Our life is not without some chaos. We are fortunate to have two cats: Belle and Chase. If they could talk they would tell you how well they have us trained...maybe I can explain.
Belle is a gray tabby, we got her the su
mmer we got married. She was only 8 weeks at the time and very beautiful with her huge eyes and long whiskers. She has become the perfect cat in many ways: clean, obedient (when we're around)...doesn't like treats and has never had an "accident" involving the litter. Belle does have one problem, she's stressed. She has always been stressed, ever since we got her...and don't even try to talk her into going to the vet. Have you ever tried to stuff a 2lb fluff ball tabby into a kitty carrier? Well...don't, it's impossible, especially when you're dealing with Belle...she goes all spread eagle...four paws in all directions! So...we gave up on that. She also isn't very cuddly (probably a consequence of being stressed...doesn't like feeling confined)Trying to do cuddle Belle will only get you a scratch along with a very indignant "meow". So, we leave her alone and pet her on the rare times she comes looking for it and only around her ears.
Oh yes...Belle has us trained.
The actual chaos, however, is not found in the individual characters of Bell
e and Chase but when you try and mix them. Belle doesn't like Chase, end of story....and the jury's still out on whether Chase likes Belle. Right from the minute we brought home our little black terror Belle has hissed at him. She seems to have a certain perimeter around her...kind of like a personal space. If Chase starts to invade that space Belle begins with a low growl that slowly gets louder and finally ends in a hiss if he tries to touch her. It makes me wonder Chase has actually given up trying to make friends and is solely amused by Belle and her reactions. Chase will ambush Belle, steal her sleeping spot, hog the food and corner her over and over and over. Sometimes all he has to do is look her way and simply lift a paw and Belle will hiss a menacing hiss. Then Chase will going on his merry way purely satisfied that he got the reaction he was looking for. Periodically I try and stop his little "cat and mouse" game but I always end up running after Chase who is pursuing Belle and we look and sound like a herd of buffalo's! Belle has learned to live a life on the edge, never knowing if Chase is around the corner or above her waiting for an ambush. She treads every step with utmost caution, carefully inspecting each room in hopes that it is "chase-less".
Oh yes...Chase has Belle completely trained.
Ryan has grown up with cats all his life. I have only ever had a dog and a few gerbils...this is my first experience with cats. They are so interesting and never stop making me laugh. Yes...then can be a pain. Ryan has threatened more than once to give Chase away...especially when he scratches the furniture or climbs in behind the TV. Ryan has also threatened to give Belle away...especially when it takes the two of us, one very large towel and about 45min. to get her outside the house for a visit to the vet.
But...if you pretend not to notice...you'll catch Ryan petting Belle or playing with Chase...and you'll know they've wormed their way into his heart.
Oh yes...Chase and Belle have Ryan completely trained!
:)
mmer we got married. She was only 8 weeks at the time and very beautiful with her huge eyes and long whiskers. She has become the perfect cat in many ways: clean, obedient (when we're around)...doesn't like treats and has never had an "accident" involving the litter. Belle does have one problem, she's stressed. She has always been stressed, ever since we got her...and don't even try to talk her into going to the vet. Have you ever tried to stuff a 2lb fluff ball tabby into a kitty carrier? Well...don't, it's impossible, especially when you're dealing with Belle...she goes all spread eagle...four paws in all directions! So...we gave up on that. She also isn't very cuddly (probably a consequence of being stressed...doesn't like feeling confined)Trying to do cuddle Belle will only get you a scratch along with a very indignant "meow". So, we leave her alone and pet her on the rare times she comes looking for it and only around her ears.Oh yes...Belle has us trained.
