Cat Health Mewsletter: Submissions From Readers

Judging from our readers' responses, the songs we sing to our cats range from zany to artful to comical to touching — but always heartfelt and always creative. Singing to cats can be great fun, but in some cases, as you'll read below, it is therapy, and a profound way of expressing love.

Below are the submissions from tunesmiths, crooners, and balladeers (and maybe one or two divas — or would those be the cats...) who kindly gave us permission to share their versions of this delightful way to communicate with the felines who grace our lives and whose very movements, when you think about it, are quite lyrical.

Thanks to everyone who has submitted entries. Remember, you can share your mewsical creations with the rest of the world by emailing us at comments@mewsletter.com.

From Holly:

I sing this song to my cat (it's the Honey Bunch Song). Her name is Jasmine, but I call her Jazz.

Jasmine,
You're my
honey bunch,
sugar plum...
pumbie-umbie-umpkin
You're my sweetie pie...
You're my cuppie cake,
gum drop,
snookum-ookums,
Jazz... the apple of my eye!!

From Earle:

Abby was a much-abused pound kitty and I was bringing treats to the animals to help my grief over losing my cat, Macha. She was wild, terrified of everything, and totally unsocialized. I made up a song for her to the tune of Abilene, and it seemed to calm her. She began purring.

When I reluctantly took her home, because they would have euthanized her if I didn't, the song made a bridge for us. It still took three years for her to come sit in my lap, and nine years later I still can't pick her up without her asking to be. She is neutered and entirely inside and I can't, for the life of me, understand how humans can feel they have the right to treat a small fellow earthling in so cruel a way.

Here's Abby's song:

Abbylene, Abbylene, prettiest kitty I've ever seen,
Now, if only you'd just stop being mean
My Abbylene. My Abbylene.

Such a Kitty, such a Friend, we'll be together until the end,
I'm so glad God gave me such a Friend
My Abbylene, Sweet Abbylene.

There's more to the story. As Earle saved Abby's life, Abby may have saved Earle's life. It was Abby's persistent behaviors when the two of them were together that prompted Earle to go to the doctor. It turns out she had late-stage cancer, and got treatment just in time. That was five years ago.

We often hear about dogs' ability to detect cancer and other diseases in humans. It would seem reasonable to speculate that cats, with their keen senses, are also adept at this life-saving skill. In fact, there are numerous accounts of cats at hospices being able to discern changes in patients' conditions before nurses and doctors noticed them. There are also many stories of cats maintaining all-day and all-night purring vigils alongside dying animals of other species, including dogs and rabbits. A future Mewsletter may feature an article on felines' ability to perform their own versions of "cat scans" and to act as comforting nursemaids. We will ask for your experiences, too.

From Sa-Sa:

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My cat's name is Twinkle and my silly song is as follows, to the "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" melody:

Twinkle, Twinkle little cat, I'm so happy where you're at
Sitting sweetly on my lap, you're my most favorite cat.

And then I make it up as I go along.

From Shari:

I love singing to my cats. I believe animals should be talked and sung to just like babies and children. After all, growing in a positive environment has been proven to extend life. Music is also a stress reliever. I sing to my cats because I love them and they take care of me. I think I need them more than they need me. I like to sing simple songs like "You Are My Sunshine" and "I Love You, You Love Me." I know that they love them because they climb up on my chest when I am lying down and start purring. It's like they are drawn to it and thanking me for singing to them.

Pictured are Shari and one of her appreciative listeners, X. P. 2000.

There is much more to this story...

In 2002, I was attacked and XP allowed me to escape. If it weren't for her, I would not be alive today. She deserves all my love and nothing could ever replace her. To this day, she still guards my home and won't allow strangers in! I am so proud of my kitty.

From Christi:

Our Kitty is named Sherbert. I have a habit of singing Fergalicious and inserting "Sherbalicious" in its place. I am sure kitty doesn't even care! Sherbet aka Sherbie loves to sit on or near the tub and watch the water run out of the tap. [Editor's note: We may have a short article on this phenomenon in the future.]

This one, from Lisa, is very poignant:

Each one of our cats have had their own song. Some were made up by me and others were published songs with a few word changes. Sometimes it takes a little time for a cat "theme song" to emerge. Our cat Buffalo's "theme song" was "Buffalo Gals Won't You Come Out Tonight." Sometimes we would just take their name and make up the melody.

