Has your cat ever played pilot fish with you?

[Roon]

You'll be walking across the room or across the yard and they have to be two feet in front of you keeping pace! Does anyone know why they do this?

[TrogL]

1. they're scouting the path

(learn how to spee9l)

They think you can't walk across the yard without hurting yourself or getting attacked by a frog.

[Adsos Letter]

3. ROFL

This is so true; I think it is associated with one of their other "needs": to somehow observe their surroundings while ensconced on the highest point in the room...

[Adsos Letter]

2. we keep

an Austrailian Cattle Dog (OCD "Herder") in our house with 3 cats, a roaming chinchilla, and 3 humans. Imagine the fun... :D

[Kajsa]

4. I wish!

My two guys AND the neighbor's kitty
show their affection by running right
in front of my feet, when I'm walking.

It's either affection or, they think it
would be sooo funny to trip up the 'ole gal.

;-)

[Adsos Letter]

5. I hear ya'...ya' really gotta' wonder what they're thinkin'

at times. I'd like to know what goes on here when all the humans are away...

[Kajsa]

17. LOL- Have you seen that kitty commercial,

the one where the house kitties invite all their
friends over for a party?

They run out the cat door when the humans come home.

The commercial is for multiple cat households kitty litter-or-
catfood. I can't remember which one.

Hmm-- it does make ya wonder what they do when we're gone.

:rofl: :hi:

[Roon]

18. I don't think I want to know what they do when I am gone

as long as they don't poop on the floor or eat my plants..LOL

[Kajsa]

22. LOL- Good point!

Sometimes it's better to not know.

:hi:

[Adsos Letter]

19. I think it is a commercial for kitty litter...all I know is that when I am

home unexpectedly for the day they all seem a bit...disconcerted...like there is something they would like to be doing, but can't. Personally, I think the dog, chinchilla, and 3 cats all drop the "games" they play when we're around, and sit and have a cordial discussion (over their favorite beverage) regarding how the humans in the house should be manipulated...each offering it's own suggestion. I know the dog gets up on the furniture, 'cause I've busted her trying to be a chameleon:





:D

[Kajsa]

23. Oh, that's so cute!

She's really trying to blend in with the furniture.
Unfortunately for her, the light fur on her paws
gives her away.

She's a neat dog.
;-)


:hi:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. They are figuring out how to trip you

so you'll fall down and break your neck, and then they can eat you.

[Arkansas Granny]

7. My cat tends to do this when the neighborhood tom cat has come

into our yard and I'm shooing him off. I think she likes to show him what kind of backup she can bring to a fight. She's not nearly that brave if I'm not out there with her.

On the other hand, who among us can truly say that we've figured out why our cats do the things they do?

:shrug:

[Roon]

8. I think she likes to show him what kind of backup she can bring to a fight.

Awww, that is so cute!!!!!!!! :o

[zanne]

9. They're trying to eliminate us. nt

Don't think your cats can't talk. When we're sleeping soundly, they're all on the phone with their little buddies all over the world planning "top-of-the-stairs accidents".

[uppityperson]

10. my dog does this all the time, cats don't though

We play a game with our 95# dog of suddenly changing direction and he has to scoot to get back in the scout position. I like your term "pilot fish".

[Roon]

11. That was my Bobbyspeak

My ex-lover. He has a million of them. That is why everyone loves him so much..LOL

[Roon]

15. Another cute thing my ex used to do

He would whistle and walk around the house. Eventually the four cats would start following him around because of the whistling...then he would declare "I'm pied piper!!!"

[DS1]

12. mine will scout about 20 feet ahead of me in the woods

wait for me to catch up, and check out the next zone of danger

[Roon]

13. Cute!! eom

[Robeson]

14. Sure. They're trying to direct you to the food bowl.....

...;-)

[Roon]

16. Yeah

they do that too!! But even when their bowl is full, they will lead me around the house.

[anti-everything]

20. My cats don't do that,

but I follow them sometimes. It drives them nuts.

[Jamastiene]

21. They are leading you.

Cats can still remember when people used to worship them. They are walking ahead of you and looking back on occasion to give you orders to fetch them a bowl of milk or some other thing a go-for would go for.

Either that or they are studying your gait so they can better trip you next time you walk with a plate of food in your hands. If they do it just so, the food will either stay in the plate or fly away from the plate. Either is better than having the plate turn completely upside down over the food. These things have to be planned and practiced to work out right for the cat.

[NashVegas]

24. Mine Does When She Wants to Be Chased

funny things

[Brigid]

25. My younger one does this when she wants to be fed.

She apparently thinks I will forget to do that unless she stays right under my feet when I get up in the morning.

[EFerrari]

26. My rescue friends and I learned to do the "kitten shuffle"

so we wouldn't accidentally step on a kitten. Because they just seem to follow the feet. :shrug: