By Max
Today marks one month since I joined Cats Working, and I’ve realized I’m a natural when it comes to this pet gig. It’s like the role I was born to play.
Since I arrived, I’ve been checking out every inch of the house… except the kitchen counter. I’m saving that for my final frontier because it has the most shock value.
The coffee table is a minefield. Karen keeps everything up here but a litterbox.
I’m about 5 months old now, so you probably want to see if I’ve grown. Here I am with my caterpillar, which I use as a body pillow now…
I hope my Cattey never turns into a butterfly.
I also have this new toy that hides goodies I fish out and throw around whenever the spirit moves me.
If there was any more junk in here, it would be a coffee table.
But I’m also into the classics, like this well-licked family heirloon named Sneaky Snake…
I'm tough on rats, but tougher on reptiles.
And I’m told Mouse on a Stick used to be Yul’s favorite when he was a kitten. It’s so old, a safety pin keeps it together.
My mom once told me it’s bad manners to meow with my “mouse” full.
We’ve got so many toys, sometimes I can’t make up my mind WHAT to play with!
Hmmm…. What am I in the mood for? Mouse on a Stick or Cat Dancer?
But don’t get the wrong idea. It’s not all fun and games around here. Every morning, I have “Leash Lessons.” Karen’s teaching me how to behave in public. I humor her because she give me treats. (Unlike Rick Perry, I’m not insulted by nominal bribes.) But when I think I’ve learned enough for the day, I use strong body language to say, “Class dismissed!”
For the life of me, I don’t know why dogs think this is so special.
I’ve also been learning the rules of the house. For example, Cole thinks the top of the blue kitty perch belongs to him…
“How many times do I have to tell you, kid, this perch ain’t big enough for both of us?”
But as soon as he’s not looking, guess who moves in?
Just keeping Cole’s spot warm like a good baby brother. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
Adele’s been pretty easy to deal with, as long as I always remember to call her, “Your Royal Highness, Princess Baby Love.” She doesn’t even mind when I gobble my Fancy Feast like a pig, even though she KNOWS I’m doing it so I can steal hers.
Adele hates to eat alone, so she lets me get away with a lot.
When it comes to having issues with “boundaries,” Cole is our king. Sometimes he’ll let me “share a quiet moment” with him on the couch…
We could be bookends, right?
Cole even lets me join him on Karen’s bed, a visitation right Adele and Cole are STILL trying to hammer out after two years…
As long as I stay off Cole's blankie, we're good.
So there I am, keeping my distance, minding my own business, and the next thing I know, Cole goes all Raging Bully on me…
Cole's channeling Boris Karloff, so I pretend to be real scared.
In rural Virginia where I come from, tomcats never walk away from a good fight, so I have to give Cole a little what-for to let him know I’m no pushover…
We’re like that old TV commercial: “I don’t know where he ends and I begin.” (Don't worry. No kitties were hurt during filming.)
And in case Cole didn’t get my message, I go into the living room and whack his precious Kitty Cubes. Lucky for Cole, he wasn’t inside…
Take THAT, you big pink things! Nobody pushes Maxie into the corner!
When I’m a big cat, I figure I’m either going to be a pawn in Cole and Adele’s turf war, or I’ll put my paw down and end it. Only time will tell which it will be.
Here’s my favorite artsy self-portrait…
I’ll get back to you, Meredith, on how to “Look My Youngest” when I’m about 6 lives down, but don’t hold your breath. I’m just getting started!
Posted by catsworking 
