Carolyn Holm

Dear Mom,
I don’t understand cats. Winston comes up to me and bumps me with his head. He does that a lot. Puffin sometimes does that too. It’s a weird way to say hello.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
It’s a sweet gesture! You don’t think so? 
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
I don’t know. It confuses me.  I think he wants me to move over so he can get into my bed with me.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
The head bump is a cat sign of affection, sweetie. But Winston probably would also like you to let him snuggle with you in your bed.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
I don’t like to share my bed.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
I know you don’t. But he keeps trying. You are nice to put up with it sometimes.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
I don’t like it when the cats are rude to you.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Rude? We have a lot of banter back and forth, but I don’t think of that as being rude to me.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
They are rude all the time!!!!!
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Okay, tell me how you mean that.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Like when Winston rolls over on his back to invite a tummy rub, and then as soon as you touch his tummy, he attacks your hand.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Sweetie, in that example I was the rude one.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
WHAT?????????
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
When he shows his tummy, it’s a demonstration of trust. That’s really important to cats. But then I get all playful and rudely attack his belly.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
That makes no sense. He should purr when you rub his tummy.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
That’s what a dog would do. Cats have a lot of boundaries, especially on their bellies. You are reading him like you would a dog.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Winston is like a dog!
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
True, as cats go, Winston is definitely doggish. I love that he follows me around the house like a dog. But he is still a cat. And the language is totally different.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Another thing they do, they will sit in the same room with you, but act like you aren’t even there. That’s so rude!
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
That’s not rude. They are just hanging out. Sharing the room. Sharing time together. 
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
If you say so. But sometimes Puffin hisses at you or Dad. 
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Boundaries again. That’s when we aren’t paying attention and pet him when or where he doesn’t want us to. He’s a bit of a grump sometimes, but it’s rude on our part not to pay attention.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
There’s another thing cats do. They sit right next to you, but with their backs turned to you. Instead of looking lovingly up at your face!
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
Oh that. Yes, it’s another thing that means something completely different for cats than for dogs. For them, turning your back on someone is a sign of trust. So it’s a compliment. Also, for cats it’s a buddy thing for everyone to sit facing the same way. It shows pack solidarity.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
That makes no sense.
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
That’s because you are a dog.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
Puffin stares at you. And then slowly blinks. It is very provocative. And so rude!
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
It’s a cat version of blowing kisses.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
WHAT?????
XOXO Poppy

Dear Poppy,
When a cat blinks, they are sending a loving signal.
Love, Carolyn

Dear Mom,
I don’t understand cats at all.
XOXO Poppy

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