Video clip of Betty

[Takayuki]

I was testing out a camcorder yesterday on Betty and the pet mice. I
captured the video of Betty into an MPG file, because it shows a
couple of her behaviors that puzzle me sometimes. She always makes
that murping sound, and she sometimes pulls herself along the lip of
that little cat tree. If I pet or brush her while she's on the tree,
she'll pull herself around and around in a sinuous swimming motion,
then flip around and repeat, clockwise, then counterclockwise...

Also, she often flips over on her back and pulls her paws to her chest
when I look at her. I'm not sure what that means either, except that
she probably wants attention. I was wondering if everyone else's cats
exhibit the same behaviors?

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/Takayuki9z/movie1.html (1.9 megabyte
MPEG-1 file)

And yes, I really talk like that to Betty :)

[Christine Burel]

"Takayuki" > wrote in message
...
> I was testing out a camcorder yesterday on Betty and the pet mice. I
> captured the video of Betty into an MPG file, because it shows a
> couple of her behaviors that puzzle me sometimes. She always makes
> that murping sound, and she sometimes pulls herself along the lip of
> that little cat tree. If I pet or brush her while she's on the tree,
> she'll pull herself around and around in a sinuous swimming motion,
> then flip around and repeat, clockwise, then counterclockwise...
>
> Also, she often flips over on her back and pulls her paws to her chest
> when I look at her. I'm not sure what that means either, except that
> she probably wants attention. I was wondering if everyone else's cats
> exhibit the same behaviors?
>
> http://mywebpages.comcast.net/Takayuki9z/movie1.html (1.9 megabyte
> MPEG-1 file)
>
> And yes, I really talk like that to Betty :)
>
Loved the clip, Takayuki -- but didn't get the sound to go with it.
However, it sounds like you're being the perfect catslave and she's
definitely trying to engage you in playing with her!
Looking forward to more of these!
Christine

[Takayuki]

"Christine Burel" > wrote:
>Loved the clip, Takayuki -- but didn't get the sound to go with it.
>However, it sounds like you're being the perfect catslave and she's
>definitely trying to engage you in playing with her!
>Looking forward to more of these!
>Christine

Maybe that's it - she probably wanted to play with the cat dancer.
She does love to play, though she's sacked out on my lap at the
moment, oh wait, she just tapped me on the arm with her paw... That
usually means, "More scritches!" It is true that I often feel like a
slave.

I'm sorry you had problems with the sound. I didn't check what sound
format I was exporting. But I can export many different sound
formats. I've put up a WMA and an RM sound clip from the video. The
WMA has the better sound quality, if you have a relatively recent
version of Windows Media Player that can read it.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/Takayuki9z/bettymurp.wma

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/Takayuki9z/BettyMurp.rm

[Brenda Watkins]

"Takayuki" > wrote in message
...
> I was testing out a camcorder yesterday on Betty and the pet mice. I
> captured the video of Betty into an MPG file, because it shows a
> couple of her behaviors that puzzle me sometimes. She always makes
> that murping sound, and she sometimes pulls herself along the lip of
> that little cat tree. If I pet or brush her while she's on the tree,
> she'll pull herself around and around in a sinuous swimming motion,
> then flip around and repeat, clockwise, then counterclockwise...
>
> Also, she often flips over on her back and pulls her paws to her chest
> when I look at her. I'm not sure what that means either, except that
> she probably wants attention. I was wondering if everyone else's cats
> exhibit the same behaviors?
>
> http://mywebpages.comcast.net/Takayuki9z/movie1.html (1.9 megabyte
> MPEG-1 file)
>
> And yes, I really talk like that to Betty :)
>

When Emily rolls onto her back and pulls her paws close like that, she's
saying, "Rub my tummy - hee hee hee!" So I do, even though I know it's a
trap - she wraps her legs around my arm and bites (not hard) my hand. It's
definitely an invitation to play. I've seen Pea do it when he wants Emily
to play with him - if she doesn't respond, he reaches out and bops her.

Brenda

[Steve Touchstone]

On Sat, 30 Aug 2003 22:23:50 -0400, Takayuki >
wrote:

>I was testing out a camcorder yesterday on Betty and the pet mice. I
>captured the video of Betty into an MPG file, because it shows a
>couple of her behaviors that puzzle me sometimes. She always makes
>that murping sound, and she sometimes pulls herself along the lip of
>that little cat tree. If I pet or brush her while she's on the tree,
>she'll pull herself around and around in a sinuous swimming motion,
>then flip around and repeat, clockwise, then counterclockwise...
>
>Also, she often flips over on her back and pulls her paws to her chest
>when I look at her. I'm not sure what that means either, except that
>she probably wants attention. I was wondering if everyone else's cats
>exhibit the same behaviors?
>
>http://mywebpages.comcast.net/Takayuki9z/movie1.html (1.9 megabyte
>MPEG-1 file)
>
>And yes, I really talk like that to Betty :)

Adorable, she looks ready to play.

