Decoding the cat

[Mollycat]

Does anyone else decode their cat like this? Molly's pink nose changes colour according to the temperature she feels, the darker the warmer she is. Makes sense it's just blood flow to the extremities making it darker pink. Then rough coat and dandruff on her lower back are a sure sign of pain, discomfort or stress. And finally her eyes are a beautiful clear green when she is well but turning amber or copper indicates she is feeling unwell, it usually goes with sitting hunched and being less active and often GI troubles. Her coat texture also seems to change and turn extra silky when she is feeling relaxed and sociable. I have noticed some of these with other cats but Molly seems particularly easy to read.

[Bbarb]

Well, yes - to a much smaller degree. Her coat feels rough when she needs worming (OK I'm human, and I forget when she's due) but apart from excessive scratching, or limping I can't say she gives much away.
She does make it obvious when she needs the door opening for her - but then (like most of her cousins) can't decide whether she want's IN or OUT - and there's no clues there.

[Mollycat]

Ah yes the door, that invention that a cat is perpetually on the wrong side of.

Molly is an indoor cat and i am very keen to provide grass but being only human, disorganised and forgetful, often I don't have a new pot ready when the old pot is more like hay. Bobby used to signal this by chamming on the artificial grass in my artificial flowers. Molly however greets me near the door when I come in with a special 'look' of big questioning eyes, head high and neck outstretched as if to sniff anything out that might be hidden in a pocket or behind my back, back low and tail curved at half mast. Did you get me any grass? Sigh. All right poppet I will go back out down two flights of stairs and scour the area for a handful of suitable grass for you!

[Bbarb]

As an ignorant owner of come and go (outside) cats I've often wondered what they do with their indoor grass? I sometimes see mine eating grass outside and they invariably sick it back up again soon afterwards.

[Mollycat]

As an ignorant owner of come and go (outside) cats I've often wondered what they do with their indoor grass? I sometimes see mine eating grass outside and they invariably sick it back up again soon afterwards.

I have learned more about grass and cats since having indoor cats than I ever thought possible. Grass isn't supposed to make them sick and they don't eat it for that purpose. Although their digestion can't break down the cellulose cell walls, the small amount of natural oil they get out of it is supposed to help smooth along the intestinal tract. If they eat a lot in one go, yes they will bring it back up. Also all grass is not equal, the type that has very fine thread-like leaves and the type that is rough and good for whistling is more likely to make them sick. But the smooth broad type that is sold as cat grass is less likely to make them sick ... unless like mine they really gorge on it. Both Molly and Boo when he was still with us always enjoyed a salad starter before their meals, both went a bit over the top with it. I have a video of me giving them a new tray of grass and they go crazy for it even though their old tray was still down and still good! Molly is the grey one, Boo Fluffypants is the Ragdoll.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqoquoh-dNg

[Bbarb]

You live and learn every day! Thanks.