6.07.2011

Swirling Revisited

Back in March of 2010 when I had just started blogging and didn't know about the CB or have any friends or followers yet I wrote a post called "Swirling" which nobody read.  I'm going to re-post it now because I was reminded of it when we were just away on holiday and my sister was staying at the house to look after my darlings.  I would ring her and ask how the boys were doing, she would reply "there was swirling when I got home today." :-)

Swirling (3.26.2010)

Is anyone else familiar with this phenomenon? I imagine it is more obvious in multiple cat households but it can certainly be experienced with just one cat. I love it when cats swirl and when my cats do it all at the same time there is no better feeling. Swirling is decidedly pronounced first thing in the morning or when one arrives home after some absence. It is the whirl of cats around your legs. Trusting, upturned faces and tails aloft they seem to be one continuous curving, twisting line, of purring cat form. It is the best welcome home after a crappy day, and the most cheerful start to any morning. Swirling is acceptance, support, love, validation and optimism all rolled into one delightful gesture.

29 comments:

Sparkle said...

You mean we're supposed to do that? That has never happened here!

dArtagnan Rumblepurr/Diego Hamlet Moonfur said...

*swirling around blog*

weaverpat said...

That post made me smile! I love it when you are surrounded and can't move in any direction, you just have to stand still and enjoy the parade!
It always happens when we fill the catfood bowls and even though the food would get to the bowls faster, they still seem to want to show their appreciation by rubbing all over our legs.
It's just one of those delightful ways in which cats show their love!

Mr Puddy said...

You have the thought of my mom : )
I guess because we cats are PURRSFECT : )

Fuzzy Tales said...

That made our mom smile too. Nicki is the one who comes to greet her when she returns. Derry will sit on the stairs to make sure it's really the mom and not some alien monster coming into the house, then he'll rush down the stairs and run by her. Silly boy.

The Monkeys said...

I love the word swirling! When I get home there's always a lot of swirling and stretching and scratching their scratching trees!

The Meezers or Billy said...

swirling is great - especially when you TRIP the human!! MOL

Hannah and Lucy said...

We do the swirl and we didn't know we were doing it!!
Luv Hannah and lucy xx xx

Clarissa said...

Oh we swirl all around mom when she gets home from work every afternoon! Most of us will meet her in the living room. And mom said that was a great way to described the activity/action!

Purrfect Haven said...

we love swirling too and so does our Mrs H... we head butt as well... anything - legs, doors, each other. Love Helen, Darcy and Bingley xxx

Milo and Alfie said...

We sometimes do swirling when our beans get home from somewhere!

Brian's Home Blog said...

That is so true, and quite a bit of swirling goes on here too!!!

Rene said...

Oh, you are so lucky! Sadie will swirl around Tucker, which he hates, but does it anyway.

The Adventures of Scarlett and Melly said...

That is the perfect word for it! Mine don't usually swirl - usually they just look up at me reproachfully for having abandoned them.

Anonymous said...

Alas, we can't swirl at our house. The hairy slobbery sisters do that and cats gets stepped on! We greets them on the back of the sofa!
Kisses
Nellie

LP said...

Tulip swirls around my legs but the others don't! Leo likes to run to the scratching post when I come in to the cat room to show his love.Maybe since I work from home and M+E see me often there is less swirling going on here than there should be-I'll have to have a little talk with the cats about that!
the critters in The Cottage

♥I am Holly♥ said...

That is a great term for it!! Swirling! The kitties here do it every morning for me to top off their food even though it's already full...they aren't happy until it's "topped" off! They swirl and I'm lucky that I have not tripped yet!! Lots of love, Debbie & Holly

Katnip Lounge said...

I LOVE this word! Johnny and Sweet Pea are the main swirlers here...although tunafish produces many more! Swirling is the best when your legs are bare and they tickle your kneebows with their tails.

My Mind's Eye said...

I have a favorite quote out of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Lovin' our cats. It is by Tay Hohoff
"There are few things in life more heartwarming than to be welcomed by a cat". Swirling is a purrfection descriptive word for this.
Great Post. I bet your sister got dizzy from 4 cats swirling. MOL Madi and Mom

Peggy's Place said...

We only do that when Mom opens cans of stinky goodness. But then she stays home a lot.

Stacy Hurt said...

Ohhhh yes; I always thought they were trying to trip me so the foodz would hit the floor faster!
MOL.

Ms. Stella's Woman

Anonymous said...

Absolutely! I've just returned from a week away and got the mob swirl as I came in the front door. That and they made sure to "tuck" me into bed that night. It's sad when vacation comes to end but such a joy to be back with my kits!

Lizzie & 3 kitties

P.S. Congratulations on your marriage and for making it your very own celebration.

Marg said...

So it has a name. Mine do that to the point that some day I am going to fall flat on my face. They all want to eat all at once and if I open the door, then even more come in to do their swirling. That is a terrific name. Take care and have a fun day.

Andrea and the Celestial Kitties said...

Oh my gosh, what a perfect name for it! I've always heard it referred to as stropping your ankles, which brings to mind how they used to strop straight blades before shaving. Swirling is so much cuter!
Leo is usually under the Royal Footstool or behind the couch until someone sits down, so he doesn't swirl, and Star, well, how could she show her displeasure at your having left in the first place if she did that? No, she shows up sometime after you return and gives you disdainful looks as if deciding whether she knows you or not and then eventually will let you make it up to her with treats or pets.
I used to have kitties who did that though, and it's the most wonderful feeling!

Alasandra, The Cats and Dogs said...

Artemisia is a wonderful little swirler. She will swirl whenever she sees me or one of the other cats, She even gives Fenris the swirl treatment.

Cara n Crew said...

aww, our mom is sad we aren't really swirlers! We do rub against her legs tho and Smidge is a great head-butter :)

Pip, Smidgen, Minnie, and HOllie

The Island Cats said...

We swirl all the time even though we've never called it that!! But it fits!! It makes us as happy as our mom!!

CCL Wendy said...

Ah, yes! I have experienced such a thing routinely, though I called it "swarming". It's when all your cats want your attention at the same time.

Usually, I tend to get a bit overwhelmed. Who do I pay attention to first?

Clooney said...

Wow, this "swirling" sounds fantastic. It would be the purr-fect start and finish to a day.