A favorite cat Zelda was a bit of a loner, but she loved "Her Song" and would sit and listen to us sing it to her. I happened to be in New York City at Toy Fair for business a few years ago and Zelda had to be rushed to the vet — and the decision had to be made if we should put her out of her suffering. My husband called me on my cell and I talked to the vet and we decided we did not want her to be in pain. So in a not-so-private hallway in the Javits Convention Center, I sang Zelda's song to her as my husband sang along and the vet hummed on the other end of the call. I know that might sound a little odd, but it comforted us and I know Zelda liked hearing it one more time.

Anonymous Entries:

My cats know when it's night-time treat time. My friends are amused with the following rendition of "Who Let the Dogs Out," when instead I sing "Who wants a treeeeeaaat—who who who who, Who wants a treeeeeeaaattt!!!" They meow and run to me no matter where I'm at to see what I'll serve up. It's not long, but I believe they love the association this little tune has!

My oldest cat is named Kittles and he has two songs that I sing for him...

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"Kittle Cat Road," which I sing to the tune of Steve Earle's "Copperhead Road."

– And one that is sung to the melody of "Peter Cottontail:"

Here comes Mr. Kittle Tail,
Coming down the kitty trail –
Meowmedy meow meow meowmedy meow,
Kittle's on his way.

It makes him purr when I do it.

I have "sung" several songs to my kitties. And I do believe it does me more good than them--BUT they don't complain--just kind of look at me weird! One that I am particularly fond of is more conducive to a rap song, but I wrote it and usually recite it like poetry. This is for a feral cat that I spayed and chose to keep:

Dusty Rusty is a kitty
Living in Modesto city
With her Mama and her Dad--
She's so very, very glad
She has a brother and a sister and she is a little pisser
But, we love her anyway--and we hope she's here to stay!

Before I moved to Vancouver, British Columbia with my two Siamese cats, I made up this jingle to prepare them for the upcoming move. It was a big move — from the small town where they were born to the Big City!

Van Cou Ver Cats, Van Cou Ver Cats,
Super, Cool, Dual, Van Cou Ver Cats

[The author says that it was a successful move and that both cats lived for many more years in their new home.]

I used to sing "My Papa" to my cat, substituting Ramone for Papa. I always thought she looked kind of embarrassed or condescendingly tolerant of it.

Then I have a not-very-inventive ditty for my cat Ira that I made up. It consists of "Ira my schmira," and then whatever else I feel like adding to it at the time. He is a Maine Coon and very smart. He knows his song. He knows it's silly time when I sing it and will alertly wait for something else to happen. Often times that is me throwing myself down on the floor.

We substitute our cat's name into the "Flipper" theme song:

They call her Ritzy, Ritzy, faster than lightning,
No one you see is smarter than she,
And you know Ritzy, Ritzy, lives in a world full of wonder
Lying there under, under the tree.

(She doesn't go outside, but "under the sea" wouldn't make much sense.)

[Editor's note: Under the cat tree?]

"Spectra bells, Spectra Bells, Spectra all the way" — to the tune of "Jingle Bells." All year round. I have no idea why I ever started this, but she perks up when she hears her name.

My cat Luna unfortunately has a hip malfunction, which means a lot of doctor visits, and any time she is put in her carrier to go to the vet, the only way I can get her to calm down is to sing to her this stupid little song that I made up for her. Even though her name is Luna, I affectionately call her Noonie, and the song is sung to the tune of Frére Jacques. It goes like this:

Where is Noonie, where is Noonie?
There she is, there she is!
How are you today ma'am? Very well, I thank you.
Run away, run away.

Several folks told us that they sing "You Are My Sunshine" to their cats. Which makes perfect sense: Our cats fill our lives with sunshine.

Although "You Are My Furball" would probably work, also.

Other favorites: "What's New, Pussycat?," "Our House ('...with two cats in the yard...')," and tunes from the musical "Cats."

We also had some submissions from people who said that when they sing to their cats, the cats look at them with bemusement or concern, or are unimpressed and, in typical cat fashion, walk off.