You're a cat!

One of my favorite cat games is to accuse a cat of being a cat.

If you do it right, you can have this kind of conversation:

"You're a cat."

(nothing)

"Yes you are."

(shuffle)

"You're a cat!"

Mrow?

"No, you're a cat."

Mrrrowwwww"

"Yes you are"

(nothing)

"You are a cat."

Rrrrrrrowwwwwww"

"Yes you are a cat."

"Wwwwwwwwwrrrrrowwwww"

"YOU ARE A CAT!"

Waaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwww"

"You're just a cat."

Wwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwrrrrrrrrrrrr"

"Yes you are. You're a cat."

(exit feline, stage left, grumbling)

The trick is to say it firmly and directly, with emphasis on the "t" at the end of the word "cat", with a bit of a pop. It also helps to make eye contact.

This works because:

1. If you do it right, the "t" at the end it sounds like the spitting sound cats make when they're upset, usually at the end of a hiss.

2. Cats find prolonged eye contact an assertive, or even threatening, signal.

3. The cat understands you're either making threats or making fun. Neither is acceptable, so the cat's obliged to respond.

For extra fun, give your cat a name like "Pat". Now you can say, "Pat! You're a cat!"

-- September 12, 2009