Fuddland

A friend has taught her cat to fetch. She throws a ball of scrunched up paper and the cat — as you’d expect — chases and pounces after it, knocking it about a bit for some bonus excitement. But then, after he’s reassured us through his behaviour that he is sufficiently catlike for us not to think he’s a particularly svelte and vain dog, he picks it up in his mouth and brings it back to his owner, dropping it neatly in front of her for another round.

I have never seen a cat do this before; quite frankly, I’m so amazed that I’ve got nothing more to say about it. But I am pleased that it’s lead me to discover the nicely-written h2g2 entry on teaching cats to fetch:

Let the cat have its way with the ball for a while, then retrieve it and encourage the cat to follow you back to your original position by rustling the paper, making squeaky noises and saying “C’mere pudpudpudpudpud!”

#1

imogen | 2005 / 08 / 01 – 21:35

Our Hunter kitten fetches also! And we didn’t have to train him to do it, either. Just one day we tossed a bit of rope down the hall. He went running after it, carried it back, and dropped it for us to do all over again. And he’ll do it for hours. He’s so funny and awesome. I’d never seen a cat do that before, either. (But you know I’ve never been a cat person.)

What’s that line about cats behind the sofa drilling? ; )

#2

felicity | 2005 / 08 / 02 – 07:58

my cat “hobbes” (now in kitty heaven) used to mosh, body slam and then sleep on his back. made me wonder if he was a re-incarnated surfer/rock dude, or just had a secret stash of catnip. cats are definitely more sassy than dogs.

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