Maine Coon Jay’s 2017 Christmas

This is my eighth Christmas with mum (see video at the end of this blog). Best years of my life – yes, I know that is my whole life! During that time we have developed a way to tell each other what we are thinking (or in my case usually what I want). In a previous blog I explained my interpretation of what certain words mean to me when mum says them. If you want a refresher here is a link to that blog:

Five Years Together and Counting

 

It is only fair, then, that I allow mum to say what she thinks when I say certain things. It’s all yours mum.

 

Thanks little guy. Jay is very communicative and has many mews and sounds that mean different things. Here are just a few of them.

1. I will start with my favourite. Jay and I have a recliner and spend a lot of time in it. Jay lies asleep down my legs – like this:

 

Then sometimes he turns around and crawls up my lap and puts his head on my shoulder with my arm wrapped around him. Then he begins to coo. This is like a purr, only with a pigeon coo sound. He rubs his head into my shoulder while he coos. I know he is telling me that he loves me. I’m a sap. I admit it.

2. Jay makes very gentle little grunts sometimes when he is asleep and this is followed by a quiet snore which is so sweet. I know he is sleeping soundly and feeling ok. (Jay – I do NOT snore. I merely communicate with mum while asleep).
3. Meow, meow, meow – high-pitched while running around me in a tight circle. Sounds like musical notes. This is easy. He is super happy and is expecting to eat. Jay loves his dry food. Like dessert for a kid. He likes his wet food too but once he realizes it is time for dry food, he goes a little crazy running around me and meowing. For such a big strong boy he has a very high-pitched meow. (Jay – don’t listen to mum. I have a very deep manly meow)
4. See 3.) but only one high-pitched meow. Jay gets his dry food in two portions. If I give it to him all at once he eats (inhales) it too fast. He gets the second portion when I turn out the lights. After his first half he constantly comes to the bed and leaps up with his paws on the top of the mattress next to my head (Jay is very tall), gives his one meow into my face and then runs back to his bowl and sits there. He is persistent!

5. A quick guttural but surprisingly quiet sound that goes from low to high in one motion. Something like a combination of a groan and a meow. It always sounds like a kid who is not getting what they want and they are saying “why not?” Once a week I buy him grass which he loves. I store it on top of the refrigerator. He goes and sits by the fridge often hoping to get some. When I run my hand over the fridge and then show him nothing in my hand, he makes this sounds and hops away. Cracks me up every time I hear it.
6. A growl/howl means “get off my property”. Our apartment is a mostly above-ground basement apartment with lots of windows throughout and perches for Jay to see outside – one of the reasons I chose this place, for him. He watches the outdoor cats who live upstairs and squirrels and birds and he is fine with them except for a neighbourhood black and white cat that he hates. Day (or usually night) he starts this howling and races from window to window to try and banish this interloper.

Many more and then there are all the different types of purring but I’ll leave them for another time. Just don’t let anyone tell you that cats don’t have emotions or that they are incapable of expressing them because I understand Jay very well. Back to him now.

Every year mum says this is going to be the best Christmas ever and mum is always right.

We both wish you the best of the holiday season. Here’s hoping your memories are all as good as ours have been. Here is a quick video look at my Christmas journey: