I'm on the phone - Isis goes nutzo.

Mike wrote:

> I don't know what is going on.
>
> In the mornings, when I have my phone headset on, and am talking to a client
> or a vendor, I walk around the house sometimes. Maybe I am making coffee or
> maybe I am just walking.
>
> When I do this Isis goes wacko-nutzo. She runs around. She does
> kitty-pounce-attacks on me. She zooms all over the place and wants to play
> chase me. She looks at me like she is in some psychotic catnip induced crazy
> mind warp.
>
> When I put the phone down and go back to my computer then everything settles
> down.
>
> I have no explanation for this.
>
> Thank you for listening.
>
> Mike in Illinois
>
>

:)

Cats aren't the only ones... whenever I see/hear somebody talking on a
cellphone in a public place, I really, really want to go stand beside
them and start singing or join in the conversation in an off-the-wall
manner.



pat
 >> Stay informed about: I'm on the phone - Isis goes nutzo. 

When ever I have a conversation with another person,
whether in person or on the phone....my kitty wants
to be apart of the conversation.
Wouldn't you?
How would you feel if your husband/wife/"significant other" didn't
want to hear what you had to say while talking to another person?
Wait.....don't answer that. ;)
But kitty makes it clear what she thinks.
She simply wants to be recognised as being "there".
 >> Stay informed about: I'm on the phone - Isis goes nutzo. 

This may be. This may well be. I live alone and don't usually talk to myself
to the degree I talk on a phone.

But still, there is an element of weirdness going on that transcends a
simple, though logical, explanation. Her schizoid frenzy and total
wackaroonie behaviour are almost, perhaps, a resentment that I am yacking
away at "nobody" when I should be doing what she thinks I should be doing.

Perhaps I am overanalyzing. Or, perhaps I have finally lost my marbles which
is what she has always wanted.

I don't know anymore.

Mike in Illinois

> >
> She thinks you are talking to her and that you are inviting her to
> play. MLB
 >> Stay informed about: I'm on the phone - Isis goes nutzo. 

On Mon, 15 Mar 2004 19:23:05 -0600, "Mike" <mike.TakeThisOut@dot.com> wrote:

>This may be. This may well be. I live alone and don't usually talk to myself
>to the degree I talk on a phone.
>
>But still, there is an element of weirdness going on that transcends a
>simple, though logical, explanation. Her schizoid frenzy and total
>wackaroonie behaviour are almost, perhaps, a resentment that I am yacking
>away at "nobody" when I should be doing what she thinks I should be doing.
>
>Perhaps I am overanalyzing. Or, perhaps I have finally lost my marbles which
>is what she has always wanted.
>
>I don't know anymore.
>
>Mike in Illinois
>
>> >
>> She thinks you are talking to her and that you are inviting her to
>> play. MLB
>
HaHa - maybe she just wants to play with the marbles! MLB
 >> Stay informed about: I'm on the phone - Isis goes nutzo. 

> This may be. This may well be. I live alone and don't usually talk to
myself
> to the degree I talk on a phone.

Perhaps you can do some experiments...

Make a matrix of these elements:
1. Wearing / Not wearing the headset
2. Walking around / Sit
3. Talking / Remain silent

and see how Isis reacts. Then you know what makes Isis thinks you want to
play :)
 >> Stay informed about: I'm on the phone - Isis goes nutzo. 

This message is not archived
 >> Stay informed about: I'm on the phone - Isis goes nutzo. 

Ok. As long as I'm in this 12-step Cat Recovery Program I might as well go
all the way.

About three years ago my friend sold me a very nice used couch for $50.00.
It was in a law firm and he snagged it.

The material on the couch is a tweedy kind of cloth, very diggable by a cat.
You can guess the result. Isis saw this baby and shredded both ends of the
arms. Shredded.

I decided I liked the couch so I went out and bought a slip cover. Now here
is what happens.

When I open the door to my library room where the couch is Isis zooms right
in there and jumps on the slip covered couch. Then she does scritch-scratch.
She knows very very well this is ***Forbidden Behaviour***.

SHE LOOKS ME RIGHT IN THE EYE WHILE SHE DOES SCRITCH-SCRATCH.

I make a move like I'm going to grab her and she zooms out lickety-split.

SHE JUST HAS TO GET THOSE FEW LICKS IN.

She will not touch a scratching post. Oh, no. Only my nice tweedy couch will
do.

Maybe this is another instance of wanting attention. I think it is quite
simple. She is saying, "I'M BEING BAD RIGHT NOW. BAD BAD BAD."

Mike in Illinois


> Whereas Sabrina leaves me alone while on the phone (other than to jump
> in my lap if I'm sitting, but that is her usual behavior). My dog,
> Chloe, will bark when I'm on the phone.
>
> I've got a friend w/ a bird (parrot of sorts) who freaks out and
> screams whenever someone is on the phone. My uncle's bird will sit
> and just repeat over and over "Hello" when you are on the phone.
>
> I think it is common behavior in animals. I can't explain the reason
> "why". My guess is an attention thing. Youa re paying attention to
> someone/something else.
>
> If I get on the computer, or try to read a newspaper/magizine, Sabrina
> will jump in my lap and get in my way.
>
> I think its all similar behavior.
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: I'm on the phone - Isis goes nutzo. 

