International Happiness Day

Today is International Happiness Day! Who knew, right? I think it is most appropriate. Every day we are deluged by negativity in a variety of ways. It’s hard to stay positive and happy. Creating this blog was one way for me to give myself, and hopefully others, a small dose of joy. My cats bring me happiness and make me laugh every day. I hope yours do too!

Lately Charlie has been EXTRA cute. He has been very chatty lately–so many chirps, trills, and squeaks–both directed at me and just when he’s moving around: jump on the bed (chirp), look out the window (trill), see Garrus (squeak), talk back to me (chirp, squeak, trill, squeak, squeak, chatter). He’s been rather lovey and snuggly, especially in the morning and at bedtime, and he has demonstrated that he in fact knows how to knead! It only took him eight months to show me that he does knead when he is sufficiently relaxed and googly. When he does, he shows me all of his toes and purrs most rhythmically.

Charlie is teaching me how to be simply happy. Finding joy in the little things. Wonder in every day activities. Greeting loved ones enthusiastically. (I admire his persistence in trying to make friends with Boudicca. Lately he has been adding to his overtures of friendship by bringing her toys on the couch.) Playing. Looking outside. Happiness indeed.

Kneading and Air Biscuits

It has taken Boudicca seventeen years to figure out how to knead and when she finally did knead, she did so for approximately 10 seconds. 99% of the time she simply does rather googly air biscuits. Oddly, she regularly makes air biscuits at the vet’s office when she is petted, examined, or even when getting poked or prodded (included getting blood drawn). She’ll make air biscuits when slung over my shoulder or when lounging in order to better receive adoration. (Usually purrs get louder if she is told she is a pretty girl.) It’s adorable and incredibly charming. Go Miss Dancing Paws.

Here Boudicca demonstrates how to simultaneously sunbathe and make air biscuits.

Charlie makes air biscuits too, usually when he is being exceptionally flirtatious and seeking rubs. Cue slow blinks, very loud purrs, lots of flopping, and the occasional super cute squeak.

As of yet, Garrus has not kneaded or demonstrated air biscuits. I’m not sure if he is simply too dignified a Gentleman Cat to do so or if he has not yet relaxed enough to go googly and knead. But he does slow blink and semi-flop (in a refined manner, of course).

I’m pretty sure when I took this photo Garrus was actually purring, despite his irritated looking expression.

Do your cats knead? Do they make air biscuits? What makes them happy (or googly) enough to do this? Have you ever had a cat drool when kneading?