# Peanutter! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 20, 2008, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanutter/434214 "2008-01-20T01:40:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanutter/434214/1 "2008-01-20T01:40:43Z")
This is getting absurd. My juvenile cat Peanut’s weird habit of scrubbing at invisible ghosts is getting stronger and stronger. He’s doing it more often, for up to half a minute at a time. In front of him, overhead, to one side or the other – there’s phantoms everywhere, and he’s going to keep at it till he snags 'em! Once in a while he dabs at the side of his face, or an ear. Made me wonder whether there’s some kind of physical cause, so I brought him in to see the vet. Dr. Anderson gave him a good going over and pronounced him healthy, with no signs of anything amiss aurally or optically that she could find. Other than being a potbellied neutronium-dense twelve pounds in a nine-pound-cat suit, he’s just bursting with health. And yet this behavior goes on. And on. And on. Dr. Anderson thought there was a chance it could be neurological, a form of seizure, but the fact that I can snap him out of it with any small distraction (like poking his potbelly) argues against that. So he’s mental. Which, actually, is Dr. Anderson’s other hypothesis, and one that makes sense: He’s developed an obsessive-compulsive behavior, like cribbing or windsucking by a horse, that gives him a nice little endorphin rush. Unless another explanation surfaces, I can go with that. Thanks to the (to me) newly discovered wonders of Windows Movie Maker, I’ve been able to stitch together a bunch of snippets into a 2:20 minute movie, duly posted on YouTube. I still haven’t acquired the ability to overlay a soundtrack, but I was thinking “Ride of the Valkyries” might do nicely. [And here he is!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpFlMqq6654) ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanutter/434214/2 "2008-01-20T02:13:01Z")
Our calico does something like that, usually when there’s a bug or something she can’t get to. Sometimes its for no reason at all. But she sticks her hands together so she looks like she’s praying. Maybe he’s playing with the dust motes? He looks so puzzled. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanutter/434214/3 "2008-01-20T02:22:02Z")
Now available from Petco for you cat, the all new invisible scratching post. **ETF** your cat is cute, but weird. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanutter/434214/4 "2008-01-20T02:23:58Z")
Cutie! He looks like he’s playing patty-cake with his imaginary friend. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanutter/434214/5 "2008-01-20T02:28:23Z")
Look, after you jibes about his weight, Peanut has just gotten a little sensitive on the subject. He’s doing aerobics to try to tone up a bit. Also, it’s as cute as it is silly. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanutter/434214/6 "2008-01-20T02:32:34Z")
Have you shown the vet the video? What an odd fellow! Am I the only one to exclaim about how much muscle he appears to have built up doing that? Look at those “wings”! (Shoulderblades.) Is he actually slimming down due to this activity? Could it be that he’s just decided that’s how he wants to excercise? ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanutter/434214/7 "2008-01-20T02:36:29Z")
**Zabali** , yes, I had those videos on my digital camera and showed them to Dr. Anderson, because, really, would you believe it from merely a verbal description? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanutter/434214/8 "2008-01-20T02:57:55Z")
OMG, you really need to find some good music to add to that video. I couldn’t decide if the cat looked more like it was playing in an air band or conducting an orchestra. Cute cat, BTW. Crazy, but cute. ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanutter/434214/9 "2008-01-20T03:13:07Z")
I love the compilation. I was wondering whether it might be something neurological. Glad to hear it’s just a quirk. I think it looks like Peanut is scratching his invisible friend’s back. 😃 GT ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanutter/434214/10 "2008-01-20T03:14:47Z")
I think he is trying to do some art work…maybe some invisible painting or sculpting. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanutter/434214/11 "2008-01-20T03:16:21Z")
Now to train him to tolerate having his paws dipped in non-toxic fingerpaint, and to do those motions upon a canvas! You could get rich selling “crazy cat” artwork! 😃😉🙂 ---
**Author:** ![exastris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b38774/32.png) [@exastris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/exastris)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanutter/434214/12 "2008-01-20T04:55:14Z")
I was thinking your cat had [floaters](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floater) like I do, but if the eye check was clear. . . It’s cute as anything though! ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanutter/434214/13 "2008-01-20T05:07:18Z")
[QUOTE=KneadToKnow] I couldn’t decide if the cat looked more like it was playing in an air band or conducting an orchestra. [/QUOTE] I was going to say that he looks like he’s conducting a symphony orchestra. Turn on some music and see if he does it to music. His timing looks pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanutter/434214/14 "2008-01-20T06:05:45Z")
_“In nomine Patri, et Filli, et Meowmeow Sancti… Dominus Meowbiscum… Kitteh eleison… Benedicat vos omnipotens Meow, per omnia saecula saeculorum…”_ ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanutter/434214/15 "2008-01-20T16:52:24Z")
“Whoa, dude, have you ever looked at your paws? I mean, like, _really_ looked at your paws?” ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanutter/434214/16 "2008-01-20T17:03:33Z")
Have you had your house checked for ghosts? Clearly he sees something that **you** don’t… ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanutter/434214/17 "2008-01-20T20:52:48Z")
When he does it down low, it looks like “Invisible Piano”! ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanutter/434214/18 "2008-01-20T22:19:09Z")
[QUOTE=TroubleAgain] When he does it down low, it looks like “Invisible Piano”! [/QUOTE] Ditto. I was imagining John Gielgud saying, “The Rach Three!” ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2008, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanutter/434214/19 "2008-01-21T00:36:29Z")
[QUOTE=KneadToKnow] OMG, you really need to find some good music to add to that video. I couldn’t decide if the cat looked more like it was playing in an air band or conducting an orchestra. Cute cat, BTW. Crazy, but cute. [/QUOTE] Isn’t it obvious? He’s playing a Beethoven piano concerto! Of course, one could always set it to John Cage’s _4:33_! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2008, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanutter/434214/20 "2008-01-21T00:44:41Z")
Ghost yarn - that’s what he’s playing with! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanutter/434214.md?page=2)