Chance is a 4 yr old red+white MC lookalike and actalike. He will spontaneously sit up on his hind legs and paw rhythmically with his front paws agains anything smooth. He will do this on the sliding glass door or the bathroom mirror. What is this about? It began with the glass door to the outside so I assumed it had to do with communicating with outside cats that sometimes "visit" or taunt(?) him. He will do this even when there are no visitors in sight. And it doesnt explain why he likes to climb up on the back of the toilet or the sink and do his little "paw dancing" on the mirror there,too!

FYI: I love his vocabulary, though! he seems to clearly understand "Hungry? Crunchies? Ball, bird, bug, dot (laser pointer), mouse, drink". Notice that none of these are verbs? He definitely won't do anything on command.

-- Anonymous, July 21, 2000

Answers

Lynn, I would be interested to hear any responses you get, because my 1 YO Silver Classic Tabby MC does the same thing. She does it on the side of our bookcase mostly, but finds new smooth places every now and then (like the glass of a framed picture). She is not chasing a bug or anything, and it is rythmic like you describe like she's digging for something, but no claws are out. Glad to hear someone else with this trait. We thought Mallorie was just little crazy. Janet

-- Anonymous, July 24, 2000

I'd also be interested in the answer to this. Both my Main Coons, a 3 1/2 year old male and a 2 1/2 year old female do this to smooth surfaces, particularly to windows, sliding glass doors, etc. At first I thought they were intrigued by their reflections but now I'm not so sure. Hope someone has an answer.

-- Anonymous, July 24, 2000

I too would like an answer to this as I have a year old next month, Maine Coon and she loves to paw smooth surfaces with both paws at the same time like she is digging, the fridge, the shiny kitchen floor, any door that is shut, she HATES shut doors, has to know what is on other side :)

Cindy

-- Anonymous, July 24, 2000

I have a 4 year old Ragdoll, Leo, who does this very same thing with the mirror in the master bathroom. We have always laughed and said that Leo is "boxing" with his twin! My 4 Maine Coons don't do this, yet.

-- Anonymous, August 02, 2000

We have a 4 year old MC female and she does this to the balcony door. First I felt like giving her a sponge to clean my window but then all she wanted was to go outside.

-- Anonymous, September 05, 2000

My cat too, Peanut does that every time I go out the glass back door. She stands up and paws the glass as if it will then open for her and she can go out with me too. I just assumed she wanted to go out with me. She doesn't like to be left alone!!

-- Anonymous, September 14, 2000

geesh, i always thought they slid their paws on smooth surfaces , cause it just felt good to them// lol

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2000