Thread: Cats!
View Single Post
  #3  
Old May 3rd 16, 07:51 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
Joy[_3_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 397
Default Cats!

On 5/1/2016 10:41 AM, Judith Latham wrote:
In article , Joy
wrote:
On 4/29/2016 5:38 AM, Judith Latham wrote:
In article , Joy
wrote:
Each cat, and each combination of cats, causes things to change.
They have changed things, both regarding treats and canned food.

For years I‘ve been giving two kinds of treats. One kind is really
just Friskies, and the other is the real treats. Pickles and
Waffles(RB) figured out that the real treats were the best. Usually
Waffles would come for the treats, which I give before each of my
meals and at bedtime. Sometimes Pickles would come, and sometimes she
wouldn‘t. Because the real treats always got gobbled down first, I
wouldn‘t give them unless both cats were there. Waffles figured that
out, so he would go and get Pickles at treat time.

Somehow, after Waffles was gone and I got Koala, I started giving
both kinds of treats whether there were one or two cats in the
kitchen at the time. Sometimes when I fix a meal, neither of the
cats comes. Sometimes just Koala comes. If I pick up a treat can and
shake it, he‘ll run out of the room to get Pickles. If she doesn‘t
come with him, he usually doesn‘t come back. Generally she‘ll come
with him and they share the treats.

When I got Pickles & Waffles, I was already giving Lindy(RB) a little
canned food every evening. My vet recommends dry food, so that‘s
what they ate mostly. Waffles decided he wanted canned food too, so
I gave him some when I gave it to Lindy. Pickles wasn‘t interested,
except when it was tuna, and then she wanted some.

I started the same thing with Koala, giving him 1/8 of a can of food
every evening before I have my dinner. Pickles was the same way -
ignored the food except for the tuna. At some point, Koala decided
that he needed canned food in the morning too. The usual routine was
that, as soon as Koala had the canned food, Pickles would run into
the living room. I‘d follow her and give her skritches and tummy
rubs.

A few weeks ago, Pickles started showing interest in the canned food.
Every so often she‘d watch as I served it, and start eating along
with Koala. The dish is oval, so at first that was possible.
Eventually Pickles would push Koala away, and I‘d fix him another
dish of the food. That started happening more and more often.
Finally they both decided that Pickles should have canned food in the
morning, but not in the evening. If she isn‘t there when I start to
fix the cat food before I fix my dinner, Koala will go and get her.
In the evening she doesn‘t come out for it, and he doesn‘t go after
her.

I wrote the above last night. This morning Pickles took a quick look
at the food and followed me into the living room.

Cats!

They certainly know how to train us and we love it, I know I do. I
love how Pickles has been fetched by Waffles and Koala, they soon work
out the system don't they?

Judith


Yes, they do. This morning again, Pickles was in the kitchen and eager
for her canned food - until I put the dishes down. Then she sniffed at
it and ran into the living room. I guess she likes quality time with
me, without Koala horning in, more than she likes the food.


If Koala isn't eating, or very soundly sleeping inside a bed, he always
comes running if I start petting Pickles. I'd pet both of them, since I
have two hands, but she won't share. Of course he always moves into a
position so that she can see that I'm petting him, too.


Of course he does, he needs her to see it.

Judith


The sad thing is that when he does this, Pickles walks away. It doesn't
seem fair to go on petting him after this, so neither of them gets as
much petting as they would otherwise. :-(