Conference misery::feline_v1

My Persian, Jasper (fairly recently acquired; see note on declawing), lies
on his back quite often.  He looks particularly cute because he's fluffy.
He usually assumes this position on the rug; at least, I've never seen him
lie this way on the couch or the bed.  My other cat, Chayna, sometimes lies
on her back on the couch, leaning against the back cushion.  So, no, your
cat is not an anomaly.  I won't say he's not weird, since I don't know him
(hee hee), and because MY cats certainly ARE weird (and would be even if they
didn't lie on their backs sometimes!).
							-- Nina

C'mell often rolls over on her back in front of me, while giving me "come
hither" looks. Usually this happens right after I come out of the shower,
confirming our suspicion that she is a reincarnated madam. (What an
appropriate next life for the proprietoress of a "cat house".) 

One of my cats lies on his back occasionally. The other never. I guess it
just depends on the cat.

Is your cat wierd? Well, the one I have that lies on its back is *definitely*
wierd, so...

BTW, Don't ever try to scratch my cat's belly while it is lying thus. I think
the position is a trap so he can chew on some unsuspecting soul's hand!

-- Bill

Some of our cats lie on their back and some don't.  The ones that do
it seem to be trying to scratch their back.

We'll often scratch their tummies when they do this, but the really
excitable ones act like they've caught some prey.  After a few seconds
of mild scratching and biting, we're usually ready to call it quits.

					John

Erick sometimes sits around with his tongue out. Boy, is he ever cute when
he does that. Anybody else seen this behavior? (He sleeps on his back too,
and we consider him rather weird.)

Val & Jon

One of the cats I live with does that with his tongue sometimes, too.
He's dog-like in some undefinable way, and when his tongue is out, it
just makes him seem more so. Just the pink tip of it peeps out.

He's also looking for a good home...Softy of a few notes back...

Christine

My kitty does not lie on his back too often, but he does use a pillow
whenever possible.  He takes over the couch with the pillow on the end,
or will hop into my bed and always use the pillow.... spoiled....
(but then what cat isn't??....)

Nichole

     Little Kitty frequently stretches out on the couch on her back.  She 
also sometimes stretches out on her back on my bed.  When she lays like that 
she likes for me to stroke her tummy, but only for a little bit!  A friend 
of mine's cat also does the same thing, and he has countless pictures to 
prove it!  My other cat, Puddie, never lays on her back, though.  I guess 
they're individuals, too!


					... jel ...

If you all think your cat is weird and would like to get rid of it, I have
a dog that could use an hoers douvre.

                                                    Mike K.

If that was an attempt at humor...........

	If not!!!!!!!!!! (I think I'm going to be sick!)

Gee, I was going to ignore him and hope he went away... Such wit we
can do without. Ah, well, that's what you risk with a public notes
file!

As to the topic at hand - my cats are both fond of odd positions,
with Abigail being the feet-in-the-air one and Chiun given to putting
both paws over his face. They've taken possession of a big pillow that
was temporarily (I thought) on the couch, and it makes a lovely double-
decker catseat for them. Abigail gets the top, next to the lamp, and
Chiun gets the lower part, along with most of the rest of the couch.

They had a tiger's boxing match last night, both of them sitting back
on their haunches, ears flat. They each raised one paw and carefully
batted at one another for several rounds before calling it a draw and
retiring for the evening...

-b

	I guess Cinnamon also has her weird points at times. For example; she
will sleep on her head! (This is hard to describe; so bear with me.) If you
picture the normal curled up cat lying on a chair and curl it up just as tight
as you can; then take it and put on the back of the chair (where your back
rests) as though it were a flat instead of a vertical surface and the slide
the cat down towards the seat such that the head is on the bottom, you have
it. (I hope you followed that!) 

	As for cats sleeping on their backs; that is a rather common occurence
when the cat is completely at home with you (lack of sleeping on the back
isn't significant). It apparently will happen only when the cat feels 
completely safe and secure. 

	/s/	Bob

Re: .13

     This cat sounds like it harbors deep seated desires to be an astronaut.

Re: .0

     Einstein, my Maine Coon lies on his back.  He will also use a pillow
when he can wrestle it away from me.  He drools like a big dog and is somehow
lovable through it all.  He lies on his back, but Tigger would never do so.
They both like the waterbed as it is warm.  By the way, has Sammy developed
any fuzz ball knots?  Einstein seems to always be taking a bath, but he has
so much fur that he gets horrible knots.  I brush him when he will let me and
this reduces the problem a little.  Some of the knots have to be cut out.

     Now that you've had Sammy quite awhile, what do you think of him?
Einstein is certainly different than any other cat I have owned.  He is
a real joy (as have all my felines been), but a little different than most.

Denise

My parent's cat, Tadaka, likes to lie on his back on an empty cardboard box.
When he does this and falls asleep, he snores!  By the way, I said ON not in,
I have never seen him sleep IN it.

Steve

Malcolm, a Maine Coon kitten of almost 6 months is begining to lie on his
back, but my suspicions are that it has to do with the hotter weather.

Cisco, a Siamese of 6 years, only lies on his back when he is getting a brushing
and really likes it.


							.wIx.

I realize this is a rather old note but I noticed that my wife didn't reply
to it so I feel the need to do so.  Our Merry, the LARGE one, delights in 
sleeping on his back.  He also enjoys having his substantial belly rubbed.
We have been doing it since he was a kitten so I suspect that he isn't aware
that cats are not supposed to like it.

Gary  (not tlh)

    Smokey never actually lay on his back, he did find some good poses
    though.
    
    The best was during the really hot summer we had over here '73 ish
    I think (he was the first cat we had, when I was a kid).
    
    The poor thing must have been boiling, and all we could do was have
    histerics when we saw him spread eagled on the cool parquet(is that how
    you spell it?) floor in the hall. It doesn't relate too well in
    words but I assure you a cat lying spread eagled with its tounge
    hanging out looks for all the world as if someones rolled it out
    flat with a rolling pin. (and very silly..)
                            X                 X
                            \\               //
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                      ________\\___________//
                     /*  }                 \_______________
                    ~\*__}_________________/
                             //          \\
                            //            \\  
                           //              \\
                           X                X
                   
    
                     (I know it looks more like a steamrollered rat
                      but its the nearest I can get)
    
    Jo 
    Reading, UK.
    

    ...close enough to make me laugh!!
    
    Edd

    RE .18 - it was 76.
    
    Tarot does the steamrollered rat as well and squints at me horribly.
    It's the tongue hanging out that gives the final touch...
    
    Kate
    UK