By Ruth aka Kattaddorra
It fascinates me how some cats are ‘helpers’ but some are not. Jozef especially loves to be in the kitchen with me when I’m checking the cat food cupboard to see what we need on our shopping list.
He goes up via the worktop and fridge top to the cupboard top to sit and supervise. He watches me lift all the boxes of food sachets and trays down and fill them up from the bottom cupboard, of course he has to sample something so off I go for a chair to climb on and pass it up to him.
He’s not happy about his biscuits right now! As he’s prone to hairballs we decided to try some made especially to help stop them forming. His look said it all ‘I’m not eating them’ and he won’t, he said ‘I’d rather starve’. Walter doesn’t approve either, he too prefers the James Wellbeloved senior they normally have and when we gave in they dramatically crunched a saucer full each we had left from the last bag.
Oh well, the local cat rescues will no doubt appreciate the rejected ones lol and we will have to go and buy more of Walt and Jo’s favourites.
Walter doesn’t ‘help’ in the kitchen at all, he thinks it’s women’s work and that Jozef is crazy for getting involved in kitchen chores. His forte is ‘helping’ to make the beds, I think we all know that chore ends in fun and games when cats are springing out from under the duvet!
Our two will never do this together, they must have some pact since they once tried and a battle ensued which turned quite serious lol
They aren’t ever jealous of each other, just each like ‘their’ time alone with us and we make sure they get it.
At one time we had a beautiful brown tabby called Bryan who had his own high stool in the kitchen and sat there through thick and thin watching whatever we were doing. I think the companionship of cats is wonderful and can’t imagine our home without them around.
Do your cats ‘help’ around the house?
Charlie is like me in the kitchen. He wants to eat but not prepare the food 😉 It has to be instantly on the table.
I think Jozef is adorable. He has a cute looking Zorro mask face. And Walter shows how pleasant his home is – totally zonked and relaxed on the earth. I love to see that even if he needs a dusting afterwards.
Great photos Ruth,I love reading of your boys adventures lol
I laughed at Jozef’s face next to the disliked biscuits,he does look to be saying YUCK.
I usually have a cat or three helping me with the chores and they help the kids with their homework too lol
Happy ailurophile families we all are here 🙂
Bigfoot hates housework. Especially when the vacuume is turned on. The frown on his face is makes his feelings palpable! He is a prince, and I am his servant. Marvin on the other hand, loves to be involved with anything I’m doing. He talks loudly almost constantly and is curious and energetic about anything going on in the house. But when he is done, he is done. He demands to be let out, but never without a head butt goodbye.
I really believe it is in the cats natural temperament to be a comforting creature. Leaning their body against you while they sleep is a fine showing of affection, friendship and devotion. There is nothing like it. Even old Marvin cuddles on the couch now. He is a hunk of orange love that boy is.
Our boyz are equally as friendly with us but I suppose just like us they have some things they would rather do than other things.
Like Charlie,Jo comes up the bed to me when I pat it too and I love it when he leans his weight against me while he has a wash, sometimes he props his leg on me and I love the feeling of how much he loves me and trusts me and wants to be with me. I feel honoured in fact.
As Walter sleeps with Barbara and sits on her in her armchair I don’t have as much close connection time with him as she does, but when she’s at work he will sit by me here at my computer, on his high stool and reach a gentle paw out to prove he loves me too.
No Woody woudn’t understand and how sad for him that he is missing out on the unconditional love our cats give us when they know we love them so much and that they can trust us.
This is a very interesting subject. I wish I had thought of it. There is a lot to discuss. Are some cats more friendly than others, for example?
All I know, for sure, is that Charlie does not help in the kitchen probably because I don’t cook 😉 Well, I do a bit.
He does help me snooze and feel nice and relaxed. He rests against me when I am in bed working. He washes himself and I love that. It puts me to sleep and makes me feel good. It is the gentle pressure from him. I don’t think he realises that I like it.
He comes to me when I tap the bed. He comes right up to my head and turns around and plonks himself half on me when I am lying in bed. I love this and I cuddle him and we are together, supporting each other emotionally.
That is a cat helping a person feel better. You can’t ask for more.
Someone like Woody wouldn’t understand this. He would think I was anthropomorphizing my cat. I am not. I just like my cat near to me because it makes me feel good. It is a very simply arrangement and emotion and I don’t analyse it.