International Lefthanders Day
Today is International Lefthanders Day, so the petretary had the crazy idea of combining a post about that with our Caturday Art. I must warn you, whenever she tells our dad that she’s been thinking or has an idea, he runs for the hills. They can often be rather cock-eyed.
Since this is a cat blog, she decided to address whether or not we cats favor one paw over the other. The answer is yes but only when we are trying to perform difficult tasks. This is based on tests of 42 domestic cats performed by psychologists, Deborah Wells and Sarah Millsop, from Queen’s University, Belfast, Northern Ireland. They also discovered, that of the cats tested, females generally favored the right paw (20-1) and males the left (20-1) over dozens of trials. You can read all about Wells’ and Millsop’s 2009 research as well as that of others at MessyBeast.com. When you arrive at the site, click on the MessyBeast button and then the Behavior and Training link. You also can find out how to determine which paw your cat favors.
In non-demanding tasks, like toy play, most of the cats tested used both paws equally.
An early test (1991) conducted at by researchers at Turkey’s Ataturk University, showed the majority of domestic cats are right pawed (50 percent), 40 percent favor their left paw and the remaininging 10 percent are ambidextrous. You can read all the particulars about this research here.
Caturday Art
Now to our actual art for this week’s Caturday Art Blog Hop. Behold the petretary’s creation.
I’m fairly certain you recognize a cat’s paw in the photo. That’s my paw (Mauricio)! But why in the world does it look like it is on fire? That reference is totally obscure, so let me explain. The H-O-T-S have returned to southwest Virginia. With temps in the 90s F and high humidity, our mom usually doesn’t leave the house. Yesterday, however, she had an errand and then Fiona’s vet appointment. She commented that she was so hot she felt like she was going to spontaneously burst into flames! So now you have the reason for her confounded concoction. She wanted this to look as if my paw started this conflagration. You can decide for yourselves if you agree or not. I refuse to weigh-in with my opinion!
The crazy art was created using piZap and then posterized in Picasa. I’m not certain why the “artist” (Mom) is having me tell you this. It is not as if any of you would want to recreate her attempt at art.
This is our submission to Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty‘s Caturday Art Blog Hop. To enter some art of your own and/or view the other submissions, click on the link.
We will return tomorrow to begin the third year of our Sunday Selfies Blog Hop. Last week was a great hop to end year two. Our host for tomorrow, Fiona, will tell you all about it. She’ll also fill you in on her appointment with Dr. Neel and her CKD.
Until then…purrs and paw-pats, Mauricio
I like the paw in the flames, Mauricio, but I wished it weren’t so hot for you all, maybe some Cool Pawkisses will help 😉 Pawkisses from a lefthanded Granny and a left and right pawed Binky 🙂 <3
The heat has been ridiculous here too. We can’t wait for fall and cooler temps. Your artwork looks so cool,a new we enjoyed the information too!
Your mom should be thankful she’s in Virginia this summer and not South Carolina!
OMC! Someone threw your paw into the fireplace and it’s burning up!!!! Our Faith was a female and she was totally left pawed. She did everything with her left paw.
That is one hot paw, Mau! It’s been hot here too…and so humid! Today though we actually got some much needed rain finally…not as hot…but still as humid. 🙂
Very cool art ! That’s too hot, we hope your paw could cool down since. Purrs
Those of us here in Florida understand your hot as fire graphic. WHEW we feel the heat big time too. Thank Cod for AC!
I hope your paw has cooled down by now, Mau! I am mostly right pawed. I tap my mum on the leg with my right paw if she is being slow getting my food, and sometimes I eat it by scooping it out with my right paw. My mum is left and right pawed. She writes mostly with the right but does everything else with the left.
I’ve always been so intrigued by the concept that kitties can be right- or left-handed. My angel Rosie always used her left hand to dip her paw into cups and bowls. I loved watching her do this, and I can’t remember ever seeing her use her right paw to dip.
I happen to love your art this week (as always)! And I love the story behind it. It gives me a Firestarter sort of feel, and it’s pretty darn pawesome. Purrs, and we’ll see you tomorrow! (We’ve been purring and praying for you, Fiona, and we hope you have good news for us tomorrow!)
Hmmm…mes is totally right pawed, but Hissy old Licorice (and Kozmo) was left, Ninja however, is right and so is Jo-Jo, so in my clowder, the rights have it! And wes LOVES the hellish hot effect and thanks for telling us how to does it, mes thinking its time for a Cat From hell picture just to remind Mommy that mes NOT Formerly the Cat From hell!
Kisses
Nellie (who is definitely being hellish these days)
M tested me a few months ago and I seem to be able to use both paws equally well. I do favor the left paw just slightly. M thinks it’s funny because she is a lefty also. Interesting art!! Pretty paw!
My mum would die in such heat! However we are expecting a heatwave next week in London. Poor us 🙁
The photo art is great and very creative. I am left-pawed and Mum is right handed.
Purrs xx
Athena
It’s a scorcher today, too! I hope your paw is okay, Maurico! We’re looking forward to Sunday Selfies – It’s our Blogville Pawlympic’s post!!
I am a lefty! 🙂 The only cat I ever had that I noticed to be a lefty was my 1st one, KaChoo.
I love the art, it is that hot here too. And so humid! XO
Awesome paw art! And I’m glad you shared the results of those left/right paw studies 🙂
love the fire so cool its like talk to the hand
Aw, you cats just do not appreciate your Moms’ creativity! I think the artwork is very cool – um, rather, hot! We don’t get a lot of super hot weather here but we’ve been having some lately so we know just how your Mom feels.
Three of my sisters are left paw’d and I am always right!
Well I don’t know about most cats but I do know that my tuxie TC always reaches for me with her left paw when she is laying on the back of the couch.
Oh, it’s been super hot in northeast Ohio too!
I quite like the “HOT FOOT” artwork Mau…….and indeed it’s been ridiculously HOT in Virginia with our heat index yesterday well over 100 and the same for today. As for left-handers vs righties – my Mom is a leftie but is somewhat “ambi” too. When she was a little girl learning to write, her teacher kept TRYING to make her use her right hand – until her parents told the teacher to let her be lefty if she was inclined to be! SO, to this day she can “sort of” write with her right but is a true lefty. I seem to be “ambi” too – as I demonstrate when I dip both of my paws into my water bowl for a drink out of my paws. Like Mother/Like Son maybe???? HAPPY WEEKEND AND STAY COOL!
Love, Sammy
I figured there had to be a story behind that paw art.