Fic: Kitty

[meridian_rose]

Title: Kitty
Fandom: Original
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 119
Prompt: For the thirty days of flash fiction prompt 8) Write a scene as a cat
Summary: An evening prowl from a cat's POV
Content Notes: No standard warnings apply.


I leap, graceful, to the top of the fence and stalk my way across the narrow beams, skilful as an Olympic gymnast. The moon lights my way, but I can see perfectly well in the dark. I stretch myself out and drop to the ground almost soundlessly.

I pad around my territory, the damp grass tickling my whiskers and wetting my paws. The evening's scents tickle my nose. I open my mouth in what looks to humans like a smile, eager to taste the aromas. A moth flutters by and I chase it, because it's fun to chase things, because my every instinct tells me to. It gets away. I yawn, languidly. I didn't want to catch it anyway.

---

The 'smile' is the cat using the Jacobson's Organ:

Besides using their nose, cats have another amazing organ that aids them in smelling. It’s called Jacobson’s organ or vomeronasal organ located in their mouth behind the front teeth. When cats detect a strong odor, they often open their mouth slightly, breathing through it, allowing the smell to travel into their mouth and captured by the Jacobson’s organ. Cats are able to use this powerful organ to tell the gender of a cat, his health status, even predict unusual occurrence such as natural disasters. [source]

Comments

[eternal-moonie.livejournal.com]

AWESOME new story!

[meridian_rose]

Thank you!

[et-tu-lj.livejournal.com]

Huh. I've seen them doing that, but I never knew they had a special organ to give them more info. Cool.

[meridian_rose]

Glad to pass along the info! If I'm making reference to a specialist/obscure fact I try to include a link for people to find out more. One of the things I love is learning a new word or fact when I read things, so I like to make it easy for my readers to acquire knowledge too :D Appropriate icon!

[hrhrionastar.livejournal.com]

I never knew cats had an extra organ for smelling. Neat! I like how the cat pretends it didn't want to catch the moth. Like the fox that couldn't reach the grapes, which now I think of it is probably the fairytale behind the expression 'sour grapes.'

[meridian_rose]

Not just cats but other mammals and reptiles :) Yes, the fable of the fox, which the cat enacts here, is where the phrase comes from as far as I know. Though I dislike how 'sour grapes' has come to be perceived as a negative thing when most positive affirmations rely on the same ideal of "don't be disappointed - it wasn't meant to be/wasn't right for you".

Thanks for the comment :D

[brontefanatic.livejournal.com]

AWW! Loved this.

I yawn, languidly. I didn't want to catch it anyway. That great moment when cats cover their embarrassment with a show of ennui.

The smile thing really used to throw me with my cats. It seemed so strange until I finally looked it up. Then it made sense.

[meridian_rose]

I think cats are like wizards. They show up/catch moths only when they want to! It's a fascinating organ that humans no longer have though other animals still do :)

[dorothydeath.livejournal.com]

Ooh, a cat's POV! That's amazing! :D And the narrative is so cat-like that it's like you are the cat! Awesome! :D

I pad around my territory
I love this "my territory". :D Because we all know that cats are the true rulers of the world. They own humans, not the other way around. :D

It gets away. I yawn, languidly. I didn't want to catch it anyway.
Oh, yes, this is the best! :D So in-character I can't even! :D
*FLAILS*

Beautiful piece, bb! :D Is there a chance you turn in into a series? :D *puppy-dog eyes*

[meridian_rose]

It was an interesting prompt, and I'm glad you think I captured the essence of cat thoughts :)

Definitely "my" territory and cats are like wizards - never late/missed a moth but do things exactly when they mean to.

I hadn't planned on it! But maybe one more if the right prompt came along :)