the pied piper, she sometimes | | | | become much clearer to you. |