Question:
Funny, I don’t talk to children/babies like that. I’m a firm believer children learn how to speak by the way you talk to them. But animals are a different story. You can cuss, fuss, cuddle, coo and coddle them all day long with silly words and it matters not one whit because they are never going to talk back to you beyond a meow or a woof or a chirp 
I’m the same, I’ve never talked baby talk to a baby. I remember too well being a young child and having grown-ups talk to me that way, and since my parents talked to me properly, I was confused about the baby talk. — Marina, Frank and Nikki Email marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi Pics at http://uk.f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/frankiennikki
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I wonder how many of us talk some kind of baby talk to our cats, sometimes even without necessarily realizing it. My mother says I talk to Stinky the same way she talked to me and my brother when we were toddlers. "What’s for breakfast today? Why don’t we go see?" She pointed it out to me when she heard me say "birdies" as in "Do you see the birdies outside?" to him. She said, ""Birdies’?? What the hell is the matter with you?" 
I think we all know what you mean. Cats *are* like little kids! I don’t know whether I talk to cats as though they were babies, or if I talk to babies like they were cats. "Birdies" isn’t too bad. It’s a term that’s even used by professional golfers. Of course, mice have to become "mousies". This is an old clip that most people here have probably seen before, but it’s of me talking to Betty: http://mywebpages.comcast.net/Takayuki9z/movie1.html I often ask Betty, "Would you like lappy time?" and "Would you like brushie-brush?" I must sound so retarded when I’m with kittypussums. :)
You are not alone. With Prissy (RB), who was my little "child" till she passed away last year, I used to ask her what kind of "foodie" she wanted or remark on how she was almost out of "wah-wah". I don’t do it as much with the guys I have now, somehow the fact that they’re so much bigger makes a difference plus they don’t "talk" like Prissy did. I *do* refer to Kona’s rear feet as his "Twinkies" when I’m holding him or showing him to other people because they’re the size of Twinkies. Then I started referring to his front paws as his "cupcakes" to keep things balanced. I occasionally talk to Sabastian about his "tuftie toes" cause he’s got tufts of fur that stick out between the toes of his rear feet.
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If I ever tell the kids I said this or that, such as I told him not to do that, they invariably ask ‘and did he answer you mum’ or ‘and what did he say’ lol Jean.P.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I wonder how many of us talk some kind of baby talk to our cats, sometimes even without necessarily realizing it. My mother says I talk to Stinky the same way she talked to me and my brother when we were toddlers. "What’s for breakfast today? Why don’t we go see?" She pointed it out to me when she heard me say "birdies" as in "Do you see the birdies outside?" to him. She said, ""Birdies’?? What the hell is the matter with you?" Theresa alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/ Single-mindedness is all very well in cows or baboons; in an animal claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful. (Aldous Huxley)
Response:
yodeled: Guilty – I talk to the critters all the time, like they understand a single word I’m saying! I even sing to them. Remember "Mellow Yellow"? ("well they call him mellow yellow…") (Am I dating myself, only line I remember) – anyway, I substitute Yurtle Turtle for my little foster (the one that got bit by the dog….he’s doing very well! May have a possible real home!). You should hear my boyfriend talk to his dog, it’s downright scary. :) JoJo
Aw, that’s cute. I insert Stinky’s name into all kinds of songs. E.G., there’s an old Big Band song (even older than "Mellow Yellow"!) called "Daddy" and I sing that to Stinky all the time: "Stinky, I want a diamond ring, Cashmere everything, Hey! Stinky! You ought to get the best for me!" The utter futility of such a request is part of the fun. Theresa alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/ Single-mindedness is all very well in cows or baboons; in an animal claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful. (Aldous Huxley)
