HOP Definitions
Clowder
A group of cats, both adult and kitten.
Kindle
A group or litter of kittens.
Monster Face
This is a slang term for the expression on a cat’s face when she is in Flehman. Flehman refers to the expression a cat makes when she is engaging the Jacobson’s organ, located just behind the front teeth, when she is investigating a scent. The expression is made with the mouth slightly open and the top lip curled.
Paddy Paws
This is the act of a cat kneading on a surface or in the air with its front paws.
Puff or Globble
This is the loose, sagging skin of the abdomen that hangs between a cat’s back legs. This usually appears sometime after a cat has been either neutered or spayed. The puff refers to the fur that covers the globble and ‘puffs’ out when the cat lays on its side. The globble refers to the actual hanging skin. However, the terms can be used synonymously.
Goo Goo Eye
This describes an eye injury. Whenever one of our cats is squinting, we say that they have a goo goo eye. Usually it’s nothing serious. However, no matter the extent of the injury, it’s always called a goo goo eye.
No-no Dance
This describes the act of humping. Its first recorded use was when Bruce became an indoor cat. Shortly after his indoor status, he began to hump inanimate objects, most often pillows. We would joke and tell Bruce to stop dancing on the pillows. Then, we began to say it was a no-no; hence the name, No-no Dance.
Dirty Cat
Dirty Cat is a plush, cat toy that Pixie humps upon exclusively.
Havin’ a Party
This phrase refers to the excited rolling, rubbing and, vocalization that a cat demonstrates when we talk to it, or when a cat is rolling back and forth on its back. This is a sign that the cat is happy and wants to interact. They look like they are having a good time, so we say they are Havin’ a Party.
Havin’ an Exclusive Party
A cat is havin’ a party on top of one of the cat trees.
Sneezels or Schnitzels
When one of our cats sneezes, they have either the sneezels or schnitzels.
Orangie
An Orangey is a ginger or marmalade tabby. They are also known as orange or red tabbies. For example, we have two orangies: Mars and Bruce.
A Haunt
A favorite place in the HOP of a particular cat. For example, a urine haunt is a spot in the HOP where a cat regularly marks. More often than not, this term is used to refer to a spot where a cat repeatedly marks or sprays.
Alpha
I use this canine term to describe the most dominant cat in the clowder. It also describes the top position that a cat can hold in the feline hiercharchy. Unlike canine society, there can be more than one alpha within the clowder.
Beta
I use this canine term to describe the most widely held positions in the clowder by several cats. It also describes the position that is secondary to the alpha. Within the group of betas, there is the most vying for a higher position.
Omega
I use this canine term to describe the lowest held in the cat clowder. It also describes the position that is on the lowest level of the feline hierarchy. Usually a single cat will fill this role, but there can be several.
Pariah
This term is similar to that of the Omega; however, while a cat that is a pariah will not have close contact or will bond with another cat, he is still able to function within the clowder.
Love Nibbles
A Love Nibble is a gentle bite that Omar and Michette give us when we are petting them. They are our two most notorious nibblers. Sometimes the bites can hurt, but Love Nibbles are only given when we are affectionate with the cats. These are not aggressive bites.
Kidlets or Budlets
Nicknames referring to Muil, Brava, and Preacher as a group and as individuals.
