Stealth mode
Cleo is a very stealthy cat. I suppose that it’s something of a special cat skill, what with all that selection pressure on quiet stalking abilities. However, most of the cats I’ve known have had a very heavy tread, so you’ve usually been well aware of their location.
I opened the window in our bedroom the other day, then — as I left the room — I suddenly thought that I ought to check where Cleo was, and close the bedroom door so that she wouldn’t try to climb out of the window. Sure enough, as I turned back into the room a second later, there she was on the window sill, half out of the window. Gulp.
I didn’t want to frighten her, so I used my best ‘talking-a-cat-down-from-the-ledge’ soothing voice, and — to my relief — she came back in. I have no idea how she got past me so quickly and silently. She must have a tiny blue TARDIS or Star Trek transporter hidden somewhere. Since then, I’ve often found myself calling for her and looking in every corner, only to look down and find her sitting at my feet, looking up at me innocently with a “You called, Mithtreth?” expression on her face. She’d make an excellent Igor (if you’re familiar with Terry Pratchett’s books), minus the obviously sewn-on body parts, prominent lisp and surgical expertise, of course.
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Cats are soft, smooth and rounded so that they don't reflect radar - have you ever seen a cat get nicked for speeding?
Heavy footed cat! An oxymoron, surely. All our cats made the fall of a feather sound like the crack of doom by comparison!
by Jonathan Briggs @ 19/07/2007 7:50 pm • Permalink •
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I think it depends how much they know you don't want them to get past you. When Lev is giddy he hurtles down the stairs and sounds like a herd of elephants, he explodes out of the cat flap like a cannonball and with about the same amount of noise. However when I'm reading my son his bedtime story and forget to shut the door tight, he sneaks in without me hearing him at all. I always have to check under the bed before I turn the light out and he's often there, laughing quietly behind his paw
by Shelagh @ 19/07/2007 8:37 pm • Permalink •
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Hope you are not paddling about on your lower floors.
by Jonathan Briggs @ 22/07/2007 4:43 pm • Permalink •
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Jonathan Briggs: Like Shelagh's cats, previous family cats have thundered about like elephants for much of the time. And we're dry in the house, thank goodness. One of the benefits of being at the top of the hill, though it doesn't feel like that cycling up it on the way home...
Shelagh: I think you might be on to something! Your description of the cat laughing behind his paw made me smile
by bsag @ 23/07/2007 6:05 pm • Permalink •
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heh..
I had a cat named Kage (Shadow) once. He was amazing. If he did not want you to find him, I swear that he was out of phase or something.
My current cats (2 purebreed Tonkinese) have heavy footsteps. The older one (Dante) gallops. Like a horse. The 2 month old one is really sneaky, but a total clutz still. You will discover that she has snuck up on you when she jumps at you, misses and hits a wall.
by Greg Nokes @ 27/07/2007 2:30 pm • Permalink •
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