She's Hogging All the Water!

[Freedom]

A little story to help understand these photos.

Chestnut is part "water hound." He finds water fascinating. Running down the window, dripping off the gutter pipe, running down the shower wall, trickling down the drain, it is all just SO interesting! And if he la-laps it, it just tastes better than that SAME water in the dish! Anytime of day is water time, but he does have his routine as well. Each morning after breakfast he marches into my bathroom, hops up on the sink counter and calls for water. I put on a slow trickle and leave the light on to remind me the water is running.

Chestnut is also an "omega" cat. Last in the colony. Everyone picks on him, he NEVER hits back. He just hollers, "Ma! MMMAAAAAAAaaaa!' Past of this is his nature as an omega. Part of this is nurture - he arrived here as a 1 pound sick little baby. I had 3 other cats at the time, all adults, so I couldn't let him fend for himself, and he learned to holler and mom would come running to the rescue. He hasn't figured out that he is now 8 years old and at 11 pounds the biggest one here!

Ruffles came to me at age 13 or so. Over the first few months, she was busy adapting to the house sounds, our routines, and the other cats. But eventually (after 2.5 years!) she got around to observing this strange ritual of Chestnut's every morning after breakfast. At her age, it is not feasible to hop onto the counter. She scoped things out and discovered the toilet made an easy step up for her. And she sat and studied . . . .

Ruffles decided to taste the water and wonder of wonders, it was MARVELOUS! So she pulled rank; she is the most senior cat here, and she WILL take priority when she wants it!

These photos are from this past April or May.

So now every morning, TWO cats sit on the bathroom sink counter. Chestnut hollers for water. Obedient owner that I am, I go in and turn it on. Ruffles drinks her fill; then Chestnut gets the leftovers. Every now and then, Chestnut tries to drink while she is observing the wonderful flow and, as you can see, she smacks him one! And then I hear, "Ma! MMMMAAAAAaaaaa! She's hitting me and hogging all the water!"