Response:
(CajunPrincess) yodeled: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I wonder how many of us talk some kind of baby talk to our cats, sometimes even without necessarily realizing it. My mother says I talk to Stinky the same way she talked to me and my brother when we were toddlers. "What’s for breakfast today? Why don’t we go see?" She pointed it out to me when she heard me say "birdies" as in "Do you see the birdies outside?" to him. She said, ""Birdies’?? What the hell is the matter with you?" I think we all know what you mean. Cats *are* like little kids! I don’t know whether I talk to cats as though they were babies, or if I talk to babies like they were cats. "Birdies" isn’t too bad. It’s a term that’s even used by professional golfers. Of course, mice have to become "mousies". This is an old clip that most people here have probably seen before, but it’s of me talking to Betty: http://mywebpages.comcast.net/Takayuki9z/movie1.html I often ask Betty, "Would you like lappy time?" and "Would you like brushie-brush?" I must sound so retarded when I’m with kittypussums. :) You are not alone. With Prissy (RB), who was my little "child" till she passed away last year, I used to ask her what kind of "foodie" she wanted or remark on how she was almost out of "wah-wah". I don’t do it as much with the guys I have now, somehow the fact that they’re so much bigger makes a difference plus they don’t "talk" like Prissy did. I *do* refer to Kona’s rear feet as his "Twinkies" when I’m holding him or showing him to other people because they’re the size of Twinkies. Then I started referring to his front paws as his "cupcakes" to keep things balanced. I occasionally talk to Sabastian about his "tuftie toes" cause he’s got tufts of fur that stick out between the toes of his rear feet.
Oh gosh, I hear ya. I usually only throw in the odd word of "special cat interest"– e.g. "birdies." But it’s always open season on Stinky’s "little pinky nosie." 
Theresa alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/ Single-mindedness is all very well in cows or baboons; in an animal claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful. (Aldous Huxley)
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Funny, I don’t talk to children/babies like that. I’m a firm believer children learn how to speak by the way you talk to them. But animals are a different story. You can cuss, fuss, cuddle, coo and coddle them all day long with silly words and it matters not one whit because they are never going to talk back to you beyond a meow or a woof or a chirp I’m the same, I’ve never talked baby talk to a baby. I remember too well being a young child and having grown-ups talk to me that way, and since my parents talked to me properly, I was confused about the baby talk.
Yep, and it seems a bit condescending, too.
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Oh, yes. When I’m working at kitchen counter, Maluce jumps up onto sink rim and bellows for me to turn on water "fast drip"speed……then I have to give her a full body petdown and coax, "Get drinkie now" before she turns her head sideways and starts lapping the drip up. My little boy Sumo likes to drink from the tap, but though I’ve seen him turn his head sideways to drink, his preferred method is to stick his forehead under the stream, and lap it up as it runs down his face. Part of his reasoning (if you can call it that) is probably that he can then run to Lynda who will dry his face while saying, "Who is this boy with the wet face? Oh, my little man has such a wet face … "
Now that’s using your head. Bob — Somewhere in Texas a village is missing it’s idiot. ANYONE but Bush in 2004!
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I don’t do it as much with the guys I have now, somehow the fact that they’re so much bigger makes a difference plus they don’t "talk" like Prissy did. I *do* refer to Kona’s rear feet as his "Twinkies" when I’m holding him or showing him to other people because they’re the size of Twinkies. Then I started referring to his front paws as his "cupcakes" to keep things balanced. I occasionally talk to Sabastian about his "tuftie toes" cause he’s got tufts of fur that stick out between the toes of his rear feet.
