Watchcats on break VIII

Those who listen to records while their cat snuggles with them will likely relate to this: One side of an album comes to end.  You'd like to flip it over and listen to the other side, or you'd like to put on another LP.  Your cat, however, has taken the time to knead you thoroughly, settle in on you, and sleep blissfully.  You don't want to risk disturbing her, especially considering that she has claws and tends to bite you.

How do you react?  If you're like me, and your cat is like Watchcat Collette, you stay where you are, longer--sometimes hours longer--than you intended in silence.

Sometimes, it's just pragmatic to keep the peace. 

Watchcats on break VII

For a while this afternoon, I thought I'd lost my cell phone.  I pounded on counters and swore as I tried to find it.  (Sidebar: If it's true that adversity reveals character, I'm not sure I like what this says about me.  Actually, I think a more accurate expression would be, "Adversity reveals character during a person's most irritated state.")

As I ran around in a frenzy, Watchcat Collette noticed my angst and ran alongside me.  I appreciated her respecting my ire and picking up on the situation's urgency.  I'm sure that if she'd been allowed outside, she would have spotted the phone where I eventually found it--under the driver's side car seat.

At least, I'm sure she would have applauded.

Watchcats on break VI

Recently, I tried to reason with Watchcat Collette.  When she kept meowing and leading me over to the room where I keep the cat food, I told her, "Look, you just had a full meal.  I know that because I gave it to you.  You'll get another meal and a snack later, but it isn't time for that yet."

For some reason, that didn't deter Collette from making her case more insistently.  Eventually, I gave in and let her have a small snack.

So much for irrefutable logic.

Watchcats on break V

Sometimes, when Watchcat Rosie and Watchcat Sammy had spats, they'd start licking each other, ostensibly lovingly at first, but then increasingly aggressively.  Eventually, they'd start hitting each other.  Finally, they'd put a paw on each other's heads to say, "Stop that."

It was always reassuring to see them settle their differences with that paw-on-the-head signal of a truce.

Watchcats on break IV

Watchcat Rosie was a great, take-charge security guard but didn't quite master the art of undercover guard duty.  She'd get under a sofa cover, acting as though she was hidden, even though I could see her tail and two of her paws.  Once, she was almost completely hidden, except for one paw sticking out from the cover.  I told her, "I see you!"  It amused me that she retracted her paw quickly.  I humored her for the rest of the morning, pretending not to know where she was.  I thought, "Why not let her have this illusion?"

Watchcats on break III

It puzzles me that my current cat, Watchcat Collette, and previous cat, Watchcat Sylvia, have the common bond of enjoying lettuce.  I've eaten a fair amount of salad, but salad dressing is mandatory for a salad to be palatable, I think.  I can't imagine just eating lettuce leaves without anything on them, but Collette and Sylvia have wolfed down plain lettuce eagerly.

Then again, in a world where people inexplicably seek out the taste of raw celery or pizzas with pineapple, maybe this is less bizarre than I think.

Watchcats on break II

Another scenario to envision: Imagine Watchcat Collette running through the living room, as she did last Thursday, with a grocery bag around her neck.  I removed the bag as soon as I caught up to her.  Conveniently, that was just after she'd delivered the supplies she was carrying.  I have to admire any watchcat who helps people in the style of a St. Bernard.