We have a cat and his name is Lassie
The first time an outsider said we had an unusual cat as far as temperament was when we took Mr. B to the vet. The vet was quite clear, “you have the most dog-like cat I have ever seen” he said.
"Oh you mean because of his big head and all ?"( please see previous posts for what "all" means)
"No Mr. North, because he reacts and acts like a dog."
“How is that?” says the owner
“You’ll see.”
Fast forward to yesterday. Mr. B has settled into a nice little rhythm here at the homestead. He usually comes in first thing in the morning, either from right out front or from Chris’ room. He yawns, he stretches and he announces that he is hungry. This is usually between 7 and 8am. He eats and gets his water and trips on outside. Have to check out the neighborhood.
Around 11am he wants back in, more food, more water, more meows. Now it is prime nap time. That lasts until about 2:30, wake up, more food, water and meows and out for the afternoon. He returns to grace us with his presence at sunset. More food, water and meows are required. Then he usually finds someone to play with him, or at least hold a civil conversation.
Bedtime is usually about 9PM, sleep until 7am or so and repeat.
But no yesterday was an unusual day. He spent the night visiting friends, checking on enemies and the like and came in right about 7AM. He immediately wanted a nap and went upstairs and planted himself right at the top. He likes it there. He seems to hold court there. He doesn’t repose in such a way that he is guarding it or being a lookout. I think it is central to the comings and goings of the house occupants and he wants to be able to be involved. Now, you may take that to mean, be in the way. Not really.
It is a social thing. My wife and I pass by there several times each day. Chris has to as well. He can see clearly the front door and main hallway and observe the natural ebb and flow of the humans. He just sees things go by best there.
Anyway, so at 11am, he wakes up and begins meowing, from his perch at the top of the stairs. I am downstairs, watching TV and I know him well enough now to wait. Sometimes he likes to vocalize and go back to sleep. It can be a bit of a power thing.
So he comes downstairs and goes to a spot where he can see me and meows again.
Owner says, “do you want food B ?”
“Bbbrrroooeeww”
Same to you, I’ll get it for you.
He follows me, meowing the whole way. This was not a friendly meow, more of a bbbbbrrrreeeeuuuuummmm sound. Hmm, I pour in fresh food, he moves to the kitchen. This normally works, not today.
Owner rinses and adds fresh water. Nope.
Owner goes to door to let cat out. Ah, no sir.
He sits in the kitchen, tail flicking, calm as can be and let’s me have it.
“BBBBRRRRROOOOOEEERRRRRR”
“BBBBEEEEEUUUUOOOOWWWWW”
I walk towards him and he rises, and walks away.
Why you little stinker…
And then his head pops around the corner, a quick “bbrrrrooooww” towards me and he disappears again.
Hmm, bears investigation.
I round the corner and he is at the foot of the stairs, waiting. “Bbbbbrrrreeeeooowww,” says B and up the stairs he goes.
I get to the stairs and he is on the landing, about a third of the way up, waiting. “Bbbrrrrreeeooowwww” and up he goes to the top.
And it hits me and I die laughing, I am being led along, he is taking me to what he wants and he is being quite patient about it.
At the top of the stairs, he twists his head, lets out a quick, “bbrrreeooww” and saunters to Chris’ door and poses and waits. I reach the top of the stairs and the door opens and Chris emerges.
“What is all that meowing about Dad?” says our sleepy yet roused son.
“Oh B wanted me to let him in your room and he had to lead me all over the house to get me to your door.”
“OK, thanks Dad”, cat goes in between Chris feet as the door goes shut, Chris mutters “Damn Cat” and B meows back at me.
It reminded me of when Lassie would lead the stupid humans to Timmy who had fallen down a well or whatever. Except that was staged and this was real.
Seems the vet was right, Mr. B does act like a dog. He doesn’t even mind getting wet for example, except he wants you to towel him off when he comes in from the rain. Really. He follows you around until you figure it out and he does say thank you when you are done.
