Calling your cat
The first word to learn in cat speak
MetPet.com Staff Writer
Have you tried to get your cat's attention
when it's not dinner time? Try this little trick. Try calling her in
her language.
A cat's normal call sounds like a single
syllable. Much more like the "ma" in map than "meow." Just let your
chin drop and your mouth open while you say "ma." Then try letting
the sound come up from your diaphragm rather than your mouth. You can both
see and feel that muscular structure (six pack or no, you really do have muscle
down there) underneath your breast bone get sucked in to make the sound.
Try various inflections and strengths
until she responds with a single "ma" of her own. Repeat, letting her
respond back each time. Mother cats do this to encourage her kittens to
follow her. As long as they hear her calm voice, they know it's safe to
venture after her.
Try meowing at your cat when he's scared
or nervous. This is a useful technique if you're traveling or going to the
vets. It's also a convenient way to find your cat if he's hiding or has
gone missing. You'll probably have to wait until it's quiet because most
cats have a tiny voice (except when they're screaming). Passersby may give
you strange looks but any cat within earshot will understand.
Once you get the hang of it, try it on other cats.
You may be surprised how quickly you've picked up interspecies
communication. One interesting activity at the MetPet.com offices
is the use of the "ma" sound for new kittens. If one of them gets lost, as
they invariably do, the entire office gets quiet. One person calls out the
"ma" sound repeatedly until we hear the responding "ma" from the kitten.
We keep repeating this, waiting each time until we hear the responding
call from the kitten. It's like hitting a ping pong back and forth or
playing Marco Polo. Each time the kitten responds, we can more clearly
pinpoint his location until we finally figure out that he's behind a cabinet
or stuck inside a box. |
