A Soft-Toy Called Cat
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WANTED, CAT
It was my mother who realised that there was a requirement for a cat, when she had suspected mice trespassing in our kitchen area.
She used to spend a great deal of time in the kitchen, preparing our meals, of course three times a day. In between she also used to prepare snacks for tea and a "little bite" before lunch.
It was the early sixties. In that era, fast food was totally unheard of. Everything that was eaten at home was home cooked and fresh. Yes! Three freshly cooked meals every single day. Nothing left over to be re-heated and consumed at a later time!
When my mother subsequently announced the need for a cat, my older brother volunteered to get one. A few days later, he duly brought one home from the grocery store.
No, the grocery store did not sell cats. My brother had requested the grocery store owner to get us a cat, and he did.
THE ARRIVAL
I remember that day when my brother wheeled his bicycle into the porch. The basket which was mounted on the front part of the bicycle was shut.
Always the basket used to be partly open due to the fact that it is all the time overloaded with groceries when my brother returns from his shopping missions.
This time, I was certain it contained "cat." One hundred percent "cat." How right I was!
THE ASSIGNMENT
Just before my brother mounted the bike on it's stand, he flipped open the lid of the basket and then "cat" puts his head out and withdraws it almost at once.
I recall my mother lifting him out of the basket and taking him straight to the kitchen, placing him on the ground and giving him a little forward-push, saying "go on and catch mice!"
Well, before "cat" could even get his eye in, his task was already assigned to him!
Nature's mousetrap has been installed ... with great expectations!
TWO TALKING CATS
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TALKING CAT
THE ASSIMILIATION
I was a little kid at that time and I was terrified of cats. He was neither a kitten nor a full grown cat. He was somewhere around the halfway mark. He was light brown in color, with brownish streaks around the neck area.
My brother named him Diki, but my mother stuck to the conventional "puss-puss-puss."
I remember how I used to spring on to the top of the table in terror whenever he comes to the sitting area. He often used to sharpens his claws on the rattan chair which my father used to sit on, when he smoked his cigars and read the newspapers.
I do not recall how I got over the fear as the months progressed, but I do remember incidents which followed the post fear era.
There was an instance when I brought him into the living area in order to introduce him to some visitors. There were other children present as well, who were not well acquainted with cats. In fact they were terrified of cats like I had been previously.
Their screams frightened him. He, struggling to escape, managed to scrape my arms with the claws on his hind legs, before he sprang away! My mother always took the cat's side. She said it serves me right for trying to show off to the other kids.
SOFT TOYS
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Sassy LeapFrog Baby Curious Crab Rattle
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MUM KEEPS WATCH
She always kept a close watch on everything I did which involved the cat.
When a big boy in the neighbourhood explained to me how I could get the cat to "reverse," she had been listening.
He suggested that I pull a sock over the cat's face! My mum immediately cautioned me against trying that out. She said to me, "if you do that, the cat might suffocate." She then stressed, that the wrath of the Manufacturer will be on you!
PETS AND PETS
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PediPaws Pet Nail Trimmer
Price: $3.94
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THE SOFT TOY
"Ngyaew!" ... that was all he said, in different tones, in different pitches and in different degrees of loudness.
A low voiced "ngaew" modulated with a purr, really means "thanks a lot for the food." This remark usually is made prior to eating.
I am really certain about this, as I have performed experiments involving many cats before I came to this conclusion.
CAT OR MOUSETRAP? WHAT'S YOUR CHOICE?
- A MOUSETRAP CALLED CAT
If you need to select between a cat and a mousetrap, what would your choice be? Check out this hub and then make your decision.
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WHAT CAT TAUGHT ME
uring this period of time, I had formed the habit of putting my tongue out, curving it backwards and moving it clockwise and anti-clockwise alternately, whilst it was in contact with the upper and lower parts of my lips.
I used to do this after meals. It was evident to all around that I had learnt this habit from "cat."
My sister, who was older, never approved of this. She still insisted that I should wipe my mouth with a damp serviette after each meal!
As a little kid, I thought to myself, the good thing about cats is that they don't rust ... and they don't need battery replacements either! I used to wonder what made this soft-toy click.
The Manufacturer certainly had done a good job with the "wrapping." Even to this day, I feel that way! ... about the "wrapping" of course!
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USEFUL WEBSITES FOR CAT LOVERS
- ALL ABOUT CATS AND KITTENS
This website on cats contains useful information on cats. In fact there is an A-Z index on topics related to cats. Check it out. - FUNNY CATS
This link points to a video on funny cats. Watch it! - TRAIN YOUR CAT
Teach your cat to do just about anything. This may amaze you! - CATS PROTECTION
Cats protection in the United Kingdom. - WIKIPEDIA ON CATS
Check out the information that wikipedia, the online encyclopedia has, about cats.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF DOMESTIC PETS?
