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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday November 22, 2008 - 9 A cat's tail will be telling the tale B ody language is a great way to `read' a person or animal's feelings. A glare, a smile, and for cats a tail straight up all deliver unspoken messages. There's a lot to learn when you are reading people. For a cat, their tails tell part of the tale if you are observant. Animals convey their motivation and moods in body language. You should never rely on one part of the body to interpret what an animal is feeling. To get the whole picture, watch how all of the body is presented. The tail just happens to be one of the most expressive body parts. A friendly cat holds its tail straight. This is considered a friendly social signal to other cats and often precedes other friendly behaviour, such as sniffing and face rubbing. Studies by Dr. Charlotte Cameron-Beaumont of the University of Southampton, found that cats that approach with a tail up are less likely to have a negative response from an approaching cat. A tail held high with flat coat indicates a positive mood and intent serving as no threat to the other cat. If a cat is cautious or uncertain of another cat or person, its upright tail may appear hooked over the tip, indicating uncertainty. When a cat is very excited and happy to greet its owner, it will hold its tail straight in the air and it will quiver or twitch. The cat is pleased to see you and is overcome with emotion. Unlike quivers and twitches tail swishes can be interpreted in two ways. When a cat swishes its tail from side to side it could indicate real or mock annoyance. The more emotionally charged the cat is the faster the tail will PET OF THE WEEK: Bubba is a very affectionate, outgoing boy. For more swish. information on other available animals, visit www.oakvillehumane.ca. A relaxed, confident and alert cat walks with its tail horizontally behind it or even slightly drooping. The tail may also be in this position when a cat is on the prowl or stalking. While cats send clear positive messages using their tails, they can also demonstrate aggression with this body part. If a cat is fearful and feels seriously threatened it will exhibit what looks like an upright bottle Emmitt & Pat Smith brush, puffy tail. When confronted with a cat in this state, be prepared that the cat would rather get away from you, so if provoked, it will defend itself. Cats use their tails to tell many tales. For more information about how to interpret what your cat is trying to tell you, contact the Oakville and District Humane Society at 905-845-1551 or visit the shelter at 445 Cornwall Rd. Yes. I want to join The Oakville and District Humane Society's monthly giving program and give hope today -- and every day. Online Survey Now Available Here at the OPCC we are always looking for ways to improve existing programs and services and offer new ones to families like yours in the community. One of the best ways to achieve this is to give you the opportunity to tell us how you feel about using the centre. As a member of FRP Canada, we have an exceptional online evaluation tool available free of charge. This survey gives us valuable information that helps us to understand your needs and ensure that you are receiving great programs in a great family environment. If you are a family that uses the Oakville Parent-Child Centre, we would like to invite you to log on to the "e-valuation" tool at the FRP website (http://e-valuation. frp.ca) and tell us about your experiences at the centre. This easy online tool will allow you to choose the site you use the most from a pull down menu, and then answer a few simple questions. Please note that we receive a summarized report of the findings from FRP Canada, so all responses to the survey are confidential. Bazaar at John Knox will help buy farmyard of animals in Africa John Knox Christian School's Christmas Bazaar is today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Back by popular demand, the event takes place at the school located at 2232 Sheridan Garden Dr. (across from the Clearview CRC church). The families, teachers and friends of John Knox have been hard at work preparing for this Christmas shopping extravaganza. Visitors will find Christmas ornaments, crafts, sewing and knitting, home-baked goods, jewellery, cosmetics, Christmas wreaths and plants, gift cards (for more than 200 retailers), books, more than 40 unique silent auction gift baskets (including items such as hot air balloon rides, wine country tours and more), gift baskets for sale, new toys and more. For youths interested in some fun rather than shopping, there will be two games rooms, craft and cookie decorating as well as a "forkids-only" gingerbread room where children can buy inexpensively priced Christmas gifts for their families. There is also babysitting available for young children. And, for shoppers who would like to take a break after Christmas shopping, the bazaar will also host its International Café, serving Christmas goodies from all over the world. John Knox Christian School will donate 10 per cent of profits to World Vision as part of the school-wide Christmas initiative of giving an entire farm yard of animals necessary to sustain a village in Africa. This online tool is available until December 12th, so please take a few minutes to let us know how you feel we are doing. If you have any questions, please contact us by phone or by email. Discovery Station Nursery School Registration for September 2009 will begin January 20, 2009. Call us today if you wish to receive an email reminder about this random registration for children aged 18 months to 5 years. The Centre is a registered charitable organization, that has provided programs and services for families since 1980. Our services are designed to support all families in their parenting role. We also offer early learning opportunities for children 0-6 years. Christmas Special until Dec. 31st: $69 ­ 1 Hour Body Massage $69 ­ 1 Hour Reflexology *RMT prices differ ­ please call to inquire. Please call to book an appointment 905.337.3700 171 Speers Road, Unit 18, Oakville www.frieya.com Located at Speers Rd. & Kerr St. For more information on programs, parenting and services offered by the Centre please contact us at 905-849-6366 www.op-cc.ca