Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK
Cat General => General Cat Chat => Topic started by: Mark on March 27, 2010, 12:06:27 PM
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Ever wondered why your cat can be in the middle of playing, then suddenly stops to have a scratch, then carries on playing?
In biology yesterday, we were doing the nervous system. She said that all animals do certain things that don't need to be processed by the brain - eg the hammer on the knee with humans. The other example she gave is cats scratching themselves. it is a response to an itch but the message doesn't go to the brain - so a cat doesn't consciously decide to scratch an itch :Crazy:
Maybe that is why it sometimes seems so odd :evillaugh:
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Mine always seem to stop and scratch themselves when they've done something undignified, like falling off the book shelf, as if to pretend the embarrassing event never happened. :sneaky:
Though I guess in those circumstances it counts as non random scratching!
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I think that comes under misdirected behaviour :evillaugh:
We did that last term. She showed a picture of 2 cats having a face-off. They are not sure if they should "fight or flight" so do neither and instead, do something random like have a wash or a scratch :evillaugh:
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Yup, mine do that when they're embarassed :evillaugh:
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It's also known as a displacement theory, Mark. ;) Cats do things like have a wash when they've fallen off something so they can think about their next move as their last one was unprecedented. :evillaugh:
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That's the one :evillaugh:
My head is spinning doing 5 subjects at the same time - I use the wrong word sometimes :shy:
Misdirected is more to do with a bullied cat taking it out on a more timid one - or a human hand :evillaugh:
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Although Amber does the random scratching mid play the one she does most is the stop and lick her bum when having a cuddle :sick:.....and then come back for more cuddles :evillaugh:
love
Tab
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That's the one :evillaugh:
My head is spinning doing 5 subjects at the same time - I use the wrong word sometimes :shy:
Misdirected is more to do with a bullied cat taking it out on a more timid one - or a human hand :evillaugh:
It is indeed. :) I didn't study 5 subjects at once, my brain couldn't handle it.... :shy:
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my brain couldn't handle it.... :shy:
Trust me - mine can't :evillaugh:
I believe there is some truth in the saying "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" :evillaugh:
This is my timetable this term.
Thurday
9 - 11am Animal Behaviour, 11am - 1pm Conservation, 2 - 5pm Animal Science (Anatomy this term)
Friday
9 -10am Exotic animal husbandry 10 - 11am Domestic (ie farm animals) animal husbandry 11am - 1pm Experimental design & analysis (stats)
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:hug: What are you hoping to do at the end of it? Great subject choices - nowhere round here does those kind of courses. >:(
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Not sure really. It just appealed to me. I would obviously like to do something with animals. A zoo sounds interesting but not sure I would be able to cope with shift work. I will see how it goes. The problem is there will be quite a few people going after the same jobs at the end of it. I would like to work at CP HQ and I suppose having a degree should give me the edge. I will be 50 if & when I graduate so there are a lots of other ifs.
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Life can deal some pretty unexpected hands, though can't it? ;) I hope you do well in your course. :)
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Dave just did this! He's haivng a mad bouncing about like a loon half hour and tried to bounce onto the storage box under the lounge window. Front paws sort of missed, he half smacked his face then managed to get up :evillaugh: I couldn't help but burst out laughing. Then once he had regained what composure he is capable of he had a little lick of his side :evillaugh:
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Yep, the Molster does this too - if she falls off the bed / sofa / windowsill etc..... it's as though she is acting like it was a deliberate move on her part - looks all nonchalant, non plussed , was all part of th masterplan type thing. :rofl:
Doesn't fool me for a second, and she DOES NOT like it when she hears me laugh at here I get the death stare....... :evillaugh:
If she could speak hooman... I'm sure I'd hear a :censored: from here. :rofl:
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Noah breaks off and has a wash especially licking his legs when he is playing with the laser pointer, to the point his fosterer thought he may have sensitive paws (after pododermatitis). I treated him with kid gloves at the start, only playing for five minutes and only on the soft rug, but he flung himself around with such abandon once I got the Da Sparkler that I soon realised he wasn't in any discomfort. :evillaugh: He does still break off for a wash a bit with the Turbo Track tho.
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I've noticed mine doing that too.. its interesting to know why these things happen! ;D