"D Mahoney" wrote in message
...
We have developed a breakfast routine in our house. The only two
players
with unchanging parts are Harri and me. When breakfast time rolls
around
I head for the kitchen. When she sees me headed that way Harri
dashes in
ahead of me. I pick up the metal bowls and drop them in the sink,
pick
up Harri and put her on the counter with appropriate sound effects
("Magical flying kitty, zoom-zoom", etc), then wash and dry the
dishes.
I then split two cans of soft food between 4 bowls, give Harri hers
on
the counter, but Sam's in a cardboard tray (he's a messy eater), and
put
the others on a boot tray on the floor.

I hadn't realized just how much Harri relied on the little details
of
our routine. One day last week I was a bit rushed, so I skipped the
sound effects when I picked up Harri. I proceeded with the rest of
the
routine, but moments after I put Harri on the counter she jumped
down.
She then stood in front of me (her usual signal that she wants to be
picked up), put her front paws on my leg (her signal that she wants
to
be picked up NOW!), and extended her claws. The latter I interpreted
as
her saying "Come on, human, you know how it's supposed to be done.
Do it
again, and do it right this time!". I picked her up again, this
time
with the sound effects, and the rest of the breakfast routine went
just
fine.

Just to be sure I wasn't misinterpreting Harri's message I tried the
routine again a couple of days ago without the sound effects. Again
she
jumped down, clawed my leg, and waited for me to do it the right
way.

I'm not sure why the sound effects matter, but apparently they do.

You have a role to play in that little girls life. You may not know
exactly what it is, but she certainly does. You seldom see a cat so
protective of her human. Bet she knows you would be sad all morning
without the bit of zoom zoom flying kitty. Besides, she knows
perfecftly she isn't 'just one of the cats' and has to maintain her
position.

Jo