The Cat Club

If you're a dog owner, you nearly always know where your dog is, and what he's up to. But with cats it's a different story. When I open the door in the morning all 5 run off to do their own thing.

We think we know: lazing about in the sun, digging up the neighbor's garden. And when mine come back after an hour or so, they smile and look like little angels. Until I find a dead mouse in a corner or a dismembered insect. But they act the way I expect and want them to act. But for a long time I've had my suspicions about them. And I was right, they do a whole lot more than we think they do; they're just not telling us.

I have to admit: the idea isn't new or mine, this spying on cats. I read a book about it, a long time ago. But it was a revelation to me and I want to share it with you.

The book claimed that cats have a sort of "cats club". Every now and then they have gatherings, usually at dusk. I don't know how all the cats in the neighborhood know about these meetings but everyone shows up. There is no fighting, even rivals sit next to each other in peace. There is some distance between the cats, about a metre.(2.5 ft) They don't sit in a circle or something, but they can certainly see every member very clearly. Nobody makes a sound, but everybody is very relaxed, paws folded under belly, and half asleep.

As a cat-lover you know that cats have their own "hunting-grounds", which in town means that they might have their own back-yard and part of another area. Normally they won't leave these areas for a couple of reasons: 1. The moment you leave, another cat moves in.2. You don't know if there's a big tomcat there and you might have to fight.3.You might not find your way back to your own house, i.e.safety.4. You might not find your way back to the food bowl.

So cats usually defend their territory and won't leave it. These territories are not defined by the fences we've put up, and appear sometimes a bit zig-zag patterned to us. The borders are clearly marked by smell from the cats glands by rubbing their bodies against a tree or something. My Alpha-cat is very busy with this marking and so far he's claimed our backyard as well as the neighbors, but only half of it.

But there are "neutral areas" as well. Like us not inviting everybody to our homes, and going to a bar or a restaurant to socialize, these areas are mutually agreed on, as gathering places.

After reading the book I knew they existed, but even after all these years never found out where they were. I didn't even suspect my own critters were involved in it.

About 4 months ago I panicked a bit; it was already 6 pm and no cats. I called and called and rattled the box with cat food. No cats. After an hour or so, they strolled up and went calmly inside. I was puzzled and told a neighbor of mine about it. Since she doesn't have pets, but is very interested we talked on about the phenomena of these "cat-clubs".

"But that is what I was watching just last night!" she said. "I saw at least 25 cats, including yours sitting on my driveway and on fences. Yes, they looked very relaxed and at ease with each other. Then all of a sudden this "meeting" was over and they all went home as if someone had given a signal".

To conclude this article: I have no idea as to why cats do this, except to socialize now and then. But if you ever see it, you're privileged indeed.