Love Me, Love My Cat

If you've been to someone's home one time, you can usually tell if s/he is a cat person just by glancing at the knick knacks and wall art. An ailurophiliac (cat lover) will have those little ceramic kitties in all manner of bizarre poses. And your black pants will be covered with hair when you get up to leave.

If you fallen for a cat lover, here are a few things you should know, along with a few extra trivial points with which to impress her.

---The term "cat nap" is real as cats generally sleep about 16 hours a day. In fact, they sleep more any other mammal.

---Calico cats are almost always female.

---When you pick up a kitten, you'll most likely feel a racing heartbeat. There's nothing wrong. A cat's heart beats twice as fast as a human heart, at 110 to 140 beats per minute.

---Cats are not dogs. When a dog sees its owner, his tail will begin to wag back and forth, doing a happy dance. If a cat wags its tail when you are stroking it, it's time for you to back away. A wagging tail is not a sign of happiness in a cat, but rather a sign of agitation. A quivering tail, on the other hand, is a good thing. When the quiver turns into a wag is your call.

The agitation may not be directed at you, however. Cats get annoyed when they are conflicted, but it doesn't have to be about you. Cats have internal conflicts, much like humans. When they want to do two things at once, the tail starts wagging. Don't take it personally. You should probably back away anyway, just in case.

So, how do you know if the cat is happy? A quivering tail, is a good thing. When the quiver turns into a wag is your call.

Another tail fact that will impress the cat lover involves domesticated cats versus wild cats. The tail of a domestic cat will remain erect and upright while it is walking. A cat in wild walks with its tail down, tuck between its legs.

---Two other signs of happiness are the purr as well as the kneading.

---Then there are the noises. Dogs make about 10 distinct sounds. Cats, on the other hand, emit over 100 different sounds. If you hear a "meow," that cat is speaking to you. Cats won't generally "meow" at other cats. That sound is reserved for humans, so pay attention.

---Cats know when you are speaking, too, and can also pick up on the nuances in the tone you use. Specifically, they know when you are angry. Unlike dogs, however, cats don't really care which cat lovers and non-cat lovers alike understand. Cats aren't discreet when it comes to their aloofness.

---Cats see colors but are generally colorblind, seeing red for green and vice versa. They can't see detail very well, however. They see you, to be sure, but you're a bit on the fuzzy side, so don't expect them to see

---If you take up with a cat lover, know you're going to be sharing her affection for you with the cats for many years. The average lifespan of an indoor cat is about 15 years. By comparison, the outdoor cat only lives about 3-5 years. Remember, these are only averages. One cat lived 36 years and one day.

---In terms of "people" years, cats age differently than you might think. A six month old kitten is similar to a 14-year-old human. A year-old kitten is in the 16-year-old human range. Cats don't follow a set "x" years in cat years equals "y" years in human years. The 8-year-old cat is similar (age wise) to a 40-year-old human.

---Cats hate the smell of lemons and oranges, so if you want to keep a cat off of an area, consider adding a little citrus sent to the area. This works for things kittens are prone to claw. A good scratching post must be the first option, followed by deterrents.

---Do you want to really impress your cat lover. Show up with a catnip plant or fresh grass in a pot.

Know the cat and you will ingratiate the cat lover, for sure. There are other reasons, however. You've heard that pets will keep you young? It's true. Pet owners suffer less stress, fewer heart attacks, and live longer in general.