This has just started. Coojee is 5½ months old, strong & fit. She has many cat toys & is very happy. Her favourite toy at the moment is a sheet of white paper screwed into a ball.
Two days ago, I was throwing the "ball" for her as she was running after it & playing. After playing up & down the stairs, I noticed at one point that she had her mouth open for a short period after running to the top of the stairs for the ball. I stopped playing as I thought she was panting (or mouth breathing) from over-heating.
Yesterday it happened again. But I don't think it's her panting, but to be fair, I've never seen her panting. It's definitely not the chatter noise if she sees a bird at the window, but the mouth movements could be a silent chatter, although her mouth is open a little wider than a chatter. I'm wondering if it could be some sort of excited hissing or growling action - but silent. Maybe it's her out of breath?
When she does it, she has caught the ball, played & but not yet ready & positioned for it to be thrown for her again. She is not doing it facing towards me. It's not a silent meow.
Her other big favourite is a laser toy. I'm dreadfully careful playing with her with that & never take any risks with it near her eyes, but she does love it. I use it for fairly short periods so that it doesn't frustrate her too much. She does do the "bird in the window" chatter with the laser toy, but not the "panting" thing.
As I've never seen a cat do this before, I stop the game when I see this. Any idea what is happening?
Two days ago, I was throwing the "ball" for her as she was running after it & playing. After playing up & down the stairs, I noticed at one point that she had her mouth open for a short period after running to the top of the stairs for the ball. I stopped playing as I thought she was panting (or mouth breathing) from over-heating.
Yesterday it happened again. But I don't think it's her panting, but to be fair, I've never seen her panting. It's definitely not the chatter noise if she sees a bird at the window, but the mouth movements could be a silent chatter, although her mouth is open a little wider than a chatter. I'm wondering if it could be some sort of excited hissing or growling action - but silent. Maybe it's her out of breath?
When she does it, she has caught the ball, played & but not yet ready & positioned for it to be thrown for her again. She is not doing it facing towards me. It's not a silent meow.
Her other big favourite is a laser toy. I'm dreadfully careful playing with her with that & never take any risks with it near her eyes, but she does love it. I use it for fairly short periods so that it doesn't frustrate her too much. She does do the "bird in the window" chatter with the laser toy, but not the "panting" thing.
As I've never seen a cat do this before, I stop the game when I see this. Any idea what is happening?