BS: why does a cat love a paper sack

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: keberoxu
Date: 18 Nov 21 - 08:31 PM

Hey, here's a variation:
What is it about cats and
decorated
Christmas trees in the house !!

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 17 Nov 21 - 03:28 AM

back in the 70s when I had a cat I acquired a large empty box that had contained furniture. Had the box not been cardboard, 2 people could have sat at ease on it!

As I was gathering stuff to put in it, I heard a funny noise & opened the top flaps - cat looks up, she had jumped on it & of course fallen in & couldn't get out. I removed her, filled it & put a tablecloth over it so she had to find somewhere else to hide.

The day my brother & his dog visited she found a good spot - we saw a a very obvious cat-shaped lump under the smooth bedspread, dunno why she didn't run under the bed!

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: keberoxu
Date: 16 Nov 21 - 11:44 AM

There are more paper sacks around, as someone observed (SRS?) ,
what with local restrictions on plastic shopping bags.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: leeneia
Date: 28 Dec 18 - 07:05 PM

I recently saw a video which showed cat after cat preferring the cardboard box that a cat condo had come in to the cat condo itself. It was cute - the cats were so pleased and happy with the boxes.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: SamStone
Date: 25 Dec 18 - 11:00 PM

keberoxu ... a Salvation Army store in Greensboro North Carolina ... the bags were unbranded with just a small hangtag which stated the bags were infused with potent catnip ... and yes kitties do complete back flips "under the influence".

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: keberoxu
Date: 25 Dec 18 - 08:44 PM

Bat Goddess, that sounds like a book worth having,
if only for that cartoon.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: keberoxu
Date: 25 Dec 18 - 02:56 PM

SamStone, I never in my life heard of such a thing.
Which charity shop was it?
That's ... diabolical, that is.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: SamStone
Date: 25 Dec 18 - 01:54 PM

Look for these...i recent found some large paper grocery bags infused with catnip (package of 6) at a charity shop...never seen these before. Open the bag up, set it on the floor and be prepared...kitties gone wild.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 25 Dec 18 - 12:19 PM

Decades ago there was a cartoon in a book entitled "Another Cat Book". Two people were conversing while looking at a pair of eyes (feline) gazing out of the dark of a paper bag.

Cutline says, "Don't you wish you, too, could find happiness in an empty grocery bag?"

I love that book.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: keberoxu
Date: 24 Dec 18 - 09:59 PM

An acquaintance of mine had a puppy
who was absolutely petrified-frightened
of wrapping paper when the present was unwrapped
and the paper tossed to one side, where it sat, loosely wrinkled.
The pup was afraid that the wrapping paper was going to eat him.

Whereas, the cats would investigate,
that is,
if they weren't trying to climb the Christmas tree in the house.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: keberoxu
Date: 09 Sep 18 - 06:02 PM

Time for a fresh paper sack.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: Raggytash
Date: 16 Jan 18 - 04:07 PM

In my defence, in case anyone thinks I was out of order, both myself and the steward of the club tried it ........ but we knew it was cat food!!!

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: Senoufou
Date: 16 Jan 18 - 01:25 PM

Hahahaha Raggytash! I can just imagine his face!
Actually, some of the cat food we give ours smells gorgeous. (especially that soup)

I got a very reasonably-priced cooked half-chicken this morning while at the supermarket, and it was like cavemen in the Stone Age. All four of us sat round and demolished the carcass, we humans using our fingers to eat with and handing tasty morsels to the cats poking their noses into our laps. Rather primitive, but we all licked our lips and enjoyed it.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: Raggytash
Date: 16 Jan 18 - 12:11 PM

You've reminded me of something Senoufou. Years ago, in the bar I drank in, a group of us would take food in on a fairly regular basis. Anything unusual or odd. We all contributed except for one man who was always first to the food and always helped himself to more of it than anyone else.

Needless to say we all got a bit cheesed off with him.

One night I took some "Salmon Pate" in, nicely garnished with slices of cucumber and a few biscuits. He waded in with his usual gusto while we sat back.

For some reason he wasn't very happy when he later discovered it was a premium cat food!!

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: keberoxu
Date: 16 Jan 18 - 11:53 AM

It's a territorial thing, isn't it?
And Donuel is on to something:
Cats being solitary predators,
territory is a tactical thing.
And cats are manipulative tacticians. The dear furry things.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: Donuel
Date: 14 Jan 18 - 12:59 PM

Cats love the sack for the same reason Rap loves his duck blind.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: Senoufou
Date: 14 Jan 18 - 12:49 PM

I've discovered that a cat also likes a nice warm laptop keyboard.
Husband had left his study door ajar (big mistake) and I found SmokeyPokey fast asleep on top of the keys. He opened one eye, made a sniggering sound and went back to sleep. Husband was in the shower. I daren't tell him. The other one, Murphy, was nowhere to be seen, until I noticed a little brown tail jutting out from behind one of the sofa cushions.

