Warm Fuzzy Feelings

One of the good things about being between semesters at college, is the
opportunity to do some cat watching. I also love being able to read the
group a little more often than once a week and being able to post once in a
while. But back to the owners.

One of the books I received for Christmas (we celebrate both Christmas and
Yule) was "Cat People" by Michael and Margaret Korda. In it he talks about
watching them and observing their habits and how they had carved the house
into loose territories. I got to thinking and realized that ours have also
divided the house, and in particular our bedroom, into loose territories.

The three main owners of the master bedroom are Merlin, SSG Huey, and Sonya.
Merlin sleeps either between Rob and I with his back against mine, or on
Rob's feet. SSG Huey either sleeps between Rob and I with his Back against
my thighs, or between my feet and the outer edge of the bed. Sonya sleeps
between Rob and I at our feet. or on Rob's feet. Rob doesn't thrash as much
as I do, so usually gets more cats sleeping on him. Merlin loves to sleep
on Rob's chest. Huey sometimes sleeps on my hip. Sonya likes feet. The
other cats are allowed into the room, so long as they are either passing
through or respect the proprieties of bed ownership. On a really cold night
as many as six cats will be on the bed, but usually the three faithful, Qui
Gun Kit and Pine Cone. It usually gets too hot for QC and Tanada only comes
through to go into the out through the window to the enclosure. All cats
are guaranteed free passage to the enclosure.

Tanada lives pretty much in what used to be our dining room, and is now
inhabited by Mike. (don't ask, it's a long story) She is scared of the
rest of the cats and Speedy the d-thing thinks that her running from him is
the greatest play toy ever created. Her litter box and food dishes are
under Mike's bed at opposite ends. Qui Gun Kit often sleeps with her and
Mike and they have worked out an accommodation that suits all three of them.
The other cats pass through and even take a nibble out of Tanada's food
dish, but respect her right to some peace and quiet in her old age.

QC and Pine Cone tend to hang out in the living room or in Amanda's room.
They wander wherever they want and sleep where the mood takes them. The
d-thing tries to play with them, but has learned that PC is not a good cat
to push too far, as PC decorated Speedy's face with claw pricks back before
Thanksgiving. Qui Gun thinks that Speedy is a gigantic cat, and that he is
part d-thing. Speedy agrees with the kit. Qui Gun was caught trying to
drag Speedy's huge chew bone away and had to be made to give it back.
Speedy snuck it out of the house and deposited it in the back yard, where he
brings it out and lays in the yard chewing on it and watching the enclosure
at the same time. Qui Gun sits on one of the ledges staring at Speedy and
trying to figure out how to get out there and get the bone back.

QC is the avenger/peacemaker/protector of the cats, as well as the
acknowledged alpha cat. She makes sure that no harassment goes too far,
that the other cats don't get nuttier than usual, and that the d-thing
leaves Tanada alone most of the time. She works hard keeping peace in the
household. She also makes sure that anyone working at the kitchen table has
plenty of inspiration and companionship. I appreciate her help with my
homework. I probably wouldn't have made it through math without her
assistance.

As with most clowders, living arrangements are fluid. Sometimes they switch
around for a while, even up to a week or so, but they usually gravitate back
to where they are comfortable. When I was sick, both Tanada and Huey kept
me company. Mike has my flu now and Tanada and Qui Gun Kit are taking care
of him. No one takes care of Rob, except Huey. He is jealous of his Paw
and makes sure that he gets first dibs on nursing Rob. Of course everyone
wants to be there helping, so things can get a little hairy, but they
usually work it out.

Pam S. enjoying watching the interactions within the clowder

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http://www.mousertails.blogspot.com
Mouser Tails: The voyages of the Mouser

I'm not bad...I'm just written that way