Catspeak Lesson #1 in Intuitive Feline Communication.
Welcome to Mondays with Merlin and a lesson on Feline Communication.
Excuse me while I finish my breakfast in bed. That’s right: breakfast in bed and I get a midnight snack in bed while snuggling with my mom, Layla. It’s one of the perks of being an old cat with kidney disease. With CKD, the appetite wanes and vomiting increases along with more frequent water consumption and urination. I can’t eat much at a sitting so I get fed pretty well on demand 24/7. Sometimes I cry for food. Sometimes I communicate by non-verbal messages. Sometimes by pee-mail. Humans can be so obtuse.
All cats communicate with us all the time and the easiest way to begin to learn our non-meow ways is to simply spend time being with us. That’s right, I told you it was simple. Get comfortable in bed or on the couch, chair, on the rug or wherever your cats like hanging out. If you have lap cats, they can sit on your lap but they don’t have to. Sometime a cozy cuddle is good but sometimes it’s better if you’re a few feet away. Sit with us undisturbed by TV, cell phones and yeah, a little thing called the Internet.
The more you hang out with us cats just being, breathing, feeling, observing, you will naturally absorb and learn our secrets. Even a cat who seems to be asleep with their eyes closed has more awareness than most humans. One last thing: don’t stare without blinking; it’s rude and we’ll perceive you as a predator. Try a nice slow blink while looking us in the eye and then look away. If you’re not a complete jerk, we’ll slow blink you back.
Watching a cat in repose is naturally relaxing. When you feel relaxed, notice your own breathing and notice it becoming deeper and slower. When you feel more relaxed, imagine an invisible roots extending from your feet deep into the earth grounding you. When you feel grounded and focused, you are ready to communicate with your cat. You can speak out loud or silently with your mind. Reserve judgement about being a weirdo or doubting Thomas. You have nothing to lose by trying and much to gain.
Tell your cat you are learning to communicate with them in a new way.
- Ask them if it’s okay to give you a sign like moving their head to prove you’ve been heard. If they do, thank them. Thank them in any case.
- Proceed by asking a simple question like: what is your favorite toy? Still your mind and wait. You may hear words in your mind, see an image or a symbol, maybe even perceive a smell or a feeling in your body. Again, let go of any judgement or expectation. Observe your cats body language.
- Don’t bombard you cat with lots of questions. Keep the session short and simple.
- Feel a big cloud of love going from your heart into theirs. Say I love you. Thank-you them again.
- Imagine your cat already understands what you’re saying. Once you believe that’s possible, anything is possible.
Lesson #2: Practice makes purrfect.
27 Comments
Mollie
Hello, I think your site might be having browser compatibility issues. When I look at your blog site in Ie, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, excellent blog!
Bernadette
I was so dense years ago that Kublai had to literally put words in my head while he was staring at me, or I never would have caught on. Of course, then I realized he’d been talking to me all along!
Glad to see Merlin is still running the show.
Also glad I can finally comment again! Browser issues, I think.
Eric and Flynn
Our mum always seems to know what we are thinking and knows what we are going to do before we do it. That is not always a good thing!
We are sending you lots of purrs Merlin.
Laura & Taffy
Yes, Merlin, humans need to learn the stillness of the cat. Thanks for putting it so well.
We are purring that you be as comfortable and happy as possible, surrounding you with golden light. Purrs.
Texas, a cat in New York
Such wise words. Merlin could have been consultant in human psychology and cat-human communication (that’s what I wanted to do when I was younger) =^.^=
Purrs
Katie Isabella
Merlin, my love…please be comfortable as you can be and know all of we mom’s who have had older kitties know what your mom and you are going through. Love and kissies dear one. xxoo
Skeeter and Izzy
Love is never a secret thing,it cannot be hidden if truly felt,the heart will always speak softly and silently what the mind may not be able to put to word. Our hearts speak to you Merlin with love of the purest and gentlest kind. Soft, sweet, rumbly purrs to you dear one. Luvs Skeeter and Izzy >^–^<
Tamago
Oh Merlin, you are a very happy kitty to have so much love and care. Your lesson is wonderful. I believe my boys understand what I say, especially “I love you” and “you are so cute!”
CATachresis
I think I have this without even knowing! It is definitely something that comes with time spent with a cat … and with humans too – the ones that don’t verbalise so much!! Big (((hugs))) for Merlin xx
Abby
Love the wisdom.
purrs
>^,,^<
✿•*¨`*•. ♥Abby♥Boo♥Ping♥Jinx♥Grace♥✿•*¨`*•.
Cherry City Kitties
we loves you very much Merlin… we purr for you all the time. Be peace, wise one.
Harry, Dexter and Tipp
Fenris, Socks & Scylla
We will have Mommy practice communicating with us. We are sending you some healing purrs and paws crossed you will be around to impart your wisdom to us for years to come.
Katnip Lounge
Merlin, maybe it’s a Meezer thing, I love to sit on my Mommy’s chest and tell her all about my day. We all hope you have a good day with plenty of yummy foods.
xx May Ling
jansfunnyfarm
Hmmmm, wonder if we could convince Jan to serve us breakfast in bed? Probably not, but it would be nice. But we wish Merlin felt better.
CarenOsrinGittleman (@CatChatCaren)
I’m glad that with my Mom all of that comes naturally 🙂 She has “Cat Mojo” like you do 🙂
Love, Cody
Colehaus Cats
Sending extra strong purrs and the gentlest of soft kneads to sweet Merlin.
The Island Cats
Merlin, the humans have a hard time understanding us cats! And we don’t know why…we think we’re so easy to understand! Thanks for this lesson…this will help them.
We’re purring for you, Merlin. Hang in there!
Bellen
I read on the Cat Blogosphere site that Merlin is feeling poorly. I hope he improves today and has many more good and enjoyable years ahead of him. Good luck to all there.
Cat's Cats
Merlin you are very wise kitty!!! My cats communicate with me loud and clear, I always know what the are saying even if they are not meowing.
The boys send lots of purrs to you Merlin and hope you feel okay 🙂
mbavaresco
Cats and their secrets … =)
Marg
Sending some mighty big purrs to you Merlin. Hope you get to feeling better. Take care.
Fuzzy Tales
Purrs and universal Light for Merlin and for you all.
Wonderful post…but trying to get a human to be still, without any distraction, including the internet, is pretty tough. Wonder how they managed without all of that stuff, in days gone by. 🙂
Brian
My sisters and I are all sending tons and tons of purrs to you Mr. Merlin. That was a terrific post and oh so true!
d'Artagnan Rumblepurr
Not sure if our last comment went thru or not… we wanted to send you all big purrs and hope that Merlin is feeling better.
d'Artagnan Rumblepurr
My friends! It’s so good to discover your blog, we wondered if you had one!
Wanted to send some purrs for sweet Merlin and for you. We hope you’re all holding up ok and we’ll keep you in our thoughts.
The Chair Speaks
We are purring real hard for you, Merlin, and your mom.
Our human knows how it feels. Whatever it is, mom’s love and warmth is the most soothing and precious! Purrs!
Kathryn
Aww, I love this. It is true about our breathing and we sleep deeper when we sleep with cats, because our breathing matches theirs.
Merlin is so adorable.
Well, time for my bed time with my cats. I love it when Ched tucks next to me. He throws himself into me and sleeps deeply and so do I.