litterbox games

[Governor George Liquor]

Watching the evolving relationship between Jack and Rizzo is proving
endlessly fascinating.

They've now decided each other's trips to the litterbox are a really good
way to start a wrestling match and chase. If both are awake, and one goes
in the litterbox (in my second bathroom), the other runs over and hides just
outside the door, out of sight. As the scrape-scrape-scraping signaling the
end of the bathroom break reaches its creshendo, the lurking cat pounces
through the door. This causes the litterbox user to leap out of the box,
and give chase and/or wrestle. It's funny to hear and watch, but I'm
generally ensured enough litter on the floor to warrant sweeping up at least
daily.

Jack started by surprising Rizzo when he was in the litterbox, but Rizzo
quickly learned to reciprocate. Rizzo has actually learned quite a lot from
Jack. They both frequent the same sleeping spaces, and Rizzo worms his way
into them exactly as Jack does. Jack likes to do chin-ups on the window
mullions while watching the ubiquitous lizards on the outside, and Rizzo has
started doing the same just this week. Rizzo has also picked up many of
Jack's vocal mannerisms. Rizzo was a very quiet kitty when I brought him
home, and really only made noise (besides purring like a vintage motorcycle)
when he was in his carrier. Jack was very talkative from the start, with a
whole vocabulary of sounds. Rizzo has started making many of the same
noises in the same situations.

Is it typical for kittens to learn behaviors from adult cats, besides their
mother?

[MacCandace]

<< Is it typical for kittens to learn behaviors from adult cats, besides their
mother? >>

I think so. I think it's where the term "copy cat" came from. My cats are the
same. One will discover a new sleeping place that was never appealing to any
of them before and, a few days later, the others will be seen sleeping in there
as though it's the coolest place ever. They're silly little critters.

Only one of mine is a litterbox ambusher. He thinks that's great fun. His
little sister will occasionally do it to him but not often. My older cat
thinks that is all very juvenile and he gets mad when he is the ambushee.

Candace
(take the litter out before replying by e-mail)

See my cats:
http://photos.yahoo.com/maccandace

[MacCandace]

<< Is it typical for kittens to learn behaviors from adult cats, besides their
mother? >>

I think so. I think it's where the term "copy cat" came from. My cats are the
same. One will discover a new sleeping place that was never appealing to any
of them before and, a few days later, the others will be seen sleeping in there
as though it's the coolest place ever. They're silly little critters.

Only one of mine is a litterbox ambusher. He thinks that's great fun. His
little sister will occasionally do it to him but not often. My older cat
thinks that is all very juvenile and he gets mad when he is the ambushee.

Candace
(take the litter out before replying by e-mail)

See my cats:
http://photos.yahoo.com/maccandace