behavior – Site Title

The Saga Continues

It has been three weeks since the two moved in. They are Shiro and Gallahad, my son’s two cats. I agreed to take care of them while he’s away starting a new career and his new temporary apartment doesn’t allow pets. It was an excruciating decision on his part to let go of them for a short while.

Shiro is a little princess and a spoiled little brat. She likes things her way. However, she loves litter boxes. Every time I clean the litter box and walk away, she moves in. I mean she jumps in and stays there! It could be the Aloe Vera scented deo that I add to the litter box that makes it smell like pure heaven to her but the little princess turns into a tramp and doesn’t mind spending time in the gutter! Gallahad is the quiet guy. He looks wise with his orange eyes but he’s all about the food. The minute he hears me approaching, he follows, his fat behind waddling as he pierces me with those eyes as, “Give me food please,” oozes out of every pore! He is overweight but he doesn’t care. I think he loves being who he is. Give him food and his world is a brighter shade of pink! The rest of the day he spends upstairs on the bed enjoying his time alone!

The two are a handful. Shiro more so than Galli. She is loud and if something doesn’t set well, she lets it be known. Her goal is to con her way into the bedroom. She knows that Chachi has that spot now but that doesn’t matter to her. She has her sights set on that coveted prize. Did I tell you that she has big, beautiful eyes? She does and that pitiful meow can tug at any heartstring. Her goal is to befriend Chachi and to oust him from the bedroom. She has a better strategy than Trump! Anyway, they are friends for the moment but Chachi is smarter than he looks. Little Einstein has been proving why he has that name. He has been spending a lot of time upstairs with the cat toys. The kind that helps to make your cat think. Believe it or not, he has managed to get the balls out of one maze and the other one has a piece missing and that is the end of both of them! He is a thinker and I am finding out that the little guy is not as nice as he seems as well. He has taken to snarling and showing his cute little teeth!

His girlfriend, Miss Ipanema, showed up last night. She spotted him sitting at the window seat and set her sights on him. The girl knows how to do that well, she is as loose as they come. A pretty one at that. She is all black with gorgeous green eyes but I’ve decided that she needs to go. Chachi is too innocent for her so I moved him away from the window and the little guy put up a fight and turned his “snarl” on me. He got the riot act read to him last night.

He is learning some not so nice things from the other two. The once sweet and laid-back guy is twice the “macho” he used to be. Yes, I have my hands full but I have to say that they are fun to watch, their different personalities are interesting, and I am learning that cats are not as simple or as clueless as they seem.

Have an amazing day.

The Three!

I woke up to Chachi, the cat, having dry heaves! It doesn’t happen often but it did seem that way this morning because Shiro, the Persian cat, had a problem yesterday. She threw up and had a slight case of the runs. Galli, the British long-haired cat, was alright and keeping a watchful eye on everything.

I spent most of yesterday doing the wash, cleaning up behind them, and taking care of Shiro who seemed to be out of sorts and spent the day sleeping and looking poorly. Stressful? Absolutely.

This morning, Chachi decided to get in the act and had me up at 5 a.m. and after cleaning up, I noticed that he had been eating too much of the dry food so I removed it and decided that I must be doing something wrong as far as these three are concerned. Just as I suspected, the other two were waiting outside the door looking at me like I was manna from heaven or rather, it is where their manna comes from!

ME: “Cool it guys! I have some cleaning to do before I can get to you two.”

SHIRO: “How come Chachi gets to stay with you all night and we have to be outside. It is totally unfair!”

GALLI: “I’m not saying anything but she has a point there.”

I wasn’t in the mood for small talk! I ignored them and got what I needed to clean the mess up. Then I removed the dry food and gave him just wet food until his stomach settles down. Not too happy with the situation, I took a deep breath, piled my hair on my head, and decided to go get my cup of coffee. Just then I noticed that the litter boxes needed to be cleaned up! The day was taking off and leaving me behind. Okay, it was something that needed to be done so I did it. I disinfected it and added some deo to it. As I was heading downstairs, I noticed that Shiro had jumped into the litter box and was lying in it! The girl has a problem. She looked up at me with googly eyes like she was thoroughly enjoying it.