[Hopitus2]

Isn't Betty a pretty girl! But I, too, was waiting eagerly for her
"mmmmmmmrrrrrrp"!


"Brenda Watkins" > wrote in message
...
:
: "Takayuki" > wrote in message
: ...
: > I was testing out a camcorder yesterday on Betty and the pet mice. I
: > captured the video of Betty into an MPG file, because it shows a
: > couple of her behaviors that puzzle me sometimes. She always makes
: > that murping sound, and she sometimes pulls herself along the lip of
: > that little cat tree. If I pet or brush her while she's on the tree,
: > she'll pull herself around and around in a sinuous swimming motion,
: > then flip around and repeat, clockwise, then counterclockwise...
: >
: > Also, she often flips over on her back and pulls her paws to her chest
: > when I look at her. I'm not sure what that means either, except that
: > she probably wants attention. I was wondering if everyone else's cats
: > exhibit the same behaviors?
: >
: > http://mywebpages.comcast.net/Takayuki9z/movie1.html (1.9 megabyte
: > MPEG-1 file)
: >
: > And yes, I really talk like that to Betty :)
: >
:
: When Emily rolls onto her back and pulls her paws close like that, she's
: saying, "Rub my tummy - hee hee hee!" So I do, even though I know it's a
: trap - she wraps her legs around my arm and bites (not hard) my hand.
It's
: definitely an invitation to play. I've seen Pea do it when he wants Emily
: to play with him - if she doesn't respond, he reaches out and bops her.
:
: Brenda
:
:

[Karen Chuplis]

in article , Takayuki at
wrote on 8/30/03 9:23 PM:

> I was testing out a camcorder yesterday on Betty and the pet mice. I
> captured the video of Betty into an MPG file, because it shows a
> couple of her behaviors that puzzle me sometimes. She always makes
> that murping sound, and she sometimes pulls herself along the lip of
> that little cat tree. If I pet or brush her while she's on the tree,
> she'll pull herself around and around in a sinuous swimming motion,
> then flip around and repeat, clockwise, then counterclockwise...
>
> Also, she often flips over on her back and pulls her paws to her chest
> when I look at her. I'm not sure what that means either, except that
> she probably wants attention. I was wondering if everyone else's cats
> exhibit the same behaviors?
>
> http://mywebpages.comcast.net/Takayuki9z/movie1.html (1.9 megabyte
> MPEG-1 file)
>
> And yes, I really talk like that to Betty :)
>

That was adorable! Yes, cats make the mrrping sound when they are
anticipating pleasurable belly rubs. It's darling. Sugar does that too.

Karen
(who also talks like that to the cats.)

[Jill McQuown]

Takayuki wrote:
> Also, she often flips over on her back and pulls her paws to her chest
> when I look at her. I'm not sure what that means either, except that
> she probably wants attention. I was wondering if everyone else's cats
> exhibit the same behaviors?
>
> http://mywebpages.comcast.net/Takayuki9z/movie1.html (1.9 megabyte
> MPEG-1 file)
>
> And yes, I really talk like that to Betty :)

Awww... Betty is a a sweetie!

Persia flips over like that with her paws tucked up by her chest. It's an
invitation to rub her belly. Then she wraps her paws around me and gently
nips my hand. Sometimes she'll just roll over and streeeeeeetch out
lengthwise... she's about 3 feet long when she does that!

Jill

[Marina]

"Takayuki" > wrote
> I was testing out a camcorder yesterday on Betty and the pet mice. I
> captured the video of Betty into an MPG file, because it shows a
> couple of her behaviors that puzzle me sometimes. She always makes
> that murping sound, and she sometimes pulls herself along the lip of
> that little cat tree. If I pet or brush her while she's on the tree,
> she'll pull herself around and around in a sinuous swimming motion,
> then flip around and repeat, clockwise, then counterclockwise...
>
> Also, she often flips over on her back and pulls her paws to her chest
> when I look at her. I'm not sure what that means either, except that
> she probably wants attention. I was wondering if everyone else's cats
> exhibit the same behaviors?

