Catcodes

Behavioural Traits

These are optional fields that describe behavioural, as opposed to physical, traits.
Consider omitting the corresponding code if your cat is "normal"
[whatever that means for a cat!] or near-normal for the sake of brevity.

Indoors/Outdoors

I+++ You mean there's a world outside of the house?!

I++ I live indoors most of the time, but will sneak out sometimes.

I+ I prefer to live indoors, but go outside when I feel like it.

I I drift between indoors and outdoors at will.

I- I come indoors to sleep and eat, but not much else.

I-- I'm allowed inside once in a while, but I eat and sleep outdoors.

I--- Why would anyone want to live inside those big ugly boxes?

Temperament

T+++ I am a furry ball of affection and love everybody.

T++ I like meeting new people and am affectionate with most.

T+ I'm shy about meeting new people, but am affectionate with those that I know well.

T I have a few special humans I really like, the rest I tolerate.

T- People are OK for feeding and playing, but not much else.

T-- I'm annoyed by human contact and will avoid it if possible.

T--- DON'T TOUCH ME OR I'LL SHRED YOU!!

Note: Many cats appear to be split-personalities, eg: T++/---

Activity level

A+++ All the photos of me are blurred.

A++ I am always getting into, under or on top of things and am hardly ever still.

A+ If you don't play with me, I'll find a way to play by myself.

A It's easy to get me to play, but I like to sleep, too.

A- I work very hard at sleeping, but like to chase the occasional toy.

A-- I may show signs of life in the presence of an excellent toy.

A--- They thought I was dead, until they started the can opener.

Eating

E+++ Nothing even remotely edible is safe when I'm around.

E++ I'm always hungry. What are you having?

E+ I would rather eat than play with a toy

E I enjoy good food, but sometimes the stuff I get is fit only for my litter box.

E- I'll wait until the others have eaten.

E-- I would rather play with a toy than eat.

E--- I eat just enough to get by.

Hunting

H Food comes in a box, right?

H+ I chase anything that moves, but am not quite sure what to do with it if I catch it.

H++ I kill an occasional small rodent, bird or lizard, but would never eat one.
[Well, *hardly* ever.]

H+++ I regularly kill and eat small prey but expect to be fed, too.

H++++ If I didn't kill it then I don't want to eat it.

Smurgling

S I wouldn't be caught dead doing it!

S+ I sneak an occasional smurgle.

S++ When I'm in the mood, I can smurgle with the best of them.

S+++ Everybody leaves my house moistened with kitty-drool.

Note: "smurgling" is defined as kneading some part of a person's body or clothing while simultaneously nuzzling, licking or sucking.

Vocalisation

V+++ Everyone in the neighbourhood deserves the benefit of hearing my magnificent voice.

V++ I have long, meaningful conversations with people.

V+ I have a small but useful vocabulary of important words, like: "Food!", "Play!", and: "Clean the box!"

V I'll let you know when it's dinner time, don't expect to hear from me until then.

V- I know how to say "Feed me!", but must be very hungry to do so.

V-- Well, talking is a learned experience, I'm trying...

V--- If you are killing me, I might squeak a little.

Fetching

F- Why did you throw that thing?

F I'll chase it if you throw it, but forget about bringing it back.

F+ I can be coaxed into fetching a favourite object when I'm in the mood.

F++ I like to fetch and will often ask my human to throw things for me.

F+++ I will fetch anything, anywhere, anytime. [Are you sure you don't have a dog?]

Intelligence ["IQ"]

Q--- Every time I blink, I discover a whole new world.

Q-- The principles of gravity still escape me.

Q- I'm a little slow, but I'm trying!

Q I'm an average cat: cunning, but no real reasoning.

Q+ I'm pretty quick-witted for a cat.

Q++ I display near-human reasoning sometimes, such as double-takes and abstract reasoning.

Q+++ I'm working on my PhD thesis.

Lap affinity

P- I'd rather lie on a hard rock than in a person's lap.

P I'll use your lap if you're in the right room and I'm in the mood.

P+ I prefer laps to any other type of resting place, but they have to belong to people I like.

P++ I am a total lap fungus. [Hurry up and sit down so I can demonstrate!]