We thought we'd treat the pair of them and got some of those fiendishly expensive little sachets of 'cat soup'. They've had them before and used to go mad for them. Put one down in a dish. Both sniffed suspiciously, looked at eachother then said, "Nah" and shuffled off. Blooming waste of money.
But they smell so delicious I fancy trying a sachet myself...!

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: keberoxu
Date: 14 Jan 18 - 12:24 PM

refresh

in this cold, of course,
a cat probably prefers something different than a paper sack --

like the nearest outlet of heat or warmth

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: keberoxu
Date: 02 Aug 17 - 06:10 PM

creep, pussycats, creep.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: Senoufou
Date: 21 Jul 17 - 08:46 AM

Oh I know Jon, that sound: "...bleugh... bleugh... bleugh... BLEUGH!!" And you're right, if one rushes to avoid a pile of puke, it only gets sprayed all over the place.
My husband spoils our two and it was he who put all the chicken down after I'd gone to bed. It wasn't cut up small enough and there was far too much. He was only being kind though, I hadn't the heart to say anything.
Never mind. Only proper food sachets today. They usually digest those quite well.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 21 Jul 17 - 08:20 AM

Don't you love that "heave, heave" sound? It's not a regular occurrence but best suggestion I can make if you are on the scene when it happens is to get some news paper down quick - chasing one off will only make a spread. Other suggestion is if cat is a gobbler to reduce food it can take in one go but feeding isn't that predicable here - Pip likes to ruin Mewan with her cooked for the cat chicken, sometimes the cat will tuck into her cat food, other times she will say "there is far better around" and turn her back on you if you just offer cat food.

Messing, we have a problem at the moment. I can't work out the "psycology" but Mewan was thrown by her run of ops. Used to be good but now, even if outdoors a lot of the time, might ignore that and the tray and decide the carpet is a good place.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: Senoufou
Date: 21 Jul 17 - 07:42 AM

TMI WARNING!!!

Ugh! Our cats are totally Out Of Favour today. I got up at 6am, longing for a nice cup of tea, but Someone had gobbled up his diced chicken too quickly and sicked it all up in their bed. I dealt with that, then noticed my slippers were wet... Someone had done a huge wee on the kitchen floor. Gallons and tons of disinfectant and papertowels later, I noticed Someone had had a very liquid poo all over the utility room floor. The smell was phenomenal. All doors had to be opened, and further decontamination required. (Husband slept on like Sleeping Blooming Beauty)

After disinfecting my own hands, just got the tea and biscuits ready when that ghastly white monster Spirit arrived through the wide-open door, and began to hoover up what was left of the food. Jug of water deployed, then a mop to soak that up.

I finally got my tea at 6.30am. I'm completely knackered now.
Hope this doesn't happen again tomorrow....

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: Charmion
Date: 20 Jul 17 - 01:33 PM

No, Eliza, what you describe there sounds marvelously sane.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: Senoufou
Date: 19 Jul 17 - 03:54 PM

We don't normally let our cats into the bedroom. They usually spend the night shut in the kitchen. But the thunder and lightning were very scary, and they needed reassurance.
Some cats can sleep sensibly at the foot of the bed, but not ours. They just have to squash themselves behind one's knees or under one's armpit. Or sit on one's face. Very uncomfortable!

I'm sitting on the sofa at the moment, and they're scrunched onto my lap. My husband is due home from work very soon. I always smile when he calls out in his funny accent, "Poossy Woossies! 'Ere comes your Daddeeee!" They howl in delight and wind themselves round and round his legs.
This is a total Mad House.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: Charmion
Date: 19 Jul 17 - 03:23 PM

We had a Siamese name of Tokyo Rose who dove under the duvet the minute I did; an absolute menace, she would drowsily knead my defenseless form at zero dark thirty when I had to go to work the next day. The Kevlar nightie has yet to be invented, worse luck.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: Senoufou
Date: 19 Jul 17 - 01:53 PM

Haha keberoxu. But in their view, they've already found one. It's a large goose-down duvet complete with an African and a plump white lady underneath.
More storms are due tonight. Sigh. I suppose we'd better brace ourselves for another onslaught of hot, hairy lodgers trying to get their heads under our armpits...

