Things I’ve Learned From My Cat: Responsible Communicating

Despite her awesome telepathic capabilities (e.g., she can let me know in which area of the house she wants her fort made), Lucy has also mastered a communication skill that most people haven’t. She communicates until she’s understood. Instead of retreating, sulking, attacking or whimpering, she uses her meows and body language to persist until her point is made. Clean my litter box. I’m fine, just snoozing and not really available at the moment. Open the door. Get over here NOW so I can lie on you and get my batteries recharged.

She has created an extensive vocabulary of tones, pitches and intensities of meow to indicate her needs and wishes. When one doesn’t quite meet the need, she takes another tone and stays in relationship until she’s understood. Most people have three basic tones when their first communication fails: whine, threaten or control.  And she lets go of the communication when she connects. Whether it’s the pluurret of dinner time or the intense stare of tuna water thirst, when I get it she immediately shifts into the groove of her curiosity about what’s next.  It’s so efficient.

At the core of her effectiveness is getting my attention before communicating. She doesn’t yowl at me from the other room (no, wait, she does occasionally launch a come give me roughies yowl that sounds like someone is murdering her in the back yard). She comes close, looks at me and utters the meow that expresses her communication. I love relating to her straightforward messages, just as I do with humans. And I continue to learn how to make my communications easier and more effective.