Nikki does the exact same things. They could be twins. When she puts up her
paws like that, I just call it her cutie look, and if I feel like it, I pet
her tummy, but she's not always happy with that, so I don't know exactly
what she wants. But when she pulls herself around the cat tree (or any other
piece of furniture), I know she wants to play. If she flops around on the
cat tree, I take out the ruler. She loves it when I poke around the plastic
ruler here and there around the cat tree, and by not using my hands, I save
myself scratches while she gets to play as rough as she wants to.

Nice to see you, Tak! Long time no see.

--
Marina

[LOL]

Takayuki > wrote in message >...
> I was testing out a camcorder yesterday on Betty and the pet mice. I
> captured the video of Betty into an MPG file, because it shows a
> couple of her behaviors that puzzle me sometimes. She always makes
> that murping sound, and she sometimes pulls herself along the lip of
> that little cat tree. If I pet or brush her while she's on the tree,
> she'll pull herself around and around in a sinuous swimming motion,
> then flip around and repeat, clockwise, then counterclockwise...
>
> Also, she often flips over on her back and pulls her paws to her chest
> when I look at her. I'm not sure what that means either, except that
> she probably wants attention. I was wondering if everyone else's cats
> exhibit the same behaviors?
>
> http://mywebpages.comcast.net/Takayuki9z/movie1.html (1.9 megabyte
> MPEG-1 file)
>
> And yes, I really talk like that to Betty :)


Awwww, she's beautiful! I have always thought that murp sound was a
greeting; I have only heard it in situations when it seemed like the
cat was saying "hello," in a way that meant he was happy to see you.
:-)

Mike does something similar to Betty's rolling when he's all contented
and lying in the sun; we call it the HappyCat RollAround. He doesn't
necessarily want attention then - he's just happy. In my parents' RB
cat Patty, though, it *did* mean she wanted attention. Either way,
it's clearly the action of a happy and secure kitty. It's obvious
you've become an excellent slave!

------
Krista

[Frances Bolitho]

Hi, Betty's really sweet.
I have a cat (Pirate) who lies on his back with his paws like that but with
his back legs in the air. He'll stay like that for ages but really he's
waiting for you to rub his tummy so he can rip your hand to pieces. There's
also the "look at how sweet I am" gaze which usually precedes some vicious
play!
Jane
Takayuki > wrote in message
...
> I was testing out a camcorder yesterday on Betty and the pet mice. I
> captured the video of Betty into an MPG file, because it shows a
> couple of her behaviors that puzzle me sometimes. She always makes
> that murping sound, and she sometimes pulls herself along the lip of
> that little cat tree. If I pet or brush her while she's on the tree,
> she'll pull herself around and around in a sinuous swimming motion,
> then flip around and repeat, clockwise, then counterclockwise...
>
> Also, she often flips over on her back and pulls her paws to her chest
> when I look at her. I'm not sure what that means either, except that
> she probably wants attention. I was wondering if everyone else's cats
> exhibit the same behaviors?
>
> http://mywebpages.comcast.net/Takayuki9z/movie1.html (1.9 megabyte
> MPEG-1 file)
>
> And yes, I really talk like that to Betty :)
>

[Jeanette]

That's so cute

[Takayuki]

Karen Chuplis > wrote:

>in article , Takayuki at
wrote on 8/30/03 9:23 PM:
>> And yes, I really talk like that to Betty :)
>
>That was adorable! Yes, cats make the mrrping sound when they are
>anticipating pleasurable belly rubs. It's darling. Sugar does that too.
>
>Karen
>(who also talks like that to the cats.)

We need to found a support group. I think that the way I talk to cats
falls just short of babytalk. Maybe toddlertalk. :) I don't think
Betty likes belly rubs like Sugar does. She'll tolerate being touched
anywhere, but she looks exasperated when I pet her belly instead of
someplace she likes, like her chin.

[Takayuki]

"Frances Bolitho" > wrote:

>Hi, Betty's really sweet.
>I have a cat (Pirate) who lies on his back with his paws like that but with
>his back legs in the air. He'll stay like that for ages but really he's
>waiting for you to rub his tummy so he can rip your hand to pieces. There's
>also the "look at how sweet I am" gaze which usually precedes some vicious
>play!
>Jane

Your Pirate must be cousin to Pam's Pine Cone! PC's name isn't
Pirate, but his occupation is piracy. His slave calls that maneuver
"the beached starfish".

[Takayuki]

"Marina" > wrote:

>Nikki does the exact same things. They could be twins. When she puts up her
>paws like that, I just call it her cutie look, and if I feel like it, I pet
>her tummy, but she's not always happy with that, so I don't know exactly
>what she wants. But when she pulls herself around the cat tree (or any other
>piece of furniture), I know she wants to play. If she flops around on the
>cat tree, I take out the ruler. She loves it when I poke around the plastic
>ruler here and there around the cat tree, and by not using my hands, I save
>myself scratches while she gets to play as rough as she wants to.
>
>Nice to see you, Tak! Long time no see.