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: keberoxu
Date: 19 Jul 17 - 01:40 PM

Eliza, maybe you ought to find your furpersons a paper sack to hide in during the next thunderstorm?

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 19 Jul 17 - 08:04 AM

I think te Tom and Jerry writers/animators must have done a pretty good observation of cats, Sen.

Mewan in her older age is mostly a sleeper. She prefers outdoor when the weather is nice. Sometimes she can have an in/out period before she decides where to settle. She is also a bit of a creature of ritual, eg. if one was to walk down the garden early afternoon and she follows, one is supposed to give her a treat at the bench. She will do her own thing then...

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: Senoufou
Date: 19 Jul 17 - 07:40 AM

Cats do often resemble cartoons don't they? Murphy is easily spooked, and when he tries to run on our polished floor, his legs go like mad but he doesn't get anywhere.

When it's raining, our cats peer gloomily out of the back door and decide not to venture out. Then they demand to have the front door opened, so they can look out there. They imagine that each exit from the house presents a different weather option.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 19 Jul 17 - 05:57 AM

Odd cat! Mewan could be funny if it was pouring down otside. She usually looks right and let now, like Tufty crossing the road but we could have a gleeful running outside to a slamming on of the brakes...

Which brings me to Oedipuss and the big (I suspect he was at least part Norwegian Forest). Sort of like Tom and Jerry where Tom finds he's run in to Spike.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: Senoufou
Date: 19 Jul 17 - 05:41 AM

We could do with something along those lines to 'startle' (completely soak) the white Psychocat.
My husband recently chucked a half-full bucket of cold water over it. It fled, shook off the surplus, then five minutes later, it was back again!

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 19 Jul 17 - 05:36 AM

Ours runs when she sees it moved. An other thing that will make her run, not that anyone has ever squirted it at her or threatened her with it, is the hosepipe outside.

I have quite inadvertently got her (and another cat we had) with the micro irrigation watering though. You press the button, the spray starts and out from the vegetation comes a startled cat.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: Senoufou
Date: 19 Jul 17 - 05:27 AM

Murphy is absolutely terrified of the vacuum cleaner. When it's not actually connected but sitting benignly in the utility room, he surreptitiously does a quick wee on it.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 19 Jul 17 - 04:03 AM

We had the thunderstorms too. Mewan can be a nervy little thing (of strangers, of te vacuum cleaner, ...) but I don't think thunder is on te list. Misty, a dog we had, was quite upset by it. You could suspect there was a storm in the distance by her behaviour.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: Senoufou
Date: 19 Jul 17 - 03:30 AM

Ooooh! Blooming little monkey! I bet Pip was absolutely livid.

There was an awful succession of bad thunderstorms during last night, and at about 2am I could hear our two crying in fright after a particularly loud crack of thunder. Muggins got up and foolishly let them into our bedroom. It was a humid, sticky night, and now we had two hairy critters stuck under the duvet with us, wriggling about and licking each other's heads (a 'comfort action'). Husband was NOT pleased, especially when SmokeyPokey decided that he would be safest tucked under his armpit.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 18 Jul 17 - 05:41 PM

Thinking of cats and cooking, Starboard had a fondness for sultana buns. He once took the tops (yep not any bun completely eaten, just a good nibble of each) of a batch Pip cooked.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: Senoufou
Date: 18 Jul 17 - 05:27 PM

I used to make giant apple pies for our church Harvest Supper. I always made my own pastry with butter-and-lard for the fat. Our cats always liked a bit of uncooked pastry to lick.
But once, I left the pies on the counter top to cool and came back to find blasted SmokeyPokey sitting on one, enjoying the warmth. He'd squashed it all in. I 'repaired' it as best I could, brushed off the cat hairs and took it down to the Village Hall with the others.
No-one was any the wiser...

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 18 Jul 17 - 04:52 PM

I'm not sure if I'd really know the word quite like that?, k, but "short" is used in cooking, eg, shortcrust pastry or for me a Christmas treat, shortbread.

I'm no wiser with "Smuckers" but do know the P&G name.

Gone a long way off cats who don't even like the things but for UK jams and jellies, try Tiptree. Part nostalgia on my part as grandad always had a jar or two but they do make some nice stuff.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: keberoxu
Date: 18 Jul 17 - 04:36 PM

Here in the U. S. we call the stuff "shortening" for some reason.
Crisco is made by Smuckers, which company is better known for jars of jam and jelly and so on. There is also a Proctor & Gamble connection.
According to Wikipedia, Crisco has been around since 1911.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 18 Jul 17 - 04:11 PM

Always thought Trex was a glam rock band...