Oh yes! Cat feet have to get little baby names. When I’m clipping Betty’s claws, it goes something like, "Give me your other pawsies. See, sharp clawsies!" <snip
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Too funny – remember the "I get knocked down I get up again" song by Chumbawamba? Well Stumbles has neuro problems and falls down, but gets up – I figured it was his theme song. Oh he hates it when I sing that to him and dance with him – hey crazy hoomin put me down, I might have problems but I’m not nuts! :)
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – yodeled: Guilty – I talk to the critters all the time, like they understand a single word I’m saying! I even sing to them. Remember "Mellow Yellow"? ("well they call him mellow yellow…") (Am I dating myself, only line I remember) – anyway, I substitute Yurtle Turtle for my little foster (the one that got bit by the dog….he’s doing very well! May have a possible real home!). You should hear my boyfriend talk to his dog, it’s downright scary. :) JoJo Aw, that’s cute. I insert Stinky’s name into all kinds of songs. E.G., there’s an old Big Band song (even older than "Mellow Yellow"!) called "Daddy" and I sing that to Stinky all the time: "Stinky, I want a diamond ring, Cashmere everything, Hey! Stinky! You ought to get the best for me!" The utter futility of such a request is part of the fun. Theresa alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/ Single-mindedness is all very well in cows or baboons; in an animal claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful. (Aldous Huxley)
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I wonder how many of us talk some kind of baby talk to our cats, sometimes even without necessarily realizing it. My mother says I talk to Stinky the same way she talked to me and my brother when we were toddlers. "What’s for breakfast today? Why don’t we go see?" She pointed it out to me when she heard me say "birdies" as in "Do you see the birdies outside?" to him. She said, ""Birdies’?? What the hell is the matter with you?"
I am so used to talking baby talk to my cats that i have used baby words to my clients. To wit: after a shower, brushing loose hair off, "Oh, you are shedding! Let Mommy brush the loose fur off!" or…to a quadriplegic, "do you want your blankie?" To another client I talk about "poopie" instead of BM. — CATherine
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—–BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE—– Hash: SHA1 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Oh, yes. When I’m working at kitchen counter, Maluce jumps up onto sink rim and bellows for me to turn on water "fast drip"speed……then I have to give her a full body petdown and coax, "Get drinkie now" before she turns her head sideways and starts lapping the drip up. My little boy Sumo likes to drink from the tap, but though I’ve seen him turn his head sideways to drink, his preferred method is to stick his forehead under the stream, and lap it up as it runs down his face. Part of his reasoning (if you can call it that) is probably that he can then run to Lynda who will dry his face while saying, "Who is this boy with the wet face? Oh, my little man has such a wet face … "
There are apparently quite a few cats that like to drink by repeatedly dipping their foot in the water, then licking their foot. I have had a couple of them. This behavior has always seemed strange to me, given the way cats react if they get wet involuntarily. —–BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE—– Version: PGPfreeware 7.0.3 for non-commercial use <http://www.pgp.com iQA/AwUBQI2osDMYPge5L34aEQJK0gCeK3q+bFjNgkeRC83G9/ze3c4oCVMAn0US Uq7FIJbpLimjzbayaTNWDr05 =AATL —–END PGP SIGNATURE—– — PGP key available from http://pgp.mit.edu "Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all." — Hypatia of Alexandria
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heh, yep, everyone talks to our cat like its a baby. The fact that this is our office kitty doesn’t come into it. I’ve seen clients come up and talk to him He’s also supremem master of the ol telecatisis powers. New guy was sitting in his chair, said "Why does this cat come in here?" then picked him up, put him on his lap and started stroking him! "Gee, let me think…"
Response:
I wonder how many of us talk some kind of baby talk to our cats, sometimes even without necessarily realizing it. My mother says I talk to Stinky the same way she talked to me and my brother when we were toddlers. "What’s for breakfast today? Why don’t we go see?" She pointed it out to me when she heard me say "birdies" as in "Do you see the birdies outside?" to him. She said, ""Birdies’?? What the hell is the matter with you?"
With me it’s the other way round, if I’m holding a baby I talk to it as if it were a cat. Does the ickle baby want his tummy tickled? — Adrian (Owned by Snoopy, Milo & Bagheera) A house is not a home, without a cat.