This is all helpful information. It didn't occur to me before that
Betty wanted to play when she presented her belly (I mean, I'm not
really sure how "belly" gets associated with "play"), but it does seem
to be true! Also, when I first saw her "swimming" around the cat
perch, I thought that indicated some sort of discomfort, but it became
clear pretty quickly that in fact, the opposite seemed to be true.

I also think that Nikki and Betty could be sisters. Nikki is just
more outdoorsy than her younger sister since she was born outside.
Betty observes moving things very carefully, but I've never seen her
catch a thing. :)

[Takayuki]

Seanette Blaylock > wrote:

>Felix likes knitting needles. :-)
>
>I'd been wondering lately where Tak had run away to. :-)

I'm just a little busy these days, and hopelessly behind on RPCA. I
was really relieved that Susan found Otis.

Betty sometimes likes to bat and play with her cuticle scissors when
I'm trying to clip her claws, which makes things difficult. :)

[Tanada]

Takayuki wrote:
>
> "Frances Bolitho" > wrote:
>
> >Hi, Betty's really sweet.
> >I have a cat (Pirate) who lies on his back with his paws like that but with
> >his back legs in the air. He'll stay like that for ages but really he's
> >waiting for you to rub his tummy so he can rip your hand to pieces. There's
> >also the "look at how sweet I am" gaze which usually precedes some vicious
> >play!
> >Jane
>
> Your Pirate must be cousin to Pam's Pine Cone! PC's name isn't
> Pirate, but his occupation is piracy. His slave calls that maneuver
> "the beached starfish".


Nope, its called the "Dead Starfish." We've also called the "beached
whale" when Merlin does it as there is a great expanse to his belly.
I'm surprised that Pirate isn't on the cruise. They leave South Africa
tomorrow after their adoption day party for Thailand. They've been
having way too much fun.

Pam S. who donated blood to a dead starfish today

[Alphonze]

> I don't think
> Betty likes belly rubs like Sugar does. She'll tolerate being touched
> anywhere, but she looks exasperated when I pet her belly instead of
> someplace she likes, like her chin.

Well, that is one *happy* cat! The belly rolling isn't necessarily a
sign that Betty wants to play, or that she wants belly rubs. It's much
simpler and much nicer than that. The most vulnerable bit of a cat's
anatomy is the soft, squishy belly, so by mrrrrping you a greeting and
rolling over, Betty is saying, "I love you and *trust* you, so much
that I'll expose my vulnerable tummy to you".

George (RB) was a great one for belly displays, but he hated having
bellyrubs. Betty might enjoy George's old favourite manoeuvre... when
she's gone tummy-up, gently put your fingers *under* her, between her
back and whatever she's lying on, and stroke her, so she's lying on
your fingers as they move. It used to make George dribble like a
teething toddler!

More videos!

Al.

[Marina]

"Alphonze" > wrote
>
> Well, that is one *happy* cat! The belly rolling isn't necessarily a
> sign that Betty wants to play, or that she wants belly rubs. It's much
> simpler and much nicer than that. The most vulnerable bit of a cat's
> anatomy is the soft, squishy belly, so by mrrrrping you a greeting and
> rolling over, Betty is saying, "I love you and *trust* you, so much
> that I'll expose my vulnerable tummy to you".

That is true, and I'm sure that's the case here with Betty, but when a cat
is in that position, it also has all its weapons at the ready, so to say, as
many of us have had the chance to discover. They lie there, looking innocent
and offering up their tummies for unsuspecting hoomins to sink their face
in, and then WHAM you have twenty claws and 30-something (?) teeth in your
scalp. ;o) This has been happening to me since I was a baby. I still haven't
learned.

> George (RB) was a great one for belly displays, but he hated having
> bellyrubs. Betty might enjoy George's old favourite manoeuvre... when
> she's gone tummy-up, gently put your fingers *under* her, between her
> back and whatever she's lying on, and stroke her, so she's lying on
> your fingers as they move.

Oh, Nikki likes that, too. Not tummy rubs so much.

--
Marina

[bewtifulfreak]

Takayuki wrote:

> Betty sometimes likes to bat and play with her cuticle scissors when
> I'm trying to clip her claws, which makes things difficult. :)

My Greebo does that too, plays with the clippers! But he's generally
wonderful about letting me clip his claws.... :)

Ann

--

http://www.angelfire.com/ca/bewtifulfreak