ME: “What’s the matter with you?”

SHIRO: “It smells so good here! I can sleep in it.”

GALLI: “She never used to do that when we were with daddy.”

SHIRO: “That’s because daddy never kept it this clean!”

CHACHI: “Mom, what are they up to?”

SHIRO: “Would it help if we called you mom?”

ME: “Nope!”

GALLI: “I know what your problem is. You need to let your hair down. Piling it on your head like you do is not a good look for you. If you want the guys to come calling, wear it down.”

CHACHI: “Thank you Galli. I keep telling her the same thing but she never listens. We should talk about the creeps who come calling! I can go on and on.”

ME: “Enough! Don’t worry about me. Stop throwing up, having the runs, and expecting to be fed all the time. You’ve had breakfast and now you’ll have to wait for several hours before you get more food. Is that understood?”

GALLI: “Bummer! I was enjoying the all you can eat buffet! Anyway, that attitude doesn’t suit you as well. Try being nicer, things might just change for the better.”

Ignoring the three, I headed for the kitchen. I NEEDED my coffee real bad. Shiro and Galli followed.

SHIRO: “We need to talk.”

Galli looking wise with his orange eyes took a seat on the stairs.

ME: “Guys, we are not talking. It is way too early and I don’t want to hear it!”

Them in unison.

“We want to go back to daddy! This is no fun and that little guy up there hasn’t been brought up too well. He growls and hisses all the time and you never say anything. Instead, you kiss him all the time and keep mommy’s boy protected from us. This is a no go!”

“Okay, we will have a pow wow later and I promise we will come to a solution. I need my coffee now.”

SHIRO: “What about Easter?”

ME: “What about it?!!”

GALLI: “Give us some special food and if you do, I will grant you a wish. One that brings the right guy into your life. You will be very happy, I promise.”

ME: “What are you?!! A fairy or rather a genie in disguise?”

GALLI: “I am more than meets the eye.”

ME: “Oh Lord, have mercy. Chachi thinks he knows everything and now, I have a budding lord only knows what on my hands!”

Coffee made, I headed back upstairs. Walking into the bedroom Chachi pipes up.

What was that about?

ME: “Don’t worry about it. Come give mommy a kiss.”

THEM: “We rest our case!”

Have an amazing day.

Chachi’s Battle

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The little guy didn’t know what hit him but life as he knew it is gone and he has to put up with two intruders! He hadn’t see them in a long time so they are strangers again. Mommy is acting strange and is trying to butter them up and THAT is not settling too well with the Little Macho. It was talk time. Lord, have mercy!

Chachi: “Mom, why are they here? I don’t like them touching my stuff and using my toilet!”

Me: “You have to be nicer to them. They are missing their daddy.”

Daddy is my son who has moved away because of a new job and he has an apartment that doesn’t allow cats. It will take some time to rectify that situation so in the mean time, I am stuck with them. Chachi, the brat, just has to cool it and learn to share. There are three litter boxes in the house but for some reason, the two love using his!

Chachi: “I don’t think they were brought up too well. The big guy, Galli, hasn’t learned how to use the toilet yet and that little white one, Shiro, thinks toilets are beauty salons! She loves sticking her nose in them!”

Me: “I think she likes clean toilets. I noticed she was in the bathroom after my shower and was sniffing the air like it was something wonderful. Just part of being a girl. You should try to be friends with her.”

Chachi: “Grr! No way that is going to happen. I DON’T LIKE HER! I can tolerate Galli but I want you to stop kissing his forehead!”

Me: “Can you help me just a little? What’s with the hissing? You sure do act big for your size.”

Chachi: “Mom! I can take them both with one go!

Me: “Okay, no fighting. No hissing. No growling, and no “I’m the big man crap!” If you are nicer to them, you get extra kisses tonight and you get to cuddle with Mommy.”

Chachi: “Well, I get that anyway. Okay, I will try but you have to stop kissing them!”

ME: “Deal!”

I’ll sneak in those kisses when he’s not looking! They need loving too.

