I have no problems at all with the cat as an imaginary friend, when the
telepathy bit comes in really handy. We are such different species
behaviourally that the situation poses very few potential problems. It is
different though with dogs (see Konrad Lorenz, 'Man Meets Dog', an oldie,
but goldie on the subject). A dog really does care about its position in
your domestic hierarchy. It takes leads from you and seeks to behave to your
expectations as pack leader (you are in real difficulties if it does not see
you as pack leader, dog hierarchies are not particularly subtle!).
Dog (and cat, just not as relevantly) senses are very different from ours,
so they may as well be seen as telepathic, if we can encompass in that the
understanding that we can mean communication outside of our own sensory
scope. A dog can smell your illness long before you feel ill, your
tiredness, frustration, longings, no matter how well you hide them from
other humans or deny them to yourself. A useful addition to any pack of
social animals as limited in senses as us. You do have to watch out though,
for behaviours in your support or defence that you do not know you have
asked for. Lorenz wrote quite beautifully on that.
Stephen Rennie
> -----Original Message-----
> From: G.F. Phillips [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2003 5:26 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: don't be afraidt
>
> Hello Steve
> Your words seem harsh to a puddy lover like myself. Oh yes, I've go two
> dogs as well. However I know that you are right. Oh no the hard light
> of scientific or should I say biological reality. Oh yes I meant to say
> that cats are telepathic too. Oh Steve please don't shoot that one down
> :-)
>
> I find the purring, soft coat and ability to sleep rather regression
> inducing. It makes me want to curl up under a duvet. Actually when I
> was
> recovering from a very serious illness the cats and dogs would sleep on my
> bed and gently stroking them was quite a healing experience.
> Best
> Gerald
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rennie, Steve [HES] <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: 15 April 2003 15:18
> Subject: Re: don't be afraidt
>
>
> >Tssk! Good colleagues. Cat thinking is highly unlikely to be even
> remotely
> >similar to ours, as the cat is an almost entirely carnivorous and
> >essentially solitary animal.
> >
> >What we see in domestic cats is a sad repression of the adult cat by
> >artificial prolongation of the kitten stage (neutering helps this process
> >greatly, although it is not always essential). Almost all domestic cat
> >behaviours can be understoood in that form. We respond favourably to the
> >play cues they emit, as we are social omnivores and are well used to
> >prolonged adolescence in consequence (see Jane Lawick-goodall's films of
> >chimpanzees for confirmation). Unlike dogs, cats never seek a firm
> position
> >in our family hierarchy, as they have no social instincts beyond those
> that
> >suit kittenhood, so they are much less demanding than dogs and far less
> >likely to bite a child (or new partner) they see as a usurper of their
> >place. As the kittenhood is artifical, it seems less fixed in orientation
> >than would be the case in a social animal, so they tend to transfer
> >allegiance more readily than for example a dog.
> >
> >On the other hand, their silky fur, tendency to sleep whenever they are
> not
> >hungry and especially their purring do seem to offer comfort. We could
> ask
> >why......?
> >
> >Stephen Rennie
> >
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: G.F. Phillips [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> >> Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2003 2:58 PM
> >> To: [log in to unmask]
> >> Subject: Re: don't be afraidt
> >>
> >> Hello Pamela
> >> with a clever puddy cat like that you are more than qualified to get
> into
> >> the discussion. I read somewhere while sitting in the vets that cat's
> >> thinking can be similar to humans. Wish I'd torn the article out now.
> >> A clinical psychologist friend of mine thinks it may be true. Of
> course
> >> he knows that I'd believe anything good about cats :-)
> >> Best
> >> Gerald
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Pamela Harper < [log in to unmask]
> >> <mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
> >> To: [log in to unmask]
> <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> <
> >> [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
> >> Date: 15 April 2003 13:52
> >> Subject: Re: don't be afraidt
> >>
> >>
> >> I had a cat who used to play the old type computer games i.e.
> space
> >> invaders. He would sit on to of the monitor and if Martin my son missed
> >> any he would zap them with his paw. Does that qualify me to get into
> this
> >> discussion
> >>
> >> Pamela and power
> >>
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