Seriously, I think Trex remains well known in the UK. I've not heard of Crisco.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: keberoxu
Date: 18 Jul 17 - 04:01 PM

The Trex joke went entirely over my head, friend Raggytash,
so thanks for explaining
that it refers to bleeping-cat/cooking-fat.

No Trex on the shop shelves in my hometown.
Had we done likewise,
the cat would probably have been named Crisco.

(Remember Crisco, mudcatters?)

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: keberoxu
Date: 05 Jul 17 - 01:20 PM

The other thing about Anne Lister's Mylo anecdote
is that the box is on top.

I recall someone's opinion:
Cats enjoy looking down on a situation...and the people in it.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: Raggytash
Date: 05 Jul 17 - 08:51 AM

Many years ago a friend had a cat called Trex ..........

I'll leave you to figure that one out.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 05 Jul 17 - 08:35 AM

Thanks S. I know Pip did feel the handling of one dying (I'm no vet or doctor but I'd guess congestive heart failure) cat a bit harsh in earlier days here but she has found the practice she has since used - for I'd say the last 16 years quite excellent.

As for cat names, my favourite was probably Port and Starboard. A black and white sister and brother. They had a white spot on different side of their noses.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: Senoufou
Date: 05 Jul 17 - 06:45 AM

Oh dear, Jon and Pip, so sorry about Oedipuss. Hugs to you both as well!

It really does make a difference when the Vet is compassionate and kind. When we had Minty put to sleep back in January, the Vet managed to make it less upsetting by tenderly carrying the little decorated cardboard box they provided out to our car for us, and gently patting us on the shoulder. These little things stay in the mind afterwards and help enormously with the grief.

I love all these names people have given their cats! I wish I could be clever and inventive, but my choices are pathetic. My worst shames are 'Snowy' and 'Blackie' over the years. How feeble are they for names?

I believe cats move on from a favourite spot from instinct. Before they became involved with humans, they probably changed dens due to flea infestation.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 05 Jul 17 - 06:02 AM

We had Oedipuss put down last month. We knew he was fading but Pip had hoped he would just pass away quietly. I think what wound up as my decision (although it was discussed over the phone and she arranged the vet) was made harder by knowing Pip's wishes but the cat took a turn for the worse while she was in hospital and I couldn't let him go on any longer. Vets were excellent and reassuring.

Down to just Mewan/Fleabag now. Plus Pusspuss, the feral one. He'd been absent for a month but is back to turning up when he feels like it, expecting food and rewarding getting some with hissess...

Back to the OP, I'm not sure I've known a cat like a paper sack but they can like dens, cardboard boxes (and I've had games with boxes with holes, where you poke something through) and dark spaces (ever seen their interest when say a floorboard is lifted).

Sometimes they need to investigate something in their own time but Fleabag can "ask me" to make something out of my duvet for her to settle in, sometimes I make more of an open nest, other times I fold it to make a den with a roof.

But cats are funny creatures, they might well come back to them but chairs, dens, boxes, etc. only remain "in fashion" for a while. Sooner or later, somewhere else becomes their favourite spot.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: Senoufou
Date: 05 Jul 17 - 03:49 AM

Now that our SmokeyPokey is fifteen, he's getting more and more insecure, with a wee bit of dementia. He cries sometimes during the night, even though he has Murphy for company. I find that a quick reassuring stroke and a 'Nightie night boys!" (at 2am or 3am, sigh) calms him down. We never let them out at night, and we shut the cat flap at about 6pm.

After all the affection he's given us over the past fifteen years, I don't really mind getting up to see to him. I know that he probably doesn't have all that long left, and I want his last year/s to be happy.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: leeneia
Date: 05 Jul 17 - 12:52 AM

Raggytash, have you tried providing the timid cat with a box of some sort to sleep in? He might think he is safe in his den.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: Senoufou
Date: 04 Jul 17 - 12:39 PM

We find it never gets any easier to say goodbye to a much-loved cat.
It's good that you have an excellent Vet, one you can trust to make a decision for you when the time comes.

Subject: RE: BS: why does a cat love a paper sack
From: Raggytash
Date: 04 Jul 17 - 07:53 AM

Thanks Senoufou. But for the astonishing Vet, Libby Beck, she should have been put to sleep months ago. I cannot praise the Vet highly enough, so we at least had time to adjust to the inevitable.