This morning there was a definite turnaround. The Little Brat has been out there for about an hour now. When I walked up the stairs to check on him, he was on the floor with Galli and they were trying to figure out how to make the ball move in the cat toy. Shiro walked past with a flippant glance at him and he didn’t hiss!

I’m hoping that the “white flag” will survive the day and they become friends.

Just another day in Casa Del Gato!

Have an amazing day.

Growing Pains

It is going around here and there is no stopping it no matter how hard I try. Some of you may know that I have three cats now. One is my own called Chachi, or rather Little Macho and sometimes Little Einstein. He is one smart cookie but he’s not too happy these days and that is putting it mildly. The other two belong to my son who has moved away to pursue the rigors of having a new job and cats don’t fit into that equation, not at the moment anyway. Hopefully, in six months. Yes, you heard right. I will be playing babysitter for that amount of time or maybe even longer. The two in question are, Shiro, the white Persian who looks sweet, pretty, and spoiled as they come! She is quiet until something rubs her up the wrong way and then her claws come out. Right now, Chachi seems to be bringing out the “not so nice her” for some reason. The other partner in crime is Gallahad, a dark grey British long-hair with orange eyes. He looks menacing at first glance but is a sweetheart at his core.

The two moved in here about three weeks ago and life hasn’t been the same since then. When once I was surrounded by calm, chaos reigns supreme now! Keeping the place clean from the minute I get up, feeding all three, and keeping them happy seems to be my daily routine. It is wearing me out but I love challenges so I am trying my best and sometimes my best is not enough as I am finding out.

This morning I woke up to my little guy running around the bedroom. He decided that I was sleeping too long and it was time for mommy to wake up and get going. He wanted to see what the other two were doing. They are not friends yet, however, the “thaw” is taking place slowly but surely. I wasn’t too pleased with his method of waking me up so I told him to cool it. He did, but decided he’d try a different strategy. He threw up on the floor! I jumped out of bed and wasn’t too pleased. First, I had to clean up the mess. Then, I heard them. The two outside the door striking up their chorus of, “Where are you? We are hungry!” I walked out of the room and asked, “What do you two want?”

The answer, “What do you think?”

Then I noticed that the litter box was full! It couldn’t get any worse? It did. One had missed his or her mark and it was there right on the floor! I cleaned up all the litter boxes, disinfected them all before breakfast and I was not in a good mood. Then it was feeding time. They got their food, ate like they hadn’t been fed for weeks! Little Snort, that’s my guy, was behind the bedroom door demanding that he be let out. Lord, have mercy!

It was time for my cup of coffee and breakfast. I made it and walked back into the bedroom to listen to news and to see what was going on in the world, more specifically what Taco Trump was up to. Nothing new, he’s doing his normal, talking out of both sides of his mouth. They (Iranians) are good and smart people and the next, they are evil and we are going to blow them to kingdom come! Time for him to go? What do you think?

Anyway, by now all three were in symphony demanding to be let out or let in depending on their standpoint. It was time to get the day started. I walked out looking like Aunt Jemima on one of her worst days to tackle the cleaning. First, it was vacuuming from top to bottom, then mopping the floors, taking out the trash, and making sure the “cats” were all clean. What a day and it is just starting.

Chachi wanted to play with his best buddy, Galli. They have a love hate relationship and that means keeping a vigilant eye on them. Shiro, like a good little girl ate her food, and is now sleeping by the window. Guess what? Snow has moved in, it wasn’t in the forecast, and is coming down.

Weekdays and weekends are all rolled into one as far as I am concerned. I HOPE they learn to love each other and my days and nights get better. I can hope but the three marauders are not complying and that right there is the problem.

Have an amazing day.

The Three Musketeers

“All for one and one for all!” Not quite. I thought the hardest part is to have the two visitors as temporary residents for some time and when they get used to being here, things will take a turn for the better. Think again!

Gallahad, the gentle giant with the dark fur and orange eyes is an observer. He watches everything with those wise eyes of his and stays out of the way until he hears the can opening, food can that is. Then he prances around because “food” brings him happiness and adds to the extra pounds he carries around as well. He loves eating. I’m his best buddy because he knows without a shadow of a doubt that I’m the lady with the food. Be nice to her and you have a full tummy, that is guaranteed.

