Avoiding Mondays

Is it just me, or do everybody's cats hate Mondays?  Starting on Sunday night, my crew seems to go into full "Monday Avoidance" mode.  They seem to think that if they can stop me doing the things I need to do to get ready for the next day, they can stop it from coming, so they do their best to distract me from things like making sure the phone, PDA, and iPod are charged up, getting my shower, setting the alarm, and getting to sleep at a decent hour.  On Monday morning, they take turns settling in on top of my clothes so I can't get dressed and on my bed so I can't make it.  All the while, giving me those big-eyed "but you're supposed to stay home with me!" looks.  It's even worse after a long weekend or a vacation.  When I went back to work after being home for two weeks following foot surgery, every one of them made a point of giving me reproachful, "but we had an agreement" looks.  It would help if I could get them to understand the link between my going to work and their living in the style to which they've become accustomed (roof over their heads, clean litter, regular meals, that sort of thing).  Has anyone ever successfully explained this link to a cat?  I haven't.

Subtle Encroachment

I've noticed through observation that Mittens has a very sneaky way of getting other cats to vacate places she wants to be.  Where Puff or Romana will either complain to me or just go up and start swatting, Mittens simply goes over and claims just a little part (the edge of the Basket or a corner of a bed) then gradually stretches and moves over until she crowds the other cat out.  The other cat has a choice between accepting her company (and having her sprawl on top of him/her) or moving.  Even Finn is not immune.  She managed to crowd him off Di's bed last night.  With Fred, it depends on how determined he is.  The other night, she worked her way into the Basket with him, but he refused to budge.  Last night, she ended up pushing him off the bed as well.  Strangely, it rarely results in an actual fight.

Sibling Rivalry

On top of the tall dresser in the bedroom, we have a large basket with a pillow in it.  It started out life as a gift basket to the office from a vendor, and once all the goodies had been divvied up, I took the basket because it is the perfect size for a cat bed.  The cats think so, too.  There is an intense rivalry for the basket and the top level of the climber between Mittens, Puff, and Romana.  The other night, Puff was being greedy.  Having given Romana the shove from the top level of the climber, she settled in there quite nicely -- until Romana decided she wanted to go in the Basket.  Then Puff jumped up and ran over to get into the basket before Romana could.  I put Romana in the top level of the climber, and Puff ran over there to try and chase her out of that.  I intercepted Puff and explained that she could have either the climber or the basket, but that she couldn't keep both at the same time.  I don't think she understood or accepted that concept, so she decided instead to go settle in on Di's pillow and sulk.  Cats!  Gotta love' em!

Mom's Visit

My mom came to visit over the weekend, and I was a little surprised that the cats (with one exception) came out to meet her all on their own.  Mittens stayed under the daybed, and when I asked her if she wanted to come meet her Grandma Marisue, she gave me that "No, thank you; I'm comfortable right here" look that means she'll come out when she's good and ready and not a millisecond before.  The others all came wandering up to say hello to her -- even Puff, who's normally extremely shy.  Romana not only let mom pet her (another one who usually goes under the bed when anyone comes over), but actually reached out and grabbed her when she turned away.  Unfortunately, she missed Mom's sleeve and put a claw-hole in her hand, but Mom was willing to forgive her.

That evening, Mom and I went to see Riverdance, the final show of the farewell tour.  We both enjoyed it immensely, and I'm glad I got the chance to see it live before it went away completely.

Conspiracy

I did say it doesn't get updated very often!

Auntie Di just called me to tell me she was home, and that Finn was now conspiring with the neighbors (as well as our favorite radio station). When she got in the car to come home from shopping, they were playing one of his "cat wants out" songs. Then as she was coming up to the front door, one of our downstairs neighbors commented that it was a lovely day and asked if she'd be bringing the cat out! Of course he then met her at the door and demanded to go out. So when I get home tonight, it looks like we'll be taking the boys out for a little while!