Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/Weird: Cat and cell phone

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 5/4/2008


Question
QUESTION: For some reason my cat is very attracted to my Nextel. Sounds weird, huh? It's not really that she's attracted to the phone itself, but every time I use the walkie-talkie feature she becomes extremely affectionate and comes to wherever I am and rubs on me. Even if she's asleep, if she hears that I'm using the phone she comes to love on me. It's probably just because she weird, but do you have any ideas as to a reason?

ANSWER: Akara,

Actually that is a common response from a cat. A cat has no concept of what a phone is or what it is used for. The only thing the cat hears is your voice, and she thinks you are talking to her.

Tabbi

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you, that makes sense. It just seemed strange to me because normally when I talk to or call my cat she just ignores me. And even if I'm not talking on the phone, just pressing the buttons, she comes and rubs on me. I guess she's just curious, or maybe she thinks I should be giving my attention to her instead of the phone, LOL. Thannks for your time. :)

Answer
Akara,

Sometimes only a cat knows why it does the strange things it does. It's hard to tell sometimes what goes through their minds, or what they are associating things with. I have found there is no 'normal' behavior when it comes to cats!

Tabbi

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.

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Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).

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