My cat walks on its hind legs

"John F. Eldredge" wrote in message
...
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On 21 Aug 2004 05:30:46 -0700, (Mark Werner)
wrote:

I picked up a cat from a shelter, no particular breed, short-haired.
I have related the following story to several fellow cat owners, all
of whom reacted with disbelief.

Five times over the past three years, I have seen my cat rear up on
her hind legs, stand fully erect for a few seconds, and then take
four or five forward steps. This is apparently in pursuit of some
flying
insect. It is astonishing, adorable, and hilarious.

I have to think that other cats can do this, and possibly be trained
to do it, but no one else I know has ever seen this.

So, any similar observations/thoughts?

I have seen a number of cats stand upright to bat at something
dangled overhead. I haven't seen them walk forward, but it is quite
plausible. I have seen dogs that have been trained to walk this way,
so a cat could probably be trained to to this as well. One friend of
mine, who only works part-time because of a medical disability and
therefore has lots of time on his hands, has taught his cat to beg,
play dead, and roll over on command. Each time she does one of these
actions on command, he gives her a kitty treat.

My Grandfather taught several of his dogs (all called Susan) to dance/count.
They would stand on their hind legs and do pirouettes the number of times he
told them. Followed by a treat of course. He was an amateur magician when he
was young, so I suspect he was giving the dog some kind of signal to stop
dancing. But it was a cool trick when I was a kid.


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--
John F. Eldredge --
PGP key available from http://pgp.mit.edu
"Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better
than not to think at all." -- Hypatia of Alexandria

"John F. Eldredge" wrote in message
...
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Hash: SHA1

On 21 Aug 2004 05:30:46 -0700, (Mark Werner)
wrote:

I picked up a cat from a shelter, no particular breed, short-haired.
I have related the following story to several fellow cat owners, all
of whom reacted with disbelief.

Five times over the past three years, I have seen my cat rear up on
her hind legs, stand fully erect for a few seconds, and then take
four or five forward steps. This is apparently in pursuit of some
flying
insect. It is astonishing, adorable, and hilarious.

I have to think that other cats can do this, and possibly be trained
to do it, but no one else I know has ever seen this.

So, any similar observations/thoughts?

I have seen a number of cats stand upright to bat at something
dangled overhead. I haven't seen them walk forward, but it is quite
plausible. I have seen dogs that have been trained to walk this way,
so a cat could probably be trained to to this as well. One friend of
mine, who only works part-time because of a medical disability and
therefore has lots of time on his hands, has taught his cat to beg,
play dead, and roll over on command. Each time she does one of these
actions on command, he gives her a kitty treat.

My Grandfather taught several of his dogs (all called Susan) to dance/count.
They would stand on their hind legs and do pirouettes the number of times he
told them. Followed by a treat of course. He was an amateur magician when he
was young, so I suspect he was giving the dog some kind of signal to stop
dancing. But it was a cool trick when I was a kid.


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--
John F. Eldredge --
PGP key available from http://pgp.mit.edu
"Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better
than not to think at all." -- Hypatia of Alexandria

"Jo Firey" wrote

Well Rosie knows I can't hear, so she will stand on her hind legs and tap
me
on the arm with a paw to get my attention when I'm at the computer. Maybe
I
could teach her to walk.

Note, it is very weird to have a cat tap you on the arm like a person
would.

Could feel a bit spooky. Nikki doesn't tap me with her paw, but she touches
her nose lightly against my leg when she wants something. Very cute but only
effective if I'm wearing shorts (eeek - cold wet nose!).

--
Marina, Frank and Nikki
Email marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi
Pics at http://uk.f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/frankiennikki

"Jo Firey" wrote

Well Rosie knows I can't hear, so she will stand on her hind legs and tap
me
on the arm with a paw to get my attention when I'm at the computer. Maybe
I
could teach her to walk.

Note, it is very weird to have a cat tap you on the arm like a person
would.

Could feel a bit spooky. Nikki doesn't tap me with her paw, but she touches
her nose lightly against my leg when she wants something. Very cute but only
effective if I'm wearing shorts (eeek - cold wet nose!).

--
Marina, Frank and Nikki
Email marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi
Pics at http://uk.f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/frankiennikki

"Jo Firey" wrote

Well Rosie knows I can't hear, so she will stand on her hind legs and tap
me
on the arm with a paw to get my attention when I'm at the computer. Maybe
I
could teach her to walk.

Note, it is very weird to have a cat tap you on the arm like a person
would.

Could feel a bit spooky. Nikki doesn't tap me with her paw, but she touches
her nose lightly against my leg when she wants something. Very cute but only
effective if I'm wearing shorts (eeek - cold wet nose!).

--
Marina, Frank and Nikki
Email marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi
Pics at http://uk.f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/frankiennikki

On Sat, 21 Aug 2004 09:14:06 -0700, "Jo Firey"
yodeled:


"Mark Werner" wrote in message
. com...
I picked up a cat from a shelter, no particular breed, short-haired. I
have related the following story to several fellow cat owners, all of
whom reacted with disbelief.

