Ear Tufts!

[angieh]

I have noticed that a lot of feral type cats have little tufts of hair at the tops of their ears which I find quite attractive (I'm strange like that! :oops: ). Can anyone tell me whether it is a trait of feral types or whether it can be found elsewhere? :D :D :D

[pinklizzy]

I've noticed it with the feral and semi-feral farm cats that we have in to neuter (we do lots under the CPL schemes) I don't think I've seen it all that much with the 2nd/3rd generation of 'domestic'cats.

[Elaine]

You might find this interesting Angie. Scroll down to where it says ears.
http://www.messybeast.com/cat_talk2.htm

[dandysmom]

Great link, Elaine" I love "Messy Beast" have it in my bookmarks!

[EmmaG]

That is an interesting article Elaine, especially this bit

Slowly blinking breaks up an aggressive stare and is a reassuring signal between cats and between owners and cats. Yawning is even more reassuring!

When I do the blinky eyes at my cats, both of them yawn and respond very well if I yawn back at them.

[Elaine]

I blink slowly at Eva all the time and gives me this look of "oh get lost" back:lol:

[angieh]

What an interesting website Elaine. I've bookmarked it for later study. Interesting about the ears!

Oh and Emma - yes, I once unwittingly blinked slowly at a colleague at work, being a "cat person" she said I had given her a cat kiss! :D :D :D I didn't know about the yawns, will go and practice with Merlin. He always blinks back if I blink at him! I wonder if that has anything to do with the reason that yawning is SO contagious - it's an anti-aggression mechanism! I always learn SO MUCH ON CATSEY! :lol: :lol: :lol:

[EmmaG]

I blink slowly at Eva all the time and gives me this look of "oh get lost" back:lol:

lol try blinking slowly AND yawning!!! that will confuse the little madam :-D

[angieh]

Actually it was seeing those photos of Topsey that made me think about ear tufts - he or she has them!

[EmmaG]

Angie, yet us know how you get on, if I slow blink at Bronwyn she is always yawning back at me

[EmmaG]

Actually it was seeing those photos of Topsey that made me think about ear tufts - he or she has them!

Strange, I noticed that as well

[dandysmom]

I first read about that blinking "kitty kiss" years ago in a cat magazine I took. Either I do it wrong or I have weird cats, because none of mine have ever responded...this is 6 cats I'm talking about......

[Elaine]

Right Eileen, me and you, its experiment time:D
We must both blink slowly and yawn at our special girls and see what the outcome is:-D

[babycakes]

I always blink at Denis and when he is a cute mood he starts the blinking, he winks at me too but that's a different story!!! It settles cats down and is a sign of communication. When I first took Denis to the cattery the lady there said 'I have tried everything with him even blinking!' which I thought was cute as he had stayed loyal to me....

The tufts thing on ears probably attracts more sound waves and therefore is needed if feral

[Elaine]

Ok, I have tried 3 times now, blinking slowly and yawning at Eva. She just looks at me in disgust and turns away dismissively:lol:

[bobbie3917]

great site have booked marke it to re-read again

there are a few breeds that have ear tufts such as Maine coons there are about 4 or 5 others sorry i dont know which, maybe there has been the odd pedigree cat fathering kittens

[bobbie3917]

this is Scarlott one of my old Maine coons she has ear tufts but only small ones most MC have really big 1s

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/bobbie3917/cats/scarlott5m6.jpg

[angieh]

What a lovely looking cat!

[Hreow]

Abyssinians have ear-tufts as well, it's one of the breed "bonus features". Being short-hair cats they have no chance compared to those of a Maine coon. :-)

[Steph]

Cats and ear tufts?-Most interesting. I have noticed over the years that I am starting to grow hair from my ears-it`s most unseemly in a Gent but having spent 20 odd years taking in waifs and strays it makes sense;)

[angieh]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

So's my OH!!!

[Soupie]

Both my pedigree Selkirks have ear tufts - in fact many of the breed do and the only "feral" cat in their pedigree was Miss De Pesto of Noface 21 years ago who had one pedigree parent ;)

Quite a few of the pedigree breeds have ear tufts so I wonder if some of them have been sowing wild oats among the ferals/moggies? I've had many farm cats and exferals and I can't say any of them have had ear tufts - I wonder if it's an area thing as well which might indicate the sowing of wild oats too!

[angieh]

The question of blinking - I have noticed that rather than slowly blinking, Merlin blinks with both eyes at the same time and then sort of screws his eyelids together a bit, which sort of makes his whole face look as if he is smiling! Of course, if you do this back, you can't see what your cat is doing next!!!

[babycakes]

The question of blinking - I have noticed that rather than slowly blinking, Merlin blinks with both eyes at the same time and then sort of screws his eyelids together a bit, which sort of makes his whole face look as if he is smiling! Of course, if you do this back, you can't see what your cat is doing next!!!

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I think that counts as being the same thing. He is gesturing.

[angieh]

Oh yes BC - and I hope the gesture is not a rude one while I have my eyes closed!!!!

[babycakes]

It involved two paws on one hand slightly sliding across his cheek