I miss my cat although it’s been thirty years since I lost her. After a recent discussion we were having on the yahoo group I found myself remembering how strangely my cat used to react to my singing. I used to sing Indian classical and used a “tanpura” which is a four-stringed instrument that gives you the base or drone to fix whatever octave you’re comfortable snging with. Well, my cat who was otherwise an independent, unrufflable, elegant creature, would considerably agiated when I sang. Much like my brother, who’d muffle his ears up with something or the other. Anyway, my cat would climb up on my knee and meow straight into my face. She was pleading with me to stop stop stop!
But look at this cat, enjoying playing the piano!
October 20, 2008
Mala you should get a cat.
October 20, 2008
Ow, I’d love a cat. But it would be all alone all day at home. And this neighborhood is teaming with stray dogs. Cats can scare up a dog if it’s on its own, but if there’s a whole huge pack of them, they’ll eat up the cat!
October 20, 2008
hi mala!
if it comforts you i m not sure the cat did not like the singing!
some cats get highly irritated when you do unusual sounds, or someone else in the room makes them.
mine would when I sobbed once do the same as you described, he screamed at me real loud more like “what s that sound you re making?? everything ok??”
when i listened to a temple chant by jehan kamal he d jump on a table and meow real irritatedly.. quite spooky coz the burmese are temple cats, originally
depends on how your cat was in general.. if very talkative like my burmese chances are high it was not the singing per se, but unusual to her and she thought she d better check what that is.
or maybe she joined you? some cats do that too, go along with music
October 20, 2008
Funny! I think my cat just didn’t like the high frequency of the tanpura strings. She hated that.
Burmese cats are exceedingly intelligent and talkative. So are Siamese cats. Yes, mine was a bit talkative and loved human company but she was also elegant and independent. Not the type of cat to be overly cuddled and kissed. She liked doing her own thing and was very courteous and expected the same courtesy from everyone else.
But boy was she loud if she spotted a lizard! Meooooooool! Couldn’t rest until she got it somehow.
October 21, 2008
Oh I was not aware you said you were doing Indian chants? This could very well be, I ve seen cats go crazy over high pitch human voices (female mostly), and I guess singing high range could indeed make them nervous.. probably something they re hearing about it we dont?!
The Burmese are VERY nice.. indeed SO talkative, he ll tell you his day whenever you want to (or not) hear it very eloquently with lots of different noises.
also, what s funny about it - it does not always feel like you have a cat. They can be so “doggish” in that if they love you they ll be more obedient and faithful than many dogs. and they re all over you whenever they get the chance, much unlike the proud and elegant cats you were talking about.
I love my cuddle Burmese “dog mind trapped in a cat body” roommate, but I for sure adore the “classic” cat with her enigmatic personality, too
aawwe those poor lizards I love them
My buddy is an indoor cat and afraid of most creatures. Butterflies scare the hell out of him, he goes hiding with THAT look on his face as if he d seen a ghost
i love cats.. Mala, maybe you d want to get 2 so that they re not lonely during the day? they re such a joy, arent they?
October 21, 2008
the cat in the video!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
laugh at me, but I do believe their magical creatures somewhat.
October 21, 2008
Not Indian chants but Indian classical singing. It tends to get a bit yowly. I stopped after ten years of learning because it was taking up every bit of space I had in my head, much like dancing is trying to do now.
I wish I could keep two cats. My apartment is very small. There are just three little rooms, basically. Even if there are two cats they need to be able to do something — explore, hunt, jump around. It would be like being in a biggish cage. I also don’t think I’ll be able to look after them. All the litter trays, fish, going to the vet. Just like having babies!
But I still do love them. Not babies, cats, I mean.
Send me a picture of your cat! We’ll put him up in the cat section.
October 21, 2008
sure! I ll try to find a pretty one. Have no digital camera, so am oftentimes borrowing one and taking pictures in a hurry, so most of them are not THAT good
I once read for each cat there should be one room so they can be alone if they want.. but it probably depends on the size of the rooms as well!
October 21, 2008
One cat to a room??? Well, considering they also like cardboard boxes, that’s what they’d end up getting.