As the time runs out before Jerry Coyne flies to his forever home (on Saturday), Kitten Whisperer Gayle Ferguson has sent a batch of pictures. There are also a few nuggets of information:
Jerry is really aggressive about noms. When he’s tired of his own bowl he will push his head in front of another kitten’s bowl and growl. He’s the only kitten who does this!
A post from Gayle’s Facebook page:
I think she’s referring to “machine gunning,” in which cats open and close their mouths very quickly, making a funny noise when they see prey. (It’s also called “chirping,” “chattering,” and other names.) There are many explanations, but none are convincing. Here’s one from Pets Adviser, which also has some videos of the behavior:
Here’s a likely reason: They’re practicing the “kill bite.” Feline behavioral specialists tell us that the muscle movements involved during chirping are very similar to movements seen with the special neck bite that cats in the wild use to kill birds and small rodents. In other words, chirping cats — frustrated because they can’t quite get to their prey — are using those same muscles they would use if they were killing the prey.
The kittens “caught” their first mouse the other morning. Molly found it first and spent some time throwing it up in the air and then batting it about on the floor. She then ran around with it in her mouth, growling, while the other kittens chased her. When Jerry got it he was VERY possessive, growling fiercely at the other kittens. Mouse had been caught, killed and deposited behind my recliner chair in the night by Millie, my grown up cat.
Awww…they’re getting all growed up! Sounds like Millie is trying to be a good parent.
b&
Now we possess clear evidence that Jerry Coyne preys with others.
That thing that cats do is also called nattering. Our little old lady here does it with birds and rodents on the other side of the glass door, and insects on the ceiling. Sometimes when I cradle her and walk around with her, she scans the ceiling for critters.
Lovely photos, Gayle. Great job with the kitties.
Looks like Jerry takes after his namesake in the noms dept. :-))
I’ve always thought that chattering sounded like a creaky rocking-chair. Never heard Freddie do it, but previous kitties have.
Baihu doesn’t do it, but I’ve known other cats who do. I think it might have something to do with the fact that Baihu’s more interested in actually catching whatever than pretending he is; instead of sitting and looking and chattering, he stalks, including hiding behind things. Very tautly sprung, too, ready to pounce; I have no doubt that he’d catch plenty of birds if I gave him the chance to. It’d save on the food bills and be fun for him…but the negatives so much outweigh those two meagre positives that it’s simply not an option.
b&
Looks like Jerry takes after his namesake in the noms dept. :-))
So we can conclude that in a few months, Jerry Coyne the cat will get into cowboy boots too.
If Gayle has any boots (or any friends who have boots), I’m sure Jerry Coyne, Fld., could get entirely into one.
And, yes — that is an hint, hint….
b&
Aww cute!
Clearly, Lil Jerry is also a foodie!
He certainly is mighty cute!
Kittens, the cutest creatures of all.
A fine looking beastie he is!