By Ruth aka Kattaddorra
Cats are very strange and wonderful creatures, they have their own code of behaviour which Barbara and I call: ‘Cats Politics’
We have a ‘new kid on the block’ and Walter and Jozef are determined to establish the neighbourhood ‘pecking order’ in that they rule, lol. These new people who recently moved here may need a bit of education about cats but so far we haven’t been able to make contact in that they never answer the door.
The other morning I opened our front door to let our boyz out for their morning rounds, being around 5.30am when they declare morning every day, it’s usually very quiet, not a soul around. But both Walt and Jo seemed spooked about something and then I heard a tiny meow and a fluffy tabby kitten appeared, around 5 months old at the most and wearing a collar.
Our boyz were interested and even though it hissed at them they must have realised it was only young, so didn’t attack it. They did drive it away though and Babz and I worried in case it was lost but we saw no more of it until later when a neighbour came to our door holding the kitten and saying he couldn’t get away as it kept following him. He said it belongs to the new people across the street, he saw them carrying it in when they moved in.
I don’t like calling cats ‘it’ but we don’t know its sex yet, we just hope and pray those people have it neutered soon because if a tom he will be fighting the toms passing through, if a queen she will no doubt end up having kittens.
Anyway he knocked at their door, no one came, then another neighbour took the kitten from him so he could get away and later he knocked at their door, still no one came.
Jozef went over to hang around its gate and ‘monster’ the poor little thing as it sat by the door, he wasn’t very happy when I carried him back home but I kept both our boyz in until the door opened and the woman shouted at the kitten and it went in. It was noon by then and far too long for any cat, let alone a kitten, to be left out. We worried it had been out all night and that they’d make a habit of shutting it out and going to bed. Some people still believe in ‘putting the cat out at night’
The minute Jozef was free again he marched over and sniffed every inch where the kitten had been lol then came home satisfied he knew all its secrets. But both Walt and Jo go over and check it out sometimes since, we thought maybe the kitten was out by mistake that morning but it has been out again since then. It’s amazing that kitten knows exactly where it lives already, within days of moving here!
Hopefully they will soon establish their individual territories and boundaries, we don’t have many cats in close proximity now since some have moved away with their families. Narla has been here as long as our boyz and she knows to come for her dinner when they are not around, her dad likes us to feed her because she’s often out long hours while he isn’t at home.
The new ‘kid on the block’ will soon slot in after neutering we hope! We had another taste of ‘cats politics’ today too, do anyone else’s cats kick a man when he’s down?
Jozef had a tummy upset and maybe Walt was jealous of all the extra attention he was getting, I saw a naughty gleam in his eye as he looked at Jo and then he ran past him biting his bum on the way. We had to smother our laughter, poor Jo.
So Jo went to sit in his ‘hide’ in the garden and Walt marched up to him and tapped him on the head. Oh he’s in for retribution, Jo bides his time until the perfect moment for revenge and then he stalks Walter around the house. He never touches him, just stares with his tail waving until Walt creeps slowly off.
We’ve learned not to interfere with ‘cats politics’ unless it looks to be getting too serious, they are usually quite capable of sorting themselves out.
This is top quality cat politics and it is complicated. It seems they are about “equal” in the hierarchy of two which leads to this balancing act. Fascinating.
To be honest Ruth, fireworks are driving me nuts because I know it upsets Charlie. I am like you. Dreading New Year’s Eve.
By the way the reason why your comment was held for moderation is because you probably used an alternative email (which was new to the anti-spam software) which is also why the avatar does not show.
We are dreading New Year’s Eve already, we go to bed as usual but at midnight the loud bangs start in earnest, after a few in the evening from idiots who can’t even wait to join the noisy revellers later.
Why can’t some people celebrate without noise these days? They don’t give a thought to domestic or wild animals and birds frightened out of their wits by those whizzing exploding mini bombs called fireworks!
It’s selfish and anti social, we had pretty fireworks at one time, on one night only and enjoyed the thrill of it all. But I suppose like everything else nowadays the damn things make money for those who don’t care about how they affect animals or old folk or nervous folk or folk who would just like to live in peace.
Well another strange session with our boys last night, Walter was in bullying mode and managed to bypass both Ruth and myself and jump on poor Jozef’s back when he came in happy from his evening stroll. Big depression, we went off to our beds feeling like we’d let the little chap down, he went under Ruth’s bed and Walter was in my room on the desk having his supper, happy with the result. But just as I was about to doze off into my bedroom swaggers Jozef and he jumped onto my bed and pinched Walter’s place, curled up and stayed there till 5.45 this morning, meanwhile Walter had to go in the other bottom corner for a while, then up and into bed with me and finally onto the ottoman at the bottom of the bed. So this morning he’s a bit chastened and looking at Jo with respect, Jo meanwhile is back to looking nervous around Walter. We can’t make them out, they just can’t decide who’s boss it’s taken them since 2007 when Ebony died and left a vacancy for top cat and they still haven’t decided. Cats politics are complicated!
Don’t mention fireworks, Dee! I get them at anytime almost and it affects cats badly. There are lots of outdoor cats where I live and I know most of them will be frightened.
Thanks Rose, I’m sure we will work it out, the gentle and friendly approach usually does 😉
I do enjoy making posters but thinking up new things to write about is a bit more difficult, I have to await inspiration lol