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yodeled: I talk to me pets the way I would have talked to my kids except it would have scared them for life. I get to use the full range of "pet" names with them that the kids would never have tolerated. And you can be silly or rude or profane or what ever suits you just as long as you are talking to them. Here is Rosie Butts now looking for her human teething ring. Jo
My cousin refers to her little dog as "the snooze alarm on my biological clock." Theresa alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/ Single-mindedness is all very well in cows or baboons; in an animal claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful. (Aldous Huxley)
Response:
I wonder how many of us talk some kind of baby talk to our cats, sometimes even without necessarily realizing it. My mother says I talk to Stinky the same way she talked to me and my brother when we were toddlers. "What’s for breakfast today? Why don’t we go see?" She pointed it out to me when she heard me say "birdies" as in "Do you see the birdies outside?" to him. She said, ""Birdies’?? What the hell is the matter with you?" Theresa
Funny, I don’t talk to children/babies like that. I’m a firm believer children learn how to speak by the way you talk to them. But animals are a different story. You can cuss, fuss, cuddle, coo and coddle them all day long with silly words and it matters not one whit because they are never going to talk back to you beyond a meow or a woof or a chirp Jill
Response:
Guilty – I talk to the critters all the time, like they understand a single word I’m saying! I even sing to them. Remember "Mellow Yellow"? ("well they call him mellow yellow…") (Am I dating myself, only line I remember) – anyway, I substitute Yurtle Turtle for my little foster (the one that got bit by the dog….he’s doing very well! May have a possible real home!). You should hear my boyfriend talk to his dog, it’s downright scary. :) JoJo
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I wonder how many of us talk some kind of baby talk to our cats, sometimes even without necessarily realizing it. My mother says I talk to Stinky the same way she talked to me and my brother when we were toddlers. "What’s for breakfast today? Why don’t we go see?" She pointed it out to me when she heard me say "birdies" as in "Do you see the birdies outside?" to him. She said, ""Birdies’?? What the hell is the matter with you?" Theresa alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/ Single-mindedness is all very well in cows or baboons; in an animal claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful. (Aldous Huxley)
Response:
I wonder how many of us talk some kind of baby talk to our cats, sometimes even without necessarily realizing it. My mother says I talk to Stinky the same way she talked to me and my brother when we were toddlers. "What’s for breakfast today? Why don’t we go see?" She pointed it out to me when she heard me say "birdies" as in "Do you see the birdies outside?" to him. She said, ""Birdies’?? What the hell is the matter with you?" Theresa alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/ Single-mindedness is all very well in cows or baboons; in an animal claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful. (Aldous Huxley)
Response:
Talk to the cats all the time. When sounds of a skirmish nearby (short howls, growling) reach my ears, I sternly yell, "Why are we fighting?"……they then scatter. It’s always BT Rowdy’s fault; the girls don’t ever start anything. It’s really funny to watch; he sidles up to them w/that challenging glare (hard to do if you’re like blind!) and whacks out w/his clawless paw, hard. They either turn tail or if cornered rake his nose leather w/a fully armed paw. Rowdy never learns, but he knows from my voice when to run.
: : : I wonder how many of us talk some kind of baby talk to our cats, : sometimes even without necessarily realizing it. My mother says I : talk to Stinky the same way she talked to me and my brother when we : were toddlers. "What’s for breakfast today? Why don’t we go see?" : : She pointed it out to me when she heard me say "birdies" as in "Do you : see the birdies outside?" to him. : She said, ""Birdies’?? What the hell is the matter with you?" : : : Theresa : alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/ : : Single-mindedness is all very well in cows or baboons; in an animal : claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful. : (Aldous Huxley)
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Guilty. I try not to, but it just happens. Karen
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I wonder how many of us talk some kind of baby talk to our cats, sometimes even without necessarily realizing it. My mother says I talk to Stinky the same way she talked to me and my brother when we were toddlers. "What’s for breakfast today? Why don’t we go see?" She pointed it out to me when she heard me say "birdies" as in "Do you see the birdies outside?" to him. She said, ""Birdies’?? What the hell is the matter with you?" Theresa alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/ Single-mindedness is all very well in cows or baboons; in an animal claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful. (Aldous Huxley)
Response:
I wonder how many of us talk some kind of baby talk to our cats, sometimes even without necessarily realizing it. My mother says I talk to Stinky the same way she talked to me and my brother when we were toddlers. "What’s for breakfast today? Why don’t we go see?" She pointed it out to me when she heard me say "birdies" as in "Do you see the birdies outside?" to him. She said, ""Birdies’?? What the hell is the matter with you?"
