Cats and kilts

[Wompet]

I'm a fan of disiplining the little lovely beasties if needed. My cat knows to settle down real quick if she on my lap when I've got a kilt on. ... The flick in the ear seems to work well. After a few times just the sound of it in their general direction should settle them down.

Even with discipline, I still have to remind mine every two to three months not to get up on the kitchen cupboards.

She does know to settle down on my kilted lap, though. It may more to do with my occasional bonking her on the head with a knuckle than any good behavior on her part.
Flicking in the ear - I still have the clicker I used for dog training somewhere - I may have to try that. Would work better at a distance.

Sometimes it seems the only answer would be a cat colored tartan.

I've thought about that, and I have enough hair bagged already for a fly plaid.
And yes - I know of some weavers who've done this sort of thing before.

[starbkjrus]

We are cat sitting for a friend for about 6 weeks so this week we have been getting our cat and the visiting cat acclimated to each other. Last night I was reading through the "instruction book" that the visiting cat's staff sent with her and ran across this line:

"India is not one to scratch people or furniture and as a general rule only uses her scratching post. However, be warned that she loves to "knead" worsted wool."

I immediately ran upstairs and took my brand new XMarks kilt off the doorknob where I was hanging it to relax the wrinkles from shipping. Whew. Glad I read the "manual" on this one. :rolleyes:

[auld argonian]

The kneading behavior (or "making muffins" as I have heard it called) is interesting...some of our old cats used to just knead us...on the lap, on the belly...if you were laying in bed on your stomach you would suddently find a cat kneading your butt at three in the morning.

I've always wanted to find out what the real motivation for the kneading and the wool chewing behaviors is...I've heard a lot of speculation and most of it sounds improbable. The possibility always remains that the only motivation that a cat has for any one of these behaviors is that he just enjoys being a pain in the ***...for a cat, that's enough.

Best

AA

[Wompet]

Kneading stimulates the scent glands in the paws. So, in effect, the cat is marking you as its property. Which, as far as scent marking goes, it is the least offensive method I can think of.

[cloves]

kittens do the "kneading thing" when they nurse too don't they? I had heard it was some sort of throwback to their kitten days, that when a cat felt most comfortable it was just instinct to do that behavior.

[smaughazard]

My cats are fascinated by the swing of the kilt- I've even had a kitten grab a pleat and swing along. They're also curious about the fur-front sporran with its dangling tassels.

And cat hair sure likes my SWK Black Shadow…

[Southern Breeze]

.
And cat hair sure likes my SWK Black Shadow…

Personal experiance tells me that's an understatement.

[Moose McLennan]

...
And cat hair sure likes my SWK Black Shadow…

We have three cats, tell me about it...
The best way to get cat hair off the kilt is with one of those big handbrushes with rubber bristles.

M.

[Mike1]

kittens do the "kneading thing" when they nurse too don't they? I had heard it was some sort of throwback to their kitten days, that when a cat felt most comfortable it was just instinct to do that behavior.

You are correct, nursing kittens do knead.

Actually, kneading is a better indication of a cat's comfort level than purring, as stressed cats will often purr up a storm.

This silver ball of fur on my desk is snoring at present, which seems to be her expression of maximum comfort.

[Southern Breeze]

Most people don't believe cats snore. I "inherited" my current cat from my Grandmother who died in May of 2005. She had the cat and a small dog (a Shitszu). She was bedfast before she died and the dog would sleep on one side of her and the cat on the other. And all three would be snoring.