Belly sensitivity

B-- Touching my belly is just cause for my taking your arm off at the elbow.

B- I like to lay on my back and show my belly, but you'd better not touch it.

B Well, OK, you can rub my belly...but not too much!

B+ Please rub my belly. Oh, yes! Do it some more!!

B++ I like to have my belly "drummed".

Purr activity

PA-- Me purr? Never!

PA- I'll think about it if you pat or feed me enough.

PA I like to show my appreciation when patted or fed.

PA+ Pat me and I'll rumble.

PA++ I'll purr as soon as you enter the room/yard.

Purr loudness

PL--- There's something wrong with my voice.

PL-- You'll have to put your ear against my tummy to hear me.

PL- I'm a little on the quiet side.

PL I'm an average purrer.

PL+ I'm a little louder than the average cat.

PL++ I'm a real power purrer!

PL+++ I've been known to set off car alarms.

Sociability [cat]

SC--- I hunt other cats for a hobby. Bring one in the house and it's dinner.

SC-- If it's a kitten, I might not attack it - much.

SC- I protect my territory but will tolerate anothercat.

SC I prefer humans, but why make trouble?

SC+ Oh look, a friend to play with! Just don't bother me while I eat.

SC++ I'll wash your head if you wash mine.

SC+++ Share my foodbowl, my catnip, my bed....

SC++++ No-one hurts my buddy

My three cats

So those are the Catcodes: now what do you think my cats are like?

Quango SI Lp B 14 Y L+ W+ C+

Nanki Poo SI O+W B 11 Y L+ W++ C+

Minke SI W+Cp B 2 Y L W+ C++

Quango I+ T+ A- E+ H+ V++ F++ Q+ P++ B+ PA+ PL++ SC+

Nanki Poo I T+ A- E H++ V- F Q P+ B+ PA+ PL SC

Minke I T A- E H++ V++ F- Q- P B PA+ PL+ SC-

Now do go and have a look at pictures of Quango and Nanki Poo and Minke!

Feedback

If you want to comment on Catcodes or anything else to do with cats, why not write direct to David Stevenson?

I shall be pleased to hear from you!

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Indoors/Outdoors
I+++	You mean there's a world outside of the house?!
I++	I live indoors most of the time, but will sneak out sometimes.
I+	I prefer to live indoors, but go outside when I feel like it.
I	I drift between indoors and outdoors at will.
I-	I come indoors to sleep and eat, but not much else.
I--	I'm allowed inside once in a while, but I eat and sleep outdoors.
I---	Why would anyone want to live inside those big ugly boxes?

Temperament
T+++	I am a furry ball of affection and love everybody.
T++	I like meeting new people and am affectionate with most.
T+	I'm shy about meeting new people, but am affectionate with those that I know well.
T	I have a few special humans I really like, the rest I tolerate.
T-	People are OK for feeding and playing, but not much else.
T--	I'm annoyed by human contact and will avoid it if possible.
T---	DON'T TOUCH ME OR I'LL SHRED YOU!!
Note: Many cats appear to be split-personalities, eg: T++/---

Activity level
A+++	All the photos of me are blurred.
A++	I am always getting into, under or on top of things and am hardly ever still.
A+	If you don't play with me, I'll find a way to play by myself.
A	It's easy to get me to play, but I like to sleep, too.
A-	I work very hard at sleeping, but like to chase the occasional toy.
A--	I may show signs of life in the presence of an excellent toy.
A---	They thought I was dead, until they started the can opener.

Eating
E+++	Nothing even remotely edible is safe when I'm around.
E++	I'm always hungry. What are you having?
E+	I would rather eat than play with a toy
E	I enjoy good food, but sometimes the stuff I get is fit only for my litter box.
E-	I'll wait until the others have eaten.
E--	I would rather play with a toy than eat.
E---	I eat just enough to get by.

Hunting
H	Food comes in a box, right?
H+	I chase anything that moves, but am not quite sure what to do with it if I catch it.
H++	I kill an occasional small rodent, bird or lizard, but would never eat one. [Well, hardly ever.]
H+++	I regularly kill and eat small prey but expect to be fed, too.
H++++	If I didn't kill it then I don't want to eat it.