Five times over the past three years, I have seen my cat rear up on
her hind legs, stand fully erect for a few seconds, and then take four
or five forward steps. This is apparently in pursuit of some flying
insect. It is astonishing, adorable, and hilarious.

I have to think that other cats can do this, and possibly be trained
to do it, but no one else I know has ever seen this.

So, any similar observations/thoughts?

Well Rosie knows I can't hear, so she will stand on her hind legs and tap me
on the arm with a paw to get my attention when I'm at the computer. Maybe I
could teach her to walk.

Note, it is very weird to have a cat tap you on the arm like a person would.

Jo

My little Mimi didn't tap, so much as *poke.* Very firmly, TWICE.
She was such a tiny little cat, and so assertive and determined.



Theresa
Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh
My Blog: http://www.humanitas.blogspot.com
alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/

On Sat, 21 Aug 2004 09:14:06 -0700, "Jo Firey"
yodeled:


"Mark Werner" wrote in message
. com...
I picked up a cat from a shelter, no particular breed, short-haired. I
have related the following story to several fellow cat owners, all of
whom reacted with disbelief.

Five times over the past three years, I have seen my cat rear up on
her hind legs, stand fully erect for a few seconds, and then take four
or five forward steps. This is apparently in pursuit of some flying
insect. It is astonishing, adorable, and hilarious.

I have to think that other cats can do this, and possibly be trained
to do it, but no one else I know has ever seen this.

So, any similar observations/thoughts?

Well Rosie knows I can't hear, so she will stand on her hind legs and tap me
on the arm with a paw to get my attention when I'm at the computer. Maybe I
could teach her to walk.

Note, it is very weird to have a cat tap you on the arm like a person would.

Jo

My little Mimi didn't tap, so much as *poke.* Very firmly, TWICE.
She was such a tiny little cat, and so assertive and determined.



Theresa
Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh
My Blog: http://www.humanitas.blogspot.com
alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/

On Sat, 21 Aug 2004 09:14:06 -0700, "Jo Firey"
yodeled:


"Mark Werner" wrote in message
. com...
I picked up a cat from a shelter, no particular breed, short-haired. I
have related the following story to several fellow cat owners, all of
whom reacted with disbelief.

Five times over the past three years, I have seen my cat rear up on
her hind legs, stand fully erect for a few seconds, and then take four
or five forward steps. This is apparently in pursuit of some flying
insect. It is astonishing, adorable, and hilarious.

I have to think that other cats can do this, and possibly be trained
to do it, but no one else I know has ever seen this.

So, any similar observations/thoughts?

Well Rosie knows I can't hear, so she will stand on her hind legs and tap me
on the arm with a paw to get my attention when I'm at the computer. Maybe I
could teach her to walk.

Note, it is very weird to have a cat tap you on the arm like a person would.

Jo

My little Mimi didn't tap, so much as *poke.* Very firmly, TWICE.
She was such a tiny little cat, and so assertive and determined.



Theresa
Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh
My Blog: http://www.humanitas.blogspot.com
alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/

"Jo Firey" wrote in message
...

"Mark Werner" wrote in message
om...
I picked up a cat from a shelter, no particular breed,
short-haired. I
have related the following story to several fellow cat owners, all
of
whom reacted with disbelief.

Five times over the past three years, I have seen my cat rear up
on
her hind legs, stand fully erect for a few seconds, and then take
four
or five forward steps. This is apparently in pursuit of some
flying
insect. It is astonishing, adorable, and hilarious.

I have to think that other cats can do this, and possibly be
trained
to do it, but no one else I know has ever seen this.

So, any similar observations/thoughts?

Well Rosie knows I can't hear, so she will stand on her hind legs
and tap me
on the arm with a paw to get my attention when I'm at the computer.
Maybe I
could teach her to walk.

Note, it is very weird to have a cat tap you on the arm like a
person would.
Jo

Yes, you expect them to say "Excuse me, don't you know I'm here?" It's
interesting how tall cats are when they go up on their hind legs,
isn't it? They're like little accordions - some times all bunched up,
and at other times, stretched w-a-a-ay out (or up).

"Jo Firey" wrote in message
...

"Mark Werner" wrote in message
om...
I picked up a cat from a shelter, no particular breed,
short-haired. I
have related the following story to several fellow cat owners, all
of
whom reacted with disbelief.

Five times over the past three years, I have seen my cat rear up
on
her hind legs, stand fully erect for a few seconds, and then take
four
or five forward steps. This is apparently in pursuit of some
flying
insect. It is astonishing, adorable, and hilarious.

I have to think that other cats can do this, and possibly be
trained
to do it, but no one else I know has ever seen this.

So, any similar observations/thoughts?

Well Rosie knows I can't hear, so she will stand on her hind legs
and tap me
on the arm with a paw to get my attention when I'm at the computer.
Maybe I
could teach her to walk.

Note, it is very weird to have a cat tap you on the arm like a
person would.
Jo

Yes, you expect them to say "Excuse me, don't you know I'm here?" It's
interesting how tall cats are when they go up on their hind legs,
isn't it? They're like little accordions - some times all bunched up,
and at other times, stretched w-a-a-ay out (or up).