I think we all know what you mean. Cats *are* like little kids! I don’t know whether I talk to cats as though they were babies, or if I talk to babies like they were cats. "Birdies" isn’t too bad. It’s a term that’s even used by professional golfers. Of course, mice have to become "mousies". This is an old clip that most people here have probably seen before, but it’s of me talking to Betty: http://mywebpages.comcast.net/Takayuki9z/movie1.html I often ask Betty, "Would you like lappy time?" and "Would you like brushie-brush?" I must sound so retarded when I’m with kittypussums. :)
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I talk to me pets the way I would have talked to my kids except it would have scared them for life. I get to use the full range of "pet" names with them that the kids would never have tolerated. And you can be silly or rude or profane or what ever suits you just as long as you are talking to them. Here is Rosie Butts now looking for her human teething ring. Jo
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I wonder how many of us talk some kind of baby talk to our cats, sometimes even without necessarily realizing it. My mother says I talk to Stinky the same way she talked to me and my brother when we were toddlers. "What’s for breakfast today? Why don’t we go see?" She pointed it out to me when she heard me say "birdies" as in "Do you see the birdies outside?" to him. She said, ""Birdies’?? What the hell is the matter with you?" Theresa alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/ Single-mindedness is all very well in cows or baboons; in an animal claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful. (Aldous Huxley)
Response:
Oh, yes. When I’m working at kitchen counter, Maluce jumps up onto sink rim and bellows for me to turn on water "fast drip"speed……then I have to give her a full body petdown and coax, "Get drinkie now" before she turns her head sideways and starts lapping the drip up. They all also know the popular phrase, "want more food?"…….
: : I wonder how many of us talk some kind of baby talk to our cats, : sometimes even without necessarily realizing it. My mother says I : talk to Stinky the same way she talked to me and my brother when we : were toddlers. "What’s for breakfast today? Why don’t we go see?" : : She pointed it out to me when she heard me say "birdies" as in "Do you : see the birdies outside?" to him. : She said, ""Birdies’?? What the hell is the matter with you?" : : I think we all know what you mean. Cats *are* like little kids! I : don’t know whether I talk to cats as though they were babies, or if I : talk to babies like they were cats. : : "Birdies" isn’t too bad. It’s a term that’s even used by professional : golfers. Of course, mice have to become "mousies". : : This is an old clip that most people here have probably seen before, : but it’s of me talking to Betty: : : http://mywebpages.comcast.net/Takayuki9z/movie1.html : : I often ask Betty, "Would you like lappy time?" and "Would you like : brushie-brush?" I must sound so retarded when I’m with kittypussums. : :) :
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I wonder how many of us talk some kind of baby talk to our cats, sometimes even without necessarily realizing it. My mother says I talk to Stinky the same way she talked to me and my brother when we were toddlers. "What’s for breakfast today? Why don’t we go see?" She pointed it out to me when she heard me say "birdies" as in "Do you see the birdies outside?" to him. She said, ""Birdies’?? What the hell is the matter with you?"
Guilty, also. Speaking of mothers, mine was over here yesterday and we went to a craft show. When we were leaving, she shut off the TV and I told her to leave it on, for the cats. lol She gave me the funniest look when I explained it was for noise so they’d think I was still around somewhere, maybe outside working in the yard. When we got back, the TV had been MUTED. Probably Shamrock. — Cheryl