Greetings, dear friend!
I hope you had a wonderful Sunday and better weather than we did in Paris! It rained the whole day. The entire week was rainy in France, and some of the Noth-East regions became a giant lake, with thousands needing to be evacuated.
In Paris, we are safe now since the water system has been rebuilt. The city experienced a big flood back in 1910 - known as "La crue de la Seine," which occurred in January of that year. The Seine River reached 8.62 meters (about 28.3 feet) above its normal height. The floodwaters rose so high that many Parisian streets turned into canals, and residents used boats to move around the city.
The flood lasted about ten days, peaking on January 28th. It caused extensive property damage, and many Parisians had to leave their homes. The infrastructure was severely impacted, with basic services like drinking water, gas, and electricity being disrupted for weeks.
Anyway, let’s hope the rain ends here, but the forecast is gloomy.
On another note, I found a few interesting facts on cat bonding behaviour and thought I would share them with you (well, it’s a human point of view; I still need to validate them with my cat friends):
Slow Blinking: Cats often do a slow blink to signal trust and contentment. If you slow blink at your cat and they return the gesture, it signifies affection and bonding.
Head-Butting: Cats have scent glands on their heads. When your cat butts their head against you, it’s a way of marking you as "safe" and "theirs." This behaviour, also known as bunting, is a significant bonding behaviour.
Grooming: Cats groom each other in a social behaviour known as allogrooming. If your cat licks you, it's a sign that they feel bonded with you and treat you as part of their family.
Purring: While cats purr for various reasons, a cat that purrs while being near you or on your lap shows they are comfortable and content. Purring in your presence often means they enjoy your company and have bonded with you.
Following You Around: If your cat follows you from room to room, it’s a sign that they are interested in what you’re doing and want to be near you.
Kneading: Kneading is a behaviour that originates from kittenhood. Adult cats will often knead their owners when they feel exceptionally relaxed and affectionate.
Bringing Gifts: Cats often bring "gifts" to their owners, such as toys or, in the case of outdoor cats, prey. This is believed to be a sign of trust and affection, as they might do this to contribute to their group or family.
Belly Exposure: The belly is a vulnerable area on a cat. If they expose their belly to you, it’s a sign of trust. However, be cautious with belly rubs as not all cats enjoy them.
Sitting on You: When a cat chooses to sit on your lap or next to you, it's a clear sign they feel bonded and safe with you. They're choosing to be close and share their personal space.
Napping on You: Cats prefer to sleep in a safe place. If they choose to nap on you, it's a sign they feel secure with you.
Meowing: Adult cats typically meow primarily at humans, not at other cats. If your cat meows at you, they try to communicate and bond with you.
Sleeping in Your Bed: Cats often sleep with or near their owners when bonded. Sharing a sleeping space is a definitive sign of trust.
In my last newsletter, I shared the stories of my friends Charlie and Scribbles (Maggie). Today, I’m delighted to share Munch’s funny story about his trackers and the touching story of Holly.
Happy reading! Wishing you a lovely evening and a great week ahead,
Your loving writer,
Freddy
Very interesting to learn about the Parisian flood. Looking back, sounds like an adventure though probable not so much while living through it !
We are glad you weren’t too impacted by the flooding, but sad for the residents who were.
We also enjoyed reading about kitty behaviors. Of course we don’t necessarily want Mom to know all our tricks 😹