On Tue, 16 Mar 2004 11:27:05 -0600, "Mike" <mike RemoveThis @dot.com> wrote:

>Ok. As long as I'm in this 12-step Cat Recovery Program I might as well go
>all the way.
>
>About three years ago my friend sold me a very nice used couch for $50.00.
>It was in a law firm and he snagged it.
>
>The material on the couch is a tweedy kind of cloth, very diggable by a cat.
>You can guess the result. Isis saw this baby and shredded both ends of the
>arms. Shredded.
>
>I decided I liked the couch so I went out and bought a slip cover. Now here
>is what happens.
>
>When I open the door to my library room where the couch is Isis zooms right
>in there and jumps on the slip covered couch. Then she does scritch-scratch.
>She knows very very well this is ***Forbidden Behaviour***.
>
> SHE LOOKS ME RIGHT IN THE EYE WHILE SHE DOES SCRITCH-SCRATCH.
>
>I make a move like I'm going to grab her and she zooms out lickety-split.
>
> SHE JUST HAS TO GET THOSE FEW LICKS IN.
>
>She will not touch a scratching post. Oh, no. Only my nice tweedy couch will
>do.
>
>Maybe this is another instance of wanting attention. I think it is quite
>simple. She is saying, "I'M BEING BAD RIGHT NOW. BAD BAD BAD."
>
>Mike in Illinois
>
>
>> Whereas Sabrina leaves me alone while on the phone (other than to jump
>> in my lap if I'm sitting, but that is her usual behavior). My dog,
>> Chloe, will bark when I'm on the phone.
>>
>> I've got a friend w/ a bird (parrot of sorts) who freaks out and
>> screams whenever someone is on the phone. My uncle's bird will sit
>> and just repeat over and over "Hello" when you are on the phone.
>>
>> I think it is common behavior in animals. I can't explain the reason
>> "why". My guess is an attention thing. Youa re paying attention to
>> someone/something else.
>>
>> If I get on the computer, or try to read a newspaper/magizine, Sabrina
>> will jump in my lap and get in my way.
>>
>> I think its all similar behavior.
>>
>>
>Mike: Buy a roll of sheet plastic. Cut a couch-size piece and throw it over the couch
when it is not in use. Cats usually do not like plastic. Use it for
as long as it takes for her to forget the scratching behavior. MLB
 >> Stay informed about: I'm on the phone - Isis goes nutzo. 

This message is not archived
 >> Stay informed about: I'm on the phone - Isis goes nutzo. 

LOLOLOL. Look, let me tell you, from a guy's point of view that message
would be very very clear. LOLOL.

Mike in Illinois

>
> On the other hand, you have it good. When my ex and I were together
> we had 2 cats, Rascal and Squeaky. Rascal didn't like the ex much.
> To the point where she would get up on the bed where he was sleeping
> and pee on top of him. (she had good premonition.... :-) Now
> that was spiteful!
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: I'm on the phone - Isis goes nutzo. 

I may just try this! Frankly, I'd like to leave my library room door open.
What a treat for me!
I can get some painter's plastic from somewhere. I'll put in on the couch.
Once she gets over the shock of it all <-: I could have a couch again!!

Thanks!


> >>
> >>
> >Mike: Buy a roll of sheet plastic. Cut a couch-size piece and throw it
over the couch
> when it is not in use. Cats usually do not like plastic. Use it for
> as long as it takes for her to forget the scratching behavior. MLB
>
 >> Stay informed about: I'm on the phone - Isis goes nutzo. 

"Sabrina's Mom" <jjf_71.DeleteThis@notmail.com> wrote in message
news:4057433a.97726843@news.individual.NET...
> On Tue, 16 Mar 2004 11:27:05 -0600, "Mike" <mike.DeleteThis@dot.com> wrote:
>

(snip)

>
> LOL... :-) Yes, I've seen that behavior before. Chloe (my dog)
> will do certain things like that. Look you square in the eye and
> grab for something she's not supposed to have. Even after you say
> "no" or "drop it"...
>
> The behavior is so, "2 yr old" its laughable. Its the spiteful
> attention getting. My little sister would get this evil look in her
> eye before doing something like that when she was 2 yrs old.
>
> On the other hand, you have it good. When my ex and I were together
> we had 2 cats, Rascal and Squeaky. Rascal didn't like the ex much.
> To the point where she would get up on the bed where he was sleeping
> and pee on top of him. (she had good premonition.... :-) Now
> that was spiteful!
>
>

That's hysterical! LOL. Wish my cat had that foresight......hee hee hee.
kili
 >> Stay informed about: I'm on the phone - Isis goes nutzo. 

Mike..

Consider this... Isis has no clue that there is a third party you may be
talking to... no clue what-so-ever. And this is not inclusive to Isis
only. I can't think of any animal that could know this. When Isis hears
your voice he thinks you're talking to him, of course! How does he respond
when you are being verbal with him without your headset? It's sorta like
reading the paper and having your cat want to lay all over it... because
your eyes are pretty much fixed in a specific area, a cat will want to put
itself in your line of vision for the attention .

If you're walking around and talking out loud, of course Isis thinks you're
playing with and giving him your undivided attention. Just an observation
of mine since living the past 7 years with two cats of my own (which I've
managed to spoil the heck out of all by myself!) When you take your headset
off, I'll assume you've also quit talking. Now Isis thinks playtime is over
and things go back to normal. See, it's not so hard to think like a cat!

Peace,

Tori

Mike wrote in message ...
>I don't know what is going on.
>
>In the mornings, when I have my phone headset on, and am talking to a
client
>or a vendor, I walk around the house sometimes. Maybe I am making coffee or
>maybe I am just walking.
>
>When I do this Isis goes wacko-nutzo. She runs around. She does
>kitty-pounce-attacks on me. She zooms all over the place and wants to play
>chase me. She looks at me like she is in some psychotic catnip induced
crazy
>mind warp.
>
>When I put the phone down and go back to my computer then everything
settles
>down.
>
>I have no explanation for this.
>
>Thank you for listening.
>
>Mike in Illinois
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: I'm on the phone - Isis goes nutzo.