Here, kitty kitty. Wine critics love cat pee, but hate wet dog. We explain why.

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | March 24, 2005 | Linda Murphy

[quantim]

It's a conundrum to some who read wine publications: How can cat-pee aromas in wine be good, yet horse manure be bad? Wet slate is in, wet dog is out? Sweat is positive, but dirty gym socks are not? And why don't critics say that wine tastes like grapes?

[quantim]

Even Consumer Reports gave a thumbs-up to cat pee in its November 2004 issue, describing the aroma as "... a legitimate, and often desirable, description. 

Most roads lead to Burgundy, France when discussing "wet dog," it's the pinot noir and the 'terroir' combo.  No offense to dog owners or pinot lovers.  As far as cat bladder relief goes - relatively new in wine circles.  More likely directed to those whose proboscis identifiers are sensitive to nitrates.

Nonetheless, this is a particularly good read for wine geeks.

[quantim]

Click to be added!

Late Friday night wine proboscis ping.

[lastchance]

Cat pee is one of the classic scents used to describe Sauvigon Blanc. Me as much as I love a good Sauvigon Blanc just hope I never notice em smelling like a tom cat gone wild.

[Enterprise]

Frankly, I don't understand their attraction to it.

[A Jovial Cad]

Excellent synopsis. I guess I've always assumed that the Grape + the barrel = flavor. Not quite that simplistic, I know, but basically correct.

Had a quite drinkable Australian Merlot with dinner, and the label bragged about "hints of French Oak." It made me wonder: what does a "French Oak" taste like, exactly? The answer: not bad.

Thanks for the *ping; a welcome respite from the Comment removed by AJC flame wars raging on FR right now..

[piasa]

Well, one of my associates' German shepherds had an affinity for cat crap and Bordeaux collies.

[quantim]

flame wars raging on FR right now

Thanks.  Glad to know I wasn't the only one brought down a few notches in the last few days by the mods.

Had a quite drinkable Australian Merlot with dinner

Do tell us, we're waiting.

[A Jovial Cad]

Glad to know I wasn't the only one brought down a few notches in the last few days by the mods

LOL..no comment.

It was a Paringa^TM Merlot, vintage 2003 (http://www.paringaestate.com.au/wines.html#), and it went quite well with our Pork Tenderloin. Uncorked the bottle about 30 minutes before my wife served dinner, and had a preliminary taste (naturally). I must say, for $12 we got our money's worth, and then some. I'd definitely recommend it for a table meal at home, and with any combination of meats.

Thus saith wine critic AJC...(LOL).

[martin_fierro]

Ping.

[Jet Jaguar]

[Slings and Arrows]

Given my dog's snacking habits, if I got her wet she'd probably smell like cat pee.
---
Kitty Ping List alert!

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[mupcat]

WOW that's one huge pussy cat!

I actually have a neighbor whose cat does that, doesn't use a litter box at all.

[jalisco555]

I had a cat, now sadly deceased, who taught himself to pee in the toilet by watching people do it. When he was done he'd swipe at the flush handle with his paw. Such a smart cat.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Now there is a CAT!

I love my little guy but I have always wanted a really big cat. One that was about the size of a medium sized dog.

[AnAmericanMother]

Ummmm . . . that cat ain't peeing.

[Enterprise]

"Ummmm . . . that cat ain't peeing."

Does it rhyme with kit or knitting?

[mupcat]

"I had a cat, now sadly deceased, who taught himself to pee in the toilet by watching people do it"

That's just so amazing! I have a cat who loves being in the bathroom with "you", but so far has shown no interest in using the toilet. Boy do I wish that were the case. This is the same cat who'll use the litter box ONLY for #1. He'll either jump out the window or go to the door to be let out for #2. Weird---just weird!

[AnAmericanMother]

Yup. No mistaking the hind leg angle, or the look of concentration.

[AnAmericanMother]

The lady who owned the Siamese males that I bred my queens to had a "boss neuter" who ran the household (the stud cats of course have to be confined, or you wouldn't have ANY idea who the daddies were . . . ) Kinkajou was half brother to my big Siamese male and a very smart kitty. He taught himself to use the toilet . . . this lady thought her four year old was not flushing and fussed at her about it until she walked in one day and caught Kinkajou in the act.

She tied a red rubber ball to the handle so he could flush the toilet . . . but Siamese cats are fascinated by water, and all her cats would pull the ball just to watch the water go down the bowl . . . her water bill skyrocketed and she had to take it off . . .

My cats just like to drink out of it. (We don't use Tidy-bowl or anything like that for fear of poisoning them.)

[jalisco555]

He taught himself to use the toilet . . . this lady thought her four year old was not flushing and fussed at her about it until she walked in one day and caught Kinkajou in the act.

We thought the same thing- that some slob was refusing to flush the toilet until I caught Fritz in the act. My wife and I couldn't believe it.

Fritz was an amazing cat. He was the only kitten in his litter and grew to be twice the size of his momma, who we also owned. He once saved his momma's life. She sometimes wore a collar and somehow got into the bedroom closet and her collar got caught in a hanger and was slowly strangling her. Fritz ran to my wife and got her to come to the bedroom to rescue mom. We've had many cats over the years but Fritz was special.