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Random cleaning attacks
On Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:19:09 -0700, Mischief wrote:
I know cats like to keep their coat in PRISTINE condition, but it just totally kills me when Mischief will be in the middle of stalking something......and then suddenly has to stop to clean her tail. Right now she is lounging on the bed giving herself a very thorough bath, and Mayhem is perched on the dresser doing the same thing. But earlier, there was a minor standoff on the bed. One of those warning growls, "Mom, she's LOOKING at me!" I thought they were going to start swatting......When suddenly Mayhem turned and had to wash her tummy. Then Mischief had to wash this one spot on her leg and now it's a bath fest. It makes me wonder......do they suddenly feel dirty? When a hoomin gets their hands dirty, they wash them. But they get dirty in the first place during some type of activity. So how does a cat who is streeeeetched on the bed, suddenly feel dirty enough to wash herself? Does she examine her coat and suddenly realize that there are a few hairs that are out of sync and have to be licked back into their proper place? Do they feel a toe feels dirty and after washing it, think to themselves......"Well, I'm here, might as well wash the whole leg...." Do they have an agenda? "It's 3 a.m. time to wash the left hind paw, third toe within an inch of its life! I'll wash the other rear paw after i wake the hoomin for breakfast in two hours... Then after my morning nap I'll work on the right side of my tummy....." They could be running around after a greebling and then suddenly STOP to lick at a spot..... Random cleaning attack. The world must stop, (well it revolves around her anyway) and wait until this ONE spot is clean. Sillies...... Do a Google search on "displacement behavior" Quote from "Displacement Behavior" at http://www.animalbehavioronline.com/displacementbehavior.html "Displacement behavior is usually thought of as self-grooming, touching, or scratching, which is displayed when an animal has a conflict between two drives, such as the desire to approach an object, while at the same time being fearful of that object." -- T.E.D. ) |
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Random cleaning attacks
"Ted Davis" wrote in message news On Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:19:09 -0700, Mischief wrote: They could be running around after a greebling and then suddenly STOP to lick at a spot..... Random cleaning attack. The world must stop, (well it revolves around her anyway) and wait until this ONE spot is clean. Sillies...... Do a Google search on "displacement behavior" Quote from "Displacement Behavior" at http://www.animalbehavioronline.com/displacementbehavior.html "Displacement behavior is usually thought of as self-grooming, touching, or scratching, which is displayed when an animal has a conflict between two drives, such as the desire to approach an object, while at the same time being fearful of that object." -- T.E.D. ) That explains why they seems as mystified by the sudden cleaning attacks as we do. Jo |
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Random cleaning attacks
Ted Davis wrote:
Do a Google search on "displacement behavior" Quote from "Displacement Behavior" at http://www.animalbehavioronline.com/displacementbehavior.html "Displacement behavior is usually thought of as self-grooming, touching, or scratching, which is displayed when an animal has a conflict between two drives, such as the desire to approach an object, while at the same time being fearful of that object." That's what I've always figured that was about - a 'let's take a break and think about this' thing - but I didn't know it actually had a name. -- Marina, Miranda and Caliban. In loving memory of Frank and Nikki. |
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