A couple of yea
rs ago (seems like forever), we acquired our other cat: Chase. A fluffy black kitty with a white tipped tail and some white splashed on his paws, Chase is the polar opposite of Belle. He is very laid back. This can be wonderful because it means you can pick him up at any time and cuddle him. He frequently makes his bed on my lap when I'm watching TV. and he's always around, interacting with us. Chase is very good at playing fetch and loves to be spun in circles while clinging to the computer chair. He also likes sitting in a box on the floor waiting for me to slide him from one wall to the next. I don't even know how I found out he likes that!? His laid back character does have a consequence and that is apathy. In other words...he just doesn't care. Chase is messy (splashes his water and food everywhere!) and doesn't listen (we tried spraying him with a water bottle when he was being bad...it worked for Belle like a charm...Chase just waits it out and promptly goes back to being bad once we're done and he's soaked!). He frequently forgets to clean himself while in the kitty litter...only to have his "cling-ons" follow him around until he's too stinky! Have you ever tried wiping a cat's butt? Well...it's not fun. In doing so he only gets stinkier and more indignant while we spend extra time around his back end. He is also the stereotypical cat in that he has to get into everything! He's in the closets, the laundry hamper, the washing machine, the dryer...even the ceiling (don't ask) and once even the fridge! If curiosity were to ever kill a cat...it would be Chase (I'm always watching to make sure he's out of whatever he's into!)
Oh yes...Chase has us trained
rs ago (seems like forever), we acquired our other cat: Chase. A fluffy black kitty with a white tipped tail and some white splashed on his paws, Chase is the polar opposite of Belle. He is very laid back. This can be wonderful because it means you can pick him up at any time and cuddle him. He frequently makes his bed on my lap when I'm watching TV. and he's always around, interacting with us. Chase is very good at playing fetch and loves to be spun in circles while clinging to the computer chair. He also likes sitting in a box on the floor waiting for me to slide him from one wall to the next. I don't even know how I found out he likes that!? His laid back character does have a consequence and that is apathy. In other words...he just doesn't care. Chase is messy (splashes his water and food everywhere!) and doesn't listen (we tried spraying him with a water bottle when he was being bad...it worked for Belle like a charm...Chase just waits it out and promptly goes back to being bad once we're done and he's soaked!). He frequently forgets to clean himself while in the kitty litter...only to have his "cling-ons" follow him around until he's too stinky! Have you ever tried wiping a cat's butt? Well...it's not fun. In doing so he only gets stinkier and more indignant while we spend extra time around his back end. He is also the stereotypical cat in that he has to get into everything! He's in the closets, the laundry hamper, the washing machine, the dryer...even the ceiling (don't ask) and once even the fridge! If curiosity were to ever kill a cat...it would be Chase (I'm always watching to make sure he's out of whatever he's into!)The actual chaos, however, is not found in the individual characters of Bell
e and Chase but when you try and mix them. Belle doesn't like Chase, end of story....and the jury's still out on whether Chase likes Belle. Right from the minute we brought home our little black terror Belle has hissed at him. She seems to have a certain perimeter around her...kind of like a personal space. If Chase starts to invade that space Belle begins with a low growl that slowly gets louder and finally ends in a hiss if he tries to touch her. It makes me wonder Chase has actually given up trying to make friends and is solely amused by Belle and her reactions. Chase will ambush Belle, steal her sleeping spot, hog the food and corner her over and over and over. Sometimes all he has to do is look her way and simply lift a paw and Belle will hiss a menacing hiss. Then Chase will going on his merry way purely satisfied that he got the reaction he was looking for. Periodically I try and stop his little "cat and mouse" game but I always end up running after Chase who is pursuing Belle and we look and sound like a herd of buffalo's! Belle has learned to live a life on the edge, never knowing if Chase is around the corner or above her waiting for an ambush. She treads every step with utmost caution, carefully inspecting each room in hopes that it is "chase-less".Oh yes...Chase has Belle completely trained.
Ryan has grown up with cats all his life. I have only ever had a dog and a few gerbils...this is my first experience with cats. They are so interesting and never stop making me laugh. Yes...then can be a pain. Ryan has threatened more than once to give Chase away...especially when he scratches the furniture or climbs in behind the TV. Ryan has also threatened to give Belle away...especially when it takes the two of us, one very large towel and about 45min. to get her outside the house for a visit to the vet.
But...if you pretend not to notice...you'll catch Ryan petting Belle or playing with Chase...and you'll know they've wormed their way into his heart.
Oh yes...Chase and Belle have Ryan completely trained!
:)
1 comment:
i remember when we had Chloe - she had us trained SO good!! i can't believe we were that whipped by a cat!! yikes.
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