Given a choice between a cat and a dog, which one would you select as a pet?
See results without votingPrintShare it! — Rate it: up down [flag this hub]
Comments
You see, they say if you trim the whiskers a little they will not be able to find their way back. I am glad you did not know that.
Thats a nice info to know but wouldn't trimming whiskers impair the poor cats ability to identify for food/defend itself?
Well I guess cats identify food by just sniffing. As for self defence, they use claws, fang, and a high pitched "NGYAEEOW!" ... followed by "KHHHHHHHH!"
I thought the cat uses whiskers as sensors/antennae which then pass on the information to the nose. Hence does cutting the whiskers make them lose that ability to identify its food like rats or figure out imminent danger from larger creatures like dogs or others? Meeooooooooow :-)
Well, my mum used to say if you just trim the whiskers a wee bit they will not be able to find their way back to where they were brought from. There is no need for a "clean shave!" The whiskers are supposed to grow back soon. LOL!
Love that cat history- always enjoy seeing what people write about their pets. Very entertaining.....
We have 3 orange tabby cats and a dog. The pets have enriched our childrens' lives immensely- we are lucky that they respect animals and haven't been mean. When I was a kid I had a nerf bow-and-arrow that I would fire at the cat- I did not hurt of course- but I thought it was funny to see the cat take off running like in the cartoons I watched.
Great hub, quicksand!
Three orange cats? WOW! I used to call them butter-cats, ones that are light brown in color. DikiKat too was of that color and used to resemble the cat in the picture above.
Thanks for your comment, Newcapo.
Love the talking cat videos! It's so amazing, the more I wander through HubPages the more cat people I meet! :)
Ah, Feline Prophet, now I know why you selected that avatar!
Thanks for your visit! :)
lol - your mom sounds like a very awesome lady.
My dogs have not taught me any tongue tricks yet. One of them likes to run around with her mouth closed, but with a small bit of tongue hanging out. It is very endearing. Your hub has inspired me to try it out and see if it is endearing on me as well ;)- [ wish I had that tongue emoticon that they have in the Forum]
My mum was a good cook too! Shibashake, thanks for reading about dikiKAT! :)
lol. You hate dogs but you luv cats? Uhh. I'm confused.
Well, BeatsMe, you've got it all wrong. I don't hate dogs at all. I just dislike them immensely. That's all!
As for cats, it is pleasant even to look at pictures of cats, and the sound of a cat's "meow" is most pleasing to one's ears.
Thanks for your visit and I hope you like cats too. Take another look at the brown one at the very top! :)
CAT IN THE NEWS
- Tame Cats refuse to blame Johnson injuryThe Age1 second ago
The absence of forward Steve Johnson was not the reason the Cats lost to St Kilda on Sunday, says Geelong coach Mark Thompson.
- Gassing of dogs, cats may continueDetroit Free Press2 hours ago
State legislators, including two from metro Detroit, plan this month to revise -- and essentially weaken -- three bills aimed at making euthanasia of stray dogs and cats more humane. The original versions would have outlawed the use of gas chambers in animal shelters, instead requiring lethal injections.
- Cats frothing for rematch with St KildaSky News Australia1 second ago
Geelong coach Mark Thompson believes a possible finals rematch against St Kilda could be even better than the Round 14 epic which left the Cats 'filthy' after a bruising six-point loss at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
- 20 cats put down in Keene, NHBoston Globe6 hours ago
Keene, N.H., authorities are warning residents to have their cats vaccinated after one animal infected with rabies led to the death of about 20 others, and rabies shots for several people.
- Chester Township officials considering lawsuit against former owner of neglected catsThe Star-Ledger6 hours ago
CHESTER TWP. -- Taxpayers have anted up $55,000 to care for more than 200 cats, including those removed from a feces-filled, million-dollar Chester home in March, said Mayor William Cogger. The cats' former owner, Wanda Oughton, has not yet paid...
- 20 Cats Put Down In KeeneWMUR New Hampshire67 minutes ago
Authorities in Keene warn residents to have their cats vaccinated after an animal infected with rabies led to the death of about 20 others, and rabies shots for several people.
PETS AT HOME
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The Powerful Bond between People and Pets: Our Boundless Connections to Companion Animals (Practical and Applied Psychology)
Price: $35.96
List Price: $44.95 |
WHAT CATS NEED
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Greatest Songs from the Musicals
Price: $7.97
List Price: $18.97 |
















guidebaba says:
11 months ago
I remember we had a Pet Cat that was loved by all my family members. One day my father decided to leave her to some place from where she could never return to our house again. My Dad let her some 5-6 km away from the house and that too at night. The next morning we found the cat back in our house. Thenonwards my dad started loving this cat. Now she is no longer on earth. It has been 11 years now but we still love our Dear Cat and Miss her. Love You PUSSY.