4 ms·

Yes, there's something interesting going on there with smells and body language. It's a matter of how flexible you want to be with the word "story". In a strict

Yes, there's something interesting going on there with smells and body language. It's a matter of how flexible you want to be with the word "story". In a strict sense, there needs to be who, what, when, where, why, and how. I think some of those elements are there for other animals, but maybe not all of them, and maybe not an ability to ask clarifying questions.

ddingus 3y ago
Yeah. Having discovered this dynamic through careful observation of my animals, story seems appropriate. A session with the cat yields: Who: Me What: Trip away from pack When: Today, more days maybe Where: Various places, work, car, outside places Why: Who knows what the cat thinks. She does differentiate a trip away from a food run How: in that moving thing And me with the cat: Who: Cat What: romp in flower beds or play with squirrels (they leave a different scent and the moss on the trees helps) Fight with that other cat. When: recently Where: grassy yard, trees, across the street Why: Cat bored playful finds squirrels. Enemy cat entered our territory, etc... How: On foot, maybe through fence. Given some time observing, smelling, listening, one can get a pretty great sense of the day! One other thing I should say is animals are like us, just simpler. Their every move communicates! They lack the layers of abstraction needed to make it otherwise. I can gather a lot from a few minutes spent close, feeling, watching, smelling, watching the cat move and vocalize. I find the whole thing remarkable! And it was the cat who educated me! If I pull up in the car and do not roll my window down, I get the look. If I do, then she is happy to jump in and exchange events of the day, essentially adding me to her story. The question sometimes happens. Usually, it is that paw on my chest when I get up to leave. Looks for all the world like, "hold on, I haven't got it all yet, or "this is new, WTF? Don't get me wrong. Not all animals are that high functioning. We have a couple and in my experience the more we try to interact and the less inhibited we are about all the ways, rubbing, smelling, etc... the more a higher functioning animal will respond with their own efforts. I only wish I had this insight earlier in life! My animal interactions are far more rich than they were before. Yes, let us flex these things a little and appreciate these beings here with us.

ddingus 3y ago

Yeah. Having discovered this dynamic through careful observation of my animals, story seems appropriate. A session with the cat yields: Who: Me What: Trip away from pack When: Today, more days maybe Where: Various places, work, car, outside places Why: Who knows what the cat thinks. She does differentiate a trip away from a food run How: in that moving thing And me with the cat: Who: Cat What: romp in flower beds or play with squirrels (they leave a different scent and the moss on the trees helps) Fight with that other cat. When: recently Where: grassy yard, trees, across the street Why: Cat bored playful finds squirrels. Enemy cat entered our territory, etc... How: On foot, maybe through fence. Given some time observing, smelling, listening, one can get a pretty great sense of the day! One other thing I should say is animals are like us, just simpler. Their every move communicates! They lack the layers of abstraction needed to make it otherwise. I can gather a lot from a few minutes spent close, feeling, watching, smelling, watching the cat move and vocalize. I find the whole thing remarkable! And it was the cat who educated me! If I pull up in the car and do not roll my window down, I get the look. If I do, then she is happy to jump in and exchange events of the day, essentially adding me to her story. The question sometimes happens. Usually, it is that paw on my chest when I get up to leave. Looks for all the world like, "hold on, I haven't got it all yet, or "this is new, WTF? Don't get me wrong. Not all animals are that high functioning. We have a couple and in my experience the more we try to interact and the less inhibited we are about all the ways, rubbing, smelling, etc... the more a higher functioning animal will respond with their own efforts. I only wish I had this insight earlier in life! My animal interactions are far more rich than they were before. Yes, let us flex these things a little and appreciate these beings here with us.