Shiro, on the other hand, is sweet and looks mighty pretty. All that white fur and big wide eyes makes her a beauty. She loves to meow when she is happy AND when she is not. How to know the difference? You don’t, just go with the flow or simply ignore her. She loves to sleep a lot as cats do I suppose but she calls it her “beauty sleep.” A girl after my own heart!

Chachi, the Little Macho has lost some of that machismo ever since these two moved in. He was “the man” but now, the third wheel or the fourth but who cares, he feels that the two have moved in and are vying for my attention, love, and caring. This is not setting too well with him and he shows it in ways that is alarming. He hisses whenever he sees them, tries to hit with his paws and last night, he went for my hand! I wasn’t having any of it so I read him the riot act. Things have been quiet since then but he shoots daggers in my direction letting it be known that he is JEALOUS!

What am I doing? Good question. I am running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Just when I think I have a handle on things, they show me different. Galli decided that feeding, grooming, and taking care of his needs isn’t enough. He added diarrhea to the equation! He is a long-haired variety and let me tell you cleaning up after that makes you want to send him home! The problem, he has no other home right now. So, I cleaned up, ran the wash several times and all is back to normal again. Then there is the problem with the hair. Two long-haired cats shed like crazy! Now, it is time to play stylist as well. I invested in a good hair-trimmer and have been cutting Shiro’s hair. She is a sweetheart, no problems there. Galli is another story! He went for my hand after hearing the light buzzing and knew something was up. The next thing I did was to invest in some protective gloves. This is working much better but try getting close to the legs and you have trouble waiting!

Time for a professional to take over. I have an appointment scheduled with a dog and cat stylist in April. Hopefully, she gets them cleaned up and smelling like a rose. Maybe, not a rose but something better!

Life with three cats is no joke. It’s like having kids running around and demanding attention all the time. Oh, I forgot playtime. It is scheduled for an hour each day. By the end of the day, I am pooped!

Three musketeers they are not, but I’m hoping that things will settle down. I used to say I don’t want to travel anymore, well, that has changed ever since the two moved in. I am ready for a break!

Have an amazing day.

The White Flag!

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I think it has been three weeks since Gallahad and Shiro moved in. They are my son’s cats and since he was starting a new job, he couldn’t have them with him and so with a sad heart, he left them with me. I wasn’t too keen on the idea because I knew how much work they would be plus Chachi, the cat, was used to having this place all to himself. Bringing all three together was a daunting task and lots of work.

It was hard and still is. They are getting used to each other. Gallahad, is a British long-haired cat with dark fur and bright orange eyes. Shiro is all white with big eyes and looks like the cat on the Gourmet Food ads. They are two different personalities. Galli is soft and sweet and even though he looks menacing, he is a gentle giant. Shiri is the princess and she knows it! She was daddy’s little girl and was spoiled rotten. She is also a no-nonsense type and that turned out to be a problem for Chachi, the Little Macho.

Anyway, it has been three weeks in and the “thaw” wasn’t taking place no matter how hard I tried. Chachi had a hissy fit the first week which rolled into the second week. He decided to get along with Galli but Shiro was a different matter altogether. He has started tolerating Galli and lets him play with his stuffed toys but Shiro still gets a hiss whenever he sees her.

However, yesterday he did a 360 and decided to roll out the white flag. Don’t ask me why. It happened and the Little Macho woke up with a glint in his eye as if he had this bright idea. The idea turned out to be, let’s lay down arms and be friends BUT on my terms! Little did he know that the other two had other ideas. No deals were their stance. Sound familiar to what is happening in the real world? Anyway, the morning started out fine.

Chachi: “You can play with my toys Galli,” tail tucked between his legs.

Galli: “I’ve been playing with them. I don’t need your permission for that you little Snort.”

Chachi: “You weren’t brought up well, were you? You have to ask first.”

Galli: “Okay, thank you!”

Just then Shiro walks in and takes a gander at what is going on. Immediately, Little Macho throws down the white flag and goes into a hissy fit. I think he doesn’t like females, yours truly excluded of course.

Shiro: “You sure have a loud hiss for a little thing. I can take you down anytime Little Bubba.”

