cats – Page 10 – BerthaBlog

Speak! Why Won’t You SPEAK?!

Cat Tales, Geek Wannabe, General Comments Off

Aug 232009

Duchess is getting the hang of being around people. She’s learned to tell us when she’s hungry, and when she wants someone to play with her, and when she just wants some petting.

She still hasn’t realized that she can also call us for help.

She’s developed the habit of sneaking in behind me when I go into the master bedroom. Sometimes I’ll just step in to put away my hairbrush or get my shoes, and then leave again without realizing she’s darted under the bed. And I close the door behind me.

All the cats I’ve known till now, when locked in a room, would set up a caterwauling until someone came to let them out. Duchess doesn’t say anything, she just tries to pull the door open by herself. It’s not that she doesn’t talk—she’s a very chatty little cat, and talks to us constantly. It just doesn’t seem to occur to her that people would be a source of help, or that they would come assist her if she called.

Fortunately The Director’s room is across the hall from ours. Yesterday he heard her scratching at the door and let her out. Then she started talking, greeting him and telling him it was dinner time. I hope she figures out how to say something when she needs a hand. People can be very useful for things like that.

Cat Rescue

Cat Tales, Geek Wannabe, General Comments Off

Aug 122009

A couple of people have asked about yesterday’s post—specifically, Alpha Geek rescuing the cat.

One of Duchess’ favorite toys is the cat-fishing pole. If you don’t have a cat, picture a toy fishing pole with a big bunch of feathers at the end of the string. Some cats aren’t all that into these; I tried to entice Phurball with one, and he was pretty much “meh.” But Duchess goes nuts for her cat-fishing pole. She used to be afraid of The Artist (he’s just so damn BIG), until they both discovered a mutual enjoyment of the cat-fishing pole: she loves to play with it, and he loves to dangle it for her.

Yesterday one of the boys left the cat-fishing pole out on the coffee table. I try to prevent this; if I find it out I put it away, or remind the kids to do so. I don’t want her playing with it unsupervised, because she could get tangled up in the string.

Which is exactly what happened yesterday. She found it, she played with it, she got her left hind leg all tangled up in the string. She was panic-stricken. The thing was chasing her, and it had her leg, and it was noisy, and she couldn’t get away from it! She pelted from one side of the house to another, upstairs and downstairs, trying to escape. The Director reported that her tail was as big around as a Coke can.

Finally Alpha Geek and The Director were able to corner her and hold her long enough to cut the string and free her.

By the time The Artist and I got home, the crisis was over and Duchess was on the couch recovering from her fright. I had a talk with the boys about making sure to put the toy away when they’re done playing, for Duchess’ sake. I think knowing it’s a safety issue for our little cat will motivate them to remember.

Now I need to get a new cat-fishing pole.

One Day She Will Be Queen

Breeder's Corner, Cat Tales, Geek Wannabe, General 2 Responses »

Jul 142009

Mark my words, within a year this cat will be queen of our house. And I suspect she will have claimed The Director as her own particular human.

Alpha Geek gave her supper while I was gone. But he’s not an early riser by nature, and I’ve taught her not to meow at our bedroom door. So for the last four days she’s been waking The Director up for her breakfast.

She still doesn’t like to be picked up, but she’ll tolerate it for a moment while you move her to your lap (because she knows there will be petting). The Director is a little guy, and still getting the hang of picking up a cat; sometimes he picks her up in an awkward bundle of legs sticking out of his arms. She’ll give a meow to let him know she’s not enjoying it, but then just hang there and wait until he sits down and starts with the petting.

Duchess

Every morning we get to discover what she’s found to play with during the night. One morning she had murdered my feather duster. Another, I found some kind of cord on the staircase—I have no idea what it’s from. Once I left a scrunchie out on the end table. She had a ball with that, it was completely unraveled by morning.

Her absolute favorite toy so far is a handmade potholder The Director made years ago, one of those where the kid weaves loops on a loom to make Mom a tiny little potholder. It was too small to use, so I hung it on the pantry door.

Anything dangling is fair game for this cat. She pulled it down one night and has loved playing with it. It’s big enough to get a good hold on, with a good texture for claws to hold, and soft enough to be fun for wrestling. It’s a wonderful cat toy. The Director was delighted that his handmade craft became her specially favored toy.

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