I am not sure what I have done by making him our cat but it sure is going to be interesting. BBRRRREEEOOOOWWW.
"Oh you mean because of his big head and all ?"( please see previous posts for what "all" means)
"No Mr. North, because he reacts and acts like a dog."
“How is that?” says the owner
“You’ll see.”
Fast forward to yesterday. Mr. B has settled into a nice little rhythm here at the homestead. He usually comes in first thing in the morning, either from right out front or from Chris’ room. He yawns, he stretches and he announces that he is hungry. This is usually between 7 and 8am. He eats and gets his water and trips on outside. Have to check out the neighborhood.
Around 11am he wants back in, more food, more water, more meows. Now it is prime nap time. That lasts until about 2:30, wake up, more food, water and meows and out for the afternoon. He returns to grace us with his presence at sunset. More food, water and meows are required. Then he usually finds someone to play with him, or at least hold a civil conversation.
Bedtime is usually about 9PM, sleep until 7am or so and repeat.
But no yesterday was an unusual day. He spent the night visiting friends, checking on enemies and the like and came in right about 7AM. He immediately wanted a nap and went upstairs and planted himself right at the top. He likes it there. He seems to hold court there. He doesn’t repose in such a way that he is guarding it or being a lookout. I think it is central to the comings and goings of the house occupants and he wants to be able to be involved. Now, you may take that to mean, be in the way. Not really.
It is a social thing. My wife and I pass by there several times each day. Chris has to as well. He can see clearly the front door and main hallway and observe the natural ebb and flow of the humans. He just sees things go by best there.
Anyway, so at 11am, he wakes up and begins meowing, from his perch at the top of the stairs. I am downstairs, watching TV and I know him well enough now to wait. Sometimes he likes to vocalize and go back to sleep. It can be a bit of a power thing.
So he comes downstairs and goes to a spot where he can see me and meows again.
Owner says, “do you want food B ?”
“Bbbrrroooeeww”
Same to you, I’ll get it for you.
He follows me, meowing the whole way. This was not a friendly meow, more of a bbbbbrrrreeeeuuuuummmm sound. Hmm, I pour in fresh food, he moves to the kitchen. This normally works, not today.
Owner rinses and adds fresh water. Nope.
Owner goes to door to let cat out. Ah, no sir.
He sits in the kitchen, tail flicking, calm as can be and let’s me have it.
“BBBBRRRRROOOOOEEERRRRRR”
“BBBBEEEEEUUUUOOOOWWWWW”
I walk towards him and he rises, and walks away.
Why you little stinker…
And then his head pops around the corner, a quick “bbrrrrooooww” towards me and he disappears again.
Hmm, bears investigation.
I round the corner and he is at the foot of the stairs, waiting. “Bbbbbrrrreeeeooowww,” says B and up the stairs he goes.
I get to the stairs and he is on the landing, about a third of the way up, waiting. “Bbbrrrrreeeooowwww” and up he goes to the top.
And it hits me and I die laughing, I am being led along, he is taking me to what he wants and he is being quite patient about it.
At the top of the stairs, he twists his head, lets out a quick, “bbrrreeooww” and saunters to Chris’ door and poses and waits. I reach the top of the stairs and the door opens and Chris emerges.
“What is all that meowing about Dad?” says our sleepy yet roused son.
“Oh B wanted me to let him in your room and he had to lead me all over the house to get me to your door.”
“OK, thanks Dad”, cat goes in between Chris feet as the door goes shut, Chris mutters “Damn Cat” and B meows back at me.
It reminded me of when Lassie would lead the stupid humans to Timmy who had fallen down a well or whatever. Except that was staged and this was real.
Seems the vet was right, Mr. B does act like a dog. He doesn’t even mind getting wet for example, except he wants you to towel him off when he comes in from the rain. Really. He follows you around until you figure it out and he does say thank you when you are done.
I am not sure what I have done by making him our cat but it sure is going to be interesting. BBRRRREEEOOOOWWW.
posted by Senior Thinking at 3:13 PM
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