Chachi: “Who are you calling Little Bubba? By the way, I think you should get some sun. That pale look doesn’t suit you.”

They did the Mexican standoff for a few minutes and then decided to let it go but not before Shiro decided to get the last word in.

Shiro: “You should learn some manners and what’s with the John Wayne swagger? You are way too big for your britches.”

Chachi: “MOM! What did she say?!!”

ME: “She said you are adorable and cute. She wants to be friends.”

Chachi: “Yeah, I am and I know it. Glad that she sees it too. I think she is afraid and wants to make nice. Okay, we’ll try it. Shiro, you can play with my toys too but one false move and I’ll be on you before you can swish that pretty tail of yours!”

Shiro: “Thank you Chachi but keep your distance. You are too full of yourself but I will take you up on the offer.”

She walked over to the toy basket, picked out Chachi’s favorite stuffed bird and walked out with a swish of the tail and an elegant stride out of the room.

Chachi: “Mommy!”

Me: “It’s alright. You’ll get it back. Play nice and make peace.”

Chachi: “I DON’T LIKE HER!”

This went on for a while until Little Macho decided to give in and make friends. Afternoon found all three in the bedroom taking their afternoon siesta. Galli on my bed, Shiro stretched out on the floor and Chachi snoozing next to me.

Peace at last! Will it last? I don’t know but I’m enjoying the temporary ceasefire!

Have an amazing day.

The Thaw

Is it Day 6 or 7? I can’t keep up anymore but it has been several days since Shiro and Galahad were left in my care. They are cats, if you’re wondering. Shiro is a Persian cat, all white with startling blue or perhaps green eyes, and Gallahad is a British long-haired cat with dark fur and brilliant orange eyes. Yes, they are pretty and belong to my son. Where is he? He has moved to another state to start his new job. Leaving them behind was hard and still is for him and exhausting for me.

Chachi, the cat, my little guy is spoilt beyond repair and he was lord of the jungle until these two walked in and took command. Galli took his window seat by the kitchen and Shiro has claimed his basket upstairs. They were his favorites and giving them up hasn’t set well with the Little Macho. Every time I tried to get them to play, the little brat decided there was no way in hell he was going to do that. This is his place and besides you don’t take stuff away without asking first. He is someone with principles or rather he was brought up to toe the line. So, he froze them out and every time he got a glimpse of them, he would HISS and let it be known that he wasn’t going to put up with their presence. He has been spending a lot of time in my bedroom with the door shut! Now, he hates me as well! Life as Chachi knew it is a thing of the past and the Little Snort is shooting daggers at me and acting like he is a block of ice!

However, today he decided to turn things around. I guess spending time alone in the room hasn’t set too well with him OR he is trying a new tactic. He is not called Little Einstein for nothing. This morning, he looked longingly at the closed door so I opened it and warned him to be nice. Galli sashayed past him without batting an eyelid. Chachi sniffed and went, “Grrr!!!”

ME: “Chachi!!”

HIM: “I was just kidding. He is not that big close up.”

ME: “Behave!”

HIM: “You want to play big guy?”

GALLI: “Sure, we can play.” Silently thinking, wait till your mommy turns her back on you!

So, I left them, ran down the stairs, got the vacuum cleaner, I vacuum two or three times per day now and it is exhausting. Oh ok, I said that already. Anyway, I ran back upstairs and my little guy was in his bowl elevated off the floor with Galli sitting beneath and looking up at him. So far, so good. Then Chachi decided to up the ante. He reached out with one paw and swiped Galli on the head! Big mistake. The big thaw was now freezing back up again. This was Galli’s chance and he took it. He came in with both paws and before he could land a POW WOW on Chachi, I stepped in.

Chachi yelled, “You’re a spoilsport mommy! I could have taken him!”

GALLI: “You’re right Chachi. She is that but I like her.”

Chachi: “Come here Galli, I want to show something. You’ve been begging for it!”

I stepped in and shooed Galli out of the room and Chach went under the bed leaving a slight growl hovering in the air.

