jonza
08-06-2004, 02:46 PM
Fister, like most cats is a slave of habit and ritual. Everything must always be in the same place, and all things must be done in the same way all the time, every day. I've obviously been getting a bit slack lately, and he reminded me of this fact last week.
http://www.studio16a.dk/Cats/fister0041.jpg
Every night, just before we sleep, Fister will return to our bed for a good night cuddle before curling up between our pillows and purring us a lullaby. Later on he will go under the bed to continue his snooze. I always lay facing into the center of the bed, turning over later to sleep. But one night last week, Fister didn't turn up on time. He had presumably overslept in one of his other hide outs, or perhaps got hung up on some thrilling back yard action from the kitchen window.
It was about half past one, and I was just about to fall asleep (facing outwards!), when I sensed him sitting by the bed staring intently at me. The next thing I know, seven and a half kilos of cat land on my pillow, and he then tramps clumsily across it to the center of the bed, treading on my hair in the process (that HURTS!) I could sense that he was rather dissatisfied with something or other, pacing back and forth between us and giving out disgruntled vibes. I refused to react (Randi was asleep), so he trampled back across the pillow (treading on my hair again), and the next thing I know, he sits his big furry butt down right on my nose! This produced a torrent of dissatisfied mumbles and groans, but he just continued to sit there. So I give him a good shove. But to no avail, he just moves down the bed a bit and starts a furious shredding attack on my expensive down comforter. I could at this point have unceremoniously ejected him from the bed, but he has me too well trained for that, so with a despairing sigh, I turn over to face the center of the bed. He immediately gets up, tramps back across my pillow, gives me a nice friendly head bumpie, then curls himself up neatly between the pillows, tucks his nose in, and falls into a satisfied sleep.
Two minutes later, he gets up again, tramps back over my pillow and goes under the bed for a decent nap! Mission accomplished! :D
The lesson was obvious: DON'T MESS WITH MY ROUTINE!
A few nights later, he had another go at me, but I didn't immediately get the message this time. Again it was very late, I was lying the "wrong" way, practically asleep, when I suddenly received seven and a half kilos of fur in my face! (It's amazing how cats can think there's room for them on a two inch strip of bed, but of course, I suppose the logic is that they can always push YOU back a bit to make room). He then sat quietly in front of my face and looked down, studying me intently.
I know this situation, I've been there before, so I was forced to wake up a bit and take evasive action from what I knew was coming next. WHAP! He head butts me, HARD. Groan. I turn slightly away. BAM! He gets me on the left eyebrow. Groan, I turn my head away even more. But to no avail, he's to quick for me. ZAPP! Bulls eye! He hits me dead center on the end of my nose. (I swear he'll give me a nose bleed one of these days). POW, BAM, ZAPP! I get a veritable fusillade of head butts.
In my sleepy state I have no idea what's going on. What on earth is he trying to say? Have we forgotten to serve him his night time snacks? Is his litter tray unclean? What on earth can it be? With a tired groan, I stagger out into the kitchen to check. A pile of delicate fresh kibbles fill his shining porcelain bowl. His fresh cold water sparkles in his crystal glass. Couldn't be that then. Sigh. Out into the corridor to check the litter box. Clean and perfect, in pristine condition. Grrrr! The sighs turn to angry mutterings, and mystified, I return sleepily to my bed. Two minutes later, Fister arrives, gives me a loving, gentle head bumpie, curls himself up, and purrs himself to sleep. What on EARTH was all that about? :eek: :eek:
http://www.studio16a.dk/Cats/fister0178.jpg
It wasn't until the next day I realized that it was just another example of his campaign to keep me in line. Facing the wrong way in bed is just NOT ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR! :D :D :D
http://www.studio16a.dk/Cats/fister0041.jpg
Every night, just before we sleep, Fister will return to our bed for a good night cuddle before curling up between our pillows and purring us a lullaby. Later on he will go under the bed to continue his snooze. I always lay facing into the center of the bed, turning over later to sleep. But one night last week, Fister didn't turn up on time. He had presumably overslept in one of his other hide outs, or perhaps got hung up on some thrilling back yard action from the kitchen window.
It was about half past one, and I was just about to fall asleep (facing outwards!), when I sensed him sitting by the bed staring intently at me. The next thing I know, seven and a half kilos of cat land on my pillow, and he then tramps clumsily across it to the center of the bed, treading on my hair in the process (that HURTS!) I could sense that he was rather dissatisfied with something or other, pacing back and forth between us and giving out disgruntled vibes. I refused to react (Randi was asleep), so he trampled back across the pillow (treading on my hair again), and the next thing I know, he sits his big furry butt down right on my nose! This produced a torrent of dissatisfied mumbles and groans, but he just continued to sit there. So I give him a good shove. But to no avail, he just moves down the bed a bit and starts a furious shredding attack on my expensive down comforter. I could at this point have unceremoniously ejected him from the bed, but he has me too well trained for that, so with a despairing sigh, I turn over to face the center of the bed. He immediately gets up, tramps back across my pillow, gives me a nice friendly head bumpie, then curls himself up neatly between the pillows, tucks his nose in, and falls into a satisfied sleep.
Two minutes later, he gets up again, tramps back over my pillow and goes under the bed for a decent nap! Mission accomplished! :D
The lesson was obvious: DON'T MESS WITH MY ROUTINE!
A few nights later, he had another go at me, but I didn't immediately get the message this time. Again it was very late, I was lying the "wrong" way, practically asleep, when I suddenly received seven and a half kilos of fur in my face! (It's amazing how cats can think there's room for them on a two inch strip of bed, but of course, I suppose the logic is that they can always push YOU back a bit to make room). He then sat quietly in front of my face and looked down, studying me intently.
I know this situation, I've been there before, so I was forced to wake up a bit and take evasive action from what I knew was coming next. WHAP! He head butts me, HARD. Groan. I turn slightly away. BAM! He gets me on the left eyebrow. Groan, I turn my head away even more. But to no avail, he's to quick for me. ZAPP! Bulls eye! He hits me dead center on the end of my nose. (I swear he'll give me a nose bleed one of these days). POW, BAM, ZAPP! I get a veritable fusillade of head butts.
In my sleepy state I have no idea what's going on. What on earth is he trying to say? Have we forgotten to serve him his night time snacks? Is his litter tray unclean? What on earth can it be? With a tired groan, I stagger out into the kitchen to check. A pile of delicate fresh kibbles fill his shining porcelain bowl. His fresh cold water sparkles in his crystal glass. Couldn't be that then. Sigh. Out into the corridor to check the litter box. Clean and perfect, in pristine condition. Grrrr! The sighs turn to angry mutterings, and mystified, I return sleepily to my bed. Two minutes later, Fister arrives, gives me a loving, gentle head bumpie, curls himself up, and purrs himself to sleep. What on EARTH was all that about? :eek: :eek:
http://www.studio16a.dk/Cats/fister0178.jpg
It wasn't until the next day I realized that it was just another example of his campaign to keep me in line. Facing the wrong way in bed is just NOT ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR! :D :D :D