by Crystal Shimo

Created on: May 01, 2009   Last Updated: May 03, 2009

Unique Cat Behavior Traits

She was a stray that caught our attention because she came all the way up to our porch and 'chirped' when we were bring the groceries inside our house. Beautifully furred in a gray coat with a cloud white tuft at her throat, she had the most gorgeous green eyes. We lured her into our house with some fresh tuna, and gave her a bath.

She never meowed, or even growled. In fact, she purred when we were soaping her down. Her purr was loud and rumbling. Her entire body vibrated and my hand and arm shook just as much as her body. As she stayed with us, we learned she was very friendly with our children. In fact, she guarded them whenever they took a bath. When they appeared to go under the water, whether it was to wash their hair or to blow water bubbles, she started 'chirping' and tried to drag them all the way out of the tub. She did the same thing when my husband or I took a bath. She liked water, loved playing in it herself as long as she could stand up in it, but she knew how dangerous it could be, and took great care that those she cared about were guarded over when they were in water.

Now, liking water is usually a unique trait given to wild cats due to their need to keep clean in their jungle or desert environment. I have learned since then she was a Russian blue that had the disqualifying breeding trait of that white tuft at her throat. I am not positive if she was born with the trait of liking water, or if she learned it in the time she was a stray. I do know that the toleration of small children is a trait of Russian blues whether male or female. With two small children, I liked that trait a lot.

There was one trait that she had that I was sure she was born with, and that is the 'chirping'. She never meowed for the entire year and a half that we had her. She only chirped, like a bird, and she purred like she did that first time we gave her a bath. She only growled at our other cat when he was too forceful at wanting her attention. She was a very aloof cat, even more so than most other cats that I have encountered. But when I mimicked her chirp, she would come every time. It was an excellent way for her to learn her name. I would 'chirp' and then call her name and then 'chirp' again. I am told that most Russian blues have that trait of chirping more than meowing.

If we were to ever get another cat, I would get a Russian blue. Even if we had several cats in the area, I would still wait until we were able to get a Russian blue.

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