I shut the door and so it has been for the last hour or so. The “thaw” is taking place but it is going to take a few more days before I can trust them to play together. What’s with Shiro? She’s a girl and as long as everything is nice and clean, she’s a happy camper. She is under the stairs, eyes closed and enjoying herself. Boys? They are a different matter altogether!

For now, it is life as usual at “Casa de gatos.”

Have an amazing day.

Day 3

Time sure does fly. It is day three since my son came by, brought his cats here, talked for a while and off he went to start his new life.

DAY 1:

It was chaotic. I had three cats here and I felt like my world was being turned on its head! Shiro, the Persian cat, and Gallahad, the British long-haired cat were not too sure about what had just happened. Dad, (my son) was gone and they were with this lady they recognized but not quite. I hadn’t seen them in a long time and we were practically strangers. They watched me cautiously and no amount of talking to them seemed to make them look at me differently.

SHIRO: “She thinks she is the cat whisperer. What is the gibberish coming out of her mouth? Where is daddy?!!”

GALLI: “I think she’s nice. I remember her from long ago but that Little Macho over there thinks he can take us both down! I’ve got news for him.”

CHACHI: “Don’t TOUCH my things! Look at my teeth, they mean business!”

ME: “Lord, have mercy! Where and how do I start?”

I made sure their room upstairs was made to order. It looks like cat paradise up here. I even put blankets on the bed in case they got cold. Everything was spotless and the toilet was CLEAN and smelling like flowers.

SHIRO: ” This is what I’m talking about! Dad, I love him but the toilet was never this clean. I’m going to enjoy this!”

GALLI: “Who cares? A toilet is a toilet and anyway I never pay too much attention as to what I leave behind.”

Exactly the problem! Galli thinks that doing the big stuff is one thing and covering it up with litter is another!

DAY 2:

All was quiet. The two survived the night with no problems. I kept Chachi in the bedroom since I didn’t trust them playing together. Chachi had and has an attitude. He’s all about his things. Don’t touch this and don’t touch that! If you so much as look at me cross-eyed, you’re looking at trouble!

Chachi also decided that he hates me! I’ve brought some strangers in to take his place. Every time I picked him up, he hissed to show his displeasure. Instead of purring when I put him next to me at bed time, he was as quiet as a mouse. The message was clear. Get THEM out of here!

Galli decided that he was going to give the cat whisperer a chance. He purred every time I came close and even let me stroke him. He also started rubbing up against my leg. He is all about the food, as long as his stomach is over full, he’s a happy camper. There was hope yet. Shiro wouldn’t have anything to do with me, cat whisperer or not. Her whole stance was, “WHERE IS DADDY? Get me out of this place!”

DAY 3:

So far, so good. The cats have settled down, they are eating and drinking and letting me pat them on the head. Chachi is still in his pissed off mood. He keeps shooting evil eyes in my direction and hissing at them every chance he gets. My son has been constantly texting asking for pics and sending messages, “I miss them.” I’ve been working tenaciously to keep them all happy.

Now, I AM POOPED!

Will it get better? I can only hope but running behind the three of them is going to take coordination and some planning. I know it is a challenge and it will be a challenge. First thing, I need to work on getting Chachi on my side. So, I’ve been whispering, “You know you are my little love, don’t you? No one can take your place.”

CHACHI: “Stop your cat whispering with me. I know you better and you need to beg, maybe it will work but for now, no way in hell!

Let’s see what the days going forward will bring.

Fingers and toes crossed.

My Funny Little Valentine

He is sweet, he is gentle, he is rambunctious, he is smart, he is my companion and he is funny most days. It is Valentine’s Day and I decided to pay homage to my little love. The little furball who runs my world!

Things haven’t been on an even keel for the last couple of days. The Little Rat has decided to take matters into his own paws and when it comes to getting attention, he is a pro! I’ll agree that I haven’t been giving him as much attention as he deserves because I’ve had other things on my mind. I’ve been going out more than I’m used to and this is not setting too well with the little rascal. He gives me this evil eye when I walk in and with a PISSED OFF swish of his tail, he lets it be known that this is not alright with him. In his book, the one where cat rules are written, I am neglecting him. This is not the case at all. He gets more than his share of love but he wants more and that is the problem.

