To think cats can't "stand"?!

[CatsCantStand]

NC as I will show this to DH to vindicate my rightness

I just asked DH where the cat was - "she's standing at the front gate" apparently

Is it just me, or can cats not actually stand? Only people with two legs can stand, surely. Cats can't stand. DH is clearly BU.

What would we say instead of standing, though?

Don't let me down MNers. Cats can't stand. Or can they?

fire - the gait not only uses different numbers of legs, it uses them in different order
example (can't remember exactly so this may be a bit wrong)

walk - uses all four legs one at a time, it goes back left, front right, back right front left.
trot - 2 legs at a time together , back left and front right together, then back right and front left
canter (ok memory getting hazy now) I think this is a 3 beat one? so left leg canter = front left follwed by front right and back left together, follwed by front right. Then right legged canter does the opposite
gallop - all four legs off ground at once, and I think it is both front follwed by both back legs.

So I supposed more legs could mean more gaits, yes.

Firesuit, horses can do more than that! Some breeds have their own gait (look at Icelandic horses or Pacers), horses have got so far in life because they're comfortable, a camel for instance 'trots' by moving both legs on one side forward at the same time, a horse goes in diagonal pairs which makes the horse more comfortable.

😎

Perhaps the cat is simply waiting at the gate?

But clearly this thread needs hover cat so...

As a vet, I use standing posture as part of an assessment of lame animals of any species.

FIRESUIT

I have a burning question.....just how many threads & RL conversations have you managed to work that phrase into over the last 15 years.....I guess it is quite a few, no matter how tenuous....

genius.....

I can hear it now....

I am just going to run to the post office

"talking of running........."

Viserion - don't get technical on us!

I know what you mean, it doesn't sound quite right OP but I can't think of a better word.

We can't have a discussion of horse gaits and not share this:

m.youtube.com/watch?v=EG0k_xVbU0c

This is like the time I told my DP how cute I thought it was when my cat licked its front feet. I say feet he says paws.

Potato potato.

OP, what on earth would possess you to think that the definition of standing is limited to creatures with two legs? I NEED TO KNOW.

This thread has reminded me of a wee argument DP and I had about whether you're 'inside' when you're in a car. For me inside is reserved for when you're in a building but he thought not.

Yep I think that's right, Steppemum and trot, canter and gallop all have ballistic flight phases, to use Firesuit's definition. (I am so memorising that!)

Forrin horses can do fancy stuff too as TableMirror says.

Then there's dressage - Piaffe and Passage - though they might just be posh trotting!

According to Wikipaedia 4 legged animals do stand but not at all like humans, we have to constantaly adjust our position to stay upright on 2 legs while four legged animals do not as they have a sturdier base.
So we all stand but differently.

Is loping just the American word for canter or is it a different gait altogether?

Weeblueberry, you get into the car, therefore you are inside it. Fact.

I love this thread!

OP - not only do four legged animals stand, it's actually a command for horses and dogs (not cats obviously as they never follow commands and are a law unto themselves!).

weeblueberry - we had a similar conversation with a Spanish colleague, she asked why we get 'on' a bus, train, plane but 'in' a car. We didn't know the answer . We thought it sounded funny when she said said 'get in the bus' but not as bad as 'get on the car'.

Firesuit - I was running up a hill with a friend the other night and asked if we were going to run all the way or walk.Then I said the speed we were going was closer to walking but as long as there's a flight phase it's still running!

we had a similar conversation with a Spanish colleague, she asked why we get 'on' a bus, train, plane but 'in' a car. We didn't know the answer. We thought it sounded funny when she said said 'get in the bus' but not as bad as 'get on the car'.

I've never thought about that before, but I have a minibus, and I tell the kids to get in the bus, but if we're going on a service bus, I'd say to get on the bus. That's weird.

I hate you all (apart from anyone who agreed with me and the posters with fascinating pieces of random gait information obvs).

I'm now revisiting my belief that I am always right and DH is always wrong, especially as immediately after the cat conversation we had one about the suitability of me going out in public wearing my new dungarees. I'm now feeling doubtful as to the wisdom of said dungarees.

Maybe I should consult the hive mind on the dungarees for another kicking no doubt. I'm sure DH would like me to point out that I'm over 40 and neither pregnant not butch. At the moment anyway Please be kind.

I like this. I should consult MN for all tricky decisions in future. It's like the Magic 8 ball. But a bit meaner

Thank you op for making me smile. I'm at work and this thread literally made me snort out loud

Hmm, well I think dungarees on anyone beyond the age of wearing nappies is wrong, but maybe you are approaching your second nappy phase?!

I am aware that this view doesn't necessarily fit with current fashions l, so wear what you like. Don't be surprised if your cat stands and watches you in amazement though.

Hmm, I'm not a fan of dungarees.

Dungarees are for toddlers really arn't they so you are going about your day like a giant toddler which is fine but..

This thread made me think of the "dogs can't look up" leitmotif of 'Shaun of the Dead".

Well the cat isn't sitting so therefore it must be.....????

I love this thread