Smurgling
S	I wouldn't be caught dead doing it!
S+	I sneak an occasional smurgle.
S++	When I'm in the mood, I can smurgle with the best of them.
S+++	Everybody leaves my house moistened with kitty-drool.
Note: "smurgling" is defined as kneading some part of a person's body or clothing while simultaneously nuzzling, licking or sucking.

Vocalisation
V+++	Everyone in the neighbourhood deserves the benefit of hearing my magnificent voice.
V++	I have long, meaningful conversations with people.
V+	I have a small but useful vocabulary of important words, like: "Food!", "Play!", and: "Clean the box!"
V	I'll let you know when it's dinner time, don't expect to hear from me until then.
V-	I know how to say "Feed me!", but must be very hungry to do so.
V--	Well, talking is a learned experience, I'm trying...
V---	If you are killing me, I might squeak a little.

Fetching
F-	Why did you throw that thing?
F	I'll chase it if you throw it, but forget about bringing it back.
F+	I can be coaxed into fetching a favourite object when I'm in the mood.
F++	I like to fetch and will often ask my human to throw things for me.
F+++	I will fetch anything, anywhere, anytime. [Are you sure you don't have a dog?]

Intelligence ["IQ"]
Q---	Every time I blink, I discover a whole new world.
Q--	The principles of gravity still escape me.
Q-	I'm a little slow, but I'm trying!
Q	I'm an average cat: cunning, but no real reasoning.
Q+	I'm pretty quick-witted for a cat.
Q++	I display near-human reasoning sometimes, such as double-takes and abstract reasoning.
Q+++	I'm working on my PhD thesis.

Lap affinity
P-	I'd rather lie on a hard rock than in a person's lap.
P	I'll use your lap if you're in the right room and I'm in the mood.
P+	I prefer laps to any other type of resting place, but they have to belong to people I like.
P++	I am a total lap fungus. [Hurry up and sit down so I can demonstrate!]

Belly sensitivity
B--	Touching my belly is just cause for my taking your arm off at the elbow.
B-	I like to lay on my back and show my belly, but you'd better not touch it.
B	Well, OK, you can rub my belly...but not too much!
B+	Please rub my belly. Oh, yes! Do it some more!!
B++	I like to have my belly "drummed".

Purr activity
PA--	Me purr? Never!
PA-	I'll think about it if you pat or feed me enough.
PA	I like to show my appreciation when patted or fed.
PA+	Pat me and I'll rumble.
PA++	I'll purr as soon as you enter the room/yard.

Purr loudness
PL---	There's something wrong with my voice.
PL--	You'll have to put your ear against my tummy to hear me.
PL-	I'm a little on the quiet side.
PL	I'm an average purrer.
PL+	I'm a little louder than the average cat.
PL++	I'm a real power purrer!
PL+++	I've been known to set off car alarms.

Sociability [cat]
SC---	I hunt other cats for a hobby. Bring one in the house and it's dinner.
SC--	If it's a kitten, I might not attack it - much.
SC-	I protect my territory but will tolerate anothercat.
SC	I prefer humans, but why make trouble?
SC+	Oh look, a friend to play with! Just don't bother me while I eat.
SC++	I'll wash your head if you wash mine.
SC+++	Share my foodbowl, my catnip, my bed....
SC++++	No-one hurts my buddy

My three cats
So those are the Catcodes: now what do you think my cats are like?
Quango	SI Lp	B 14 Y	L+ W+ C+
Nanki Poo	SI O+W	B 11 Y	L+ W++ C+
Minke	SI W+Cp	B 2 Y	L W+ C++
Quango	I+ T+ A-	E+ H+ V++	F++ Q+ P++ B+	PA+ PL++ SC+
Nanki Poo	I T+ A-	E H++ V-	F Q P+ B+	PA+ PL SC
Minke	I T A-	E H++ V++	F- Q- P B	PA+ PL+ SC-
Now do go and have a look at pictures of Quango and Nanki Poo and Minke!

Feedback
If you want to comment on Catcodes or anything else to do with cats, why not write direct to David Stevenson?
I shall be pleased to hear from you!


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