Little Einstein has found new ways to show me his disdain and I see it clearly. He is like a “glue stick” meaning he keeps close to me every chance he gets including sleep time when getting a good night’s rest is becoming a problem because the little brat has decided that the best sleep position for him is to cuddle close to mommy and since that is not enough, let’s plant the whiskers right on her face! He keeps constant watch and he does it better than a hawk, I must say.

Last night, he was in his element. This morning, the TV cabinet was left open and the bedside drawers were left opened as well! How did he manage that? I don’t know but he is not called Little Einstein for nothing! The little guy is trying to tell me something but I don’t know what it is yet. He is eating well, doing his stuff as he usually does so nothing wrong there. However, this constant need for attention has me baffled. It could be jealousy. Do cats get jealous? I looked it up and this is what I found.

“Cats experience emotions similar to jealousy — rooted in anxiety, possessiveness, or insecurity — when their territory, routine, or bond with their owner is threatened.”

Attention-seeking is one component of this behavior.

How do you manage jealous behavior?

Maintain routine, create safe spaces, and give lots of individual attention.

Hmm…for normal cats this might just work but we’re talking about a highly-evolved one. My little guy is smarter than most since he claims to have lived more than nine lives! It is going to take some detective work to appease him!

Anyway, he is my Funny Little Valentine! Today he will get all the attention he craves and much much more! Hopefully it works to keep him satisfied for a little while at least.

Have an amazing day.

The Zoomies

What is that?!! Well, I found out the hard way. Chachi, the cat, decided that it was time to let his “Zoomies,” out and not in a nice way! Last night was a horror trip.

It started out as usual with me getting ready for bed and Little Einstein doing his bit as well. He was into cleaning himself but in an aggressive manner as he let out some snorts as he went about his business. I guess he was frustrated. Who wouldn’t be? That little tongue of his does a mighty big job and last night was no different. When he finished, he eyed me with a look on his face that I hadn’t seen before. It wasn’t “love unconditional” but something else and soon the horror trip would begin.

It started out with slight bunny hops across the bed. Not too bad. I thought, whatever floats your boat. Then he ran across the bed with a loud meow. I asked, “What is wrong with you? Settle down!” Nope, it wasn’t working. He decided to take it a notch higher. He ran around the room, over and over again. Oh God, I was in for it. A few minutes later, he jumped back on the bed but this time he wanted to get my full attention. He ran across from one end of the bed to the other and as if that wasn’t enough, he JUMPED over my head! Not once, not twice but over and over again! Jumping out of bed, I tried to get him but the Little Snort was a lot quicker and he dashed under the bed and stayed there meowing his you know what off! I was at a loss for words so I GOOGLED. Yes, my go to bible for everything that is wrong with this world. Mine, I mean.

I found out that cats get the Zoomies now and then. Another word for it is (FRAPs) or rather Frenetic Random Activity Periods. It is primarily done “to release pent-up energy from long periods of rest, satisfying their instincts as crepuscular (dawn/dusk) ambush predators by mimicking hunting sprints, and sometimes due to excitement or even post-poop stimulation, providing a natural, healthy burst of cardiovascular exercise and endorphins.”

Lord have mercy! I knew I was in for a sleepless night amongst other things. The article further went on to say that “Zoomies mimic the chase, pounce, and sprint of hunting, tapping into their core predatory nature, even if they’re just chasing a dust bunny.” I guess I was the dust bunny!

How to Manage Zoomies

Schedule playtime. Help them to burn up some pent-up energy. Provide scratching posts and toys to keep them busy. Be consistent. More stimulation during the day leads to less frantic behavior at night.

Hmm…the little rascal gets enough stimulation BUT he prefers to sleep during the day, goes to bed at 7 in the evening and is up before the sun comes up! His toy box sees a lot of activity during the night and the stuffed birds cower in fear when he gets a hold of them and rightfully so!

Last night was something to remember. I had never seen him that way before but this little furball has lots up his furry arm that I’m not aware of. It was a rude awakening BUT I’ll take it in stride as I do with all the other stuff that he puts me through. Yes, he has got me wrapped around his paws and that is not going to change any time soon. AND he knows it!

Have an amazing day.