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Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and meet my five hilarious cats: Clutch, Cyril, Alex, Zelda, and Zazzles.
We have now a saying in our house: “Because, cat.”
Every time one (or more) of the cats does something inexplicable or irritating, that doesn’t make sense, it’s all the time because, cat. Because despite what we find out about feline intelligence, sometimes it looks as if our cats enjoy defying logic, almost as if they get an actual kick out of causing confusion and frustration of their human servants. And just once you resolve to indicate the error of their ways, they solid a withering stare in your direction and show us that they knew what they were doing all along.
Take Alex for instance: he has recently taken to jumping on top of our fridge, obviously having fun with the view from up high. Sometimes he seems to worry, meowing tragically, seeming unable to get himself down, only to leap down as soon as we provide help. Having learned our lesson, we try to disregard him now, but he’ll frantically yell until we dutifully drag over the step ladder to bring him down. As soon as certainly one of us steps onto the ladder, boom – he jumps down onto the table and off he goes. I’m certain that if he could, he can be giggling all the way in which upstairs. Because, cat.
Alex, who’s perfectly able to getting off the fridge by himself.
Then there may be the problem of cat beds, which I’m sure a lot of you’re conversant in. If you happen to ever need to stop a cat from sleeping somewhere, put a bed there.
Sometimes I feel that it’s infantile stubbornness; that it’s not idea unless it’s their idea. Other times it looks as if they’re annoyed that we’ve ruined their perfectly good, uncomfortable-looking sleeping spot with a pleasant, soft bed. As if to say, “If I wanted a cushty bed, I might have found one. How dare you insult my intelligence.” Personally, I feel they’re mad. These fluffy beds are super comfortable!
Moreover, plainly the more cash you spend on a bed, the less likely they’re to make use of it.
Most individuals who live with cats will agree that our feline friends are easily offended, independent thinkers, who don’t take kindly to coddling or condescension. Perhaps accepting the type offer of a comfortable bed suggests weakness of their capabilities, or acknowledges that their human slaves could also be greater than just warm laps that may open tins of food.
Or perhaps we’re overthinking it. Perhaps the rationale is just “because, cat.”
Getting the Upper Hand
Fortunately, we wiley humans are beginning to work out methods to undermine this case, myself included, determining methods to “trick” our cats into using the beds we work so hard to provide. I find that the trick is to treat the bed either like a discarded scrap, or like something that the cats will not be presupposed to sleep on. This works particularly well within the case of Clutch.
Clutch sleeping on an ornamental log
Ordinarily, Clutch’s favorite sleeping places, so as of preference, are:
- My head
- Uncomfortable, hard objects (eg. fruit bowl, rubbish bin, decorative log etc)
- Newly washed clothing
- Newly washed black clothing
- Brand latest clothing
- Brand latest black clothing
- Brand latest black clothing belonging to a visitor
So ‘tricking’ Clutch to enjoy the posh of a brand new bed will be so simple as placing some clean laundry on it, and ejecting him from it a few times, giving him the impression that he’s not presupposed to be there.
Clutch nestled on some shopping
The remainder of the cats in the home will be tougher nuts to crack, and step one shouldn’t be placing the bed within the goal location, or in a spot they already sleep. I even have found, through a technique of trial and error, that my cats have to “find” a bed and claim it as their very own, moderately than accept it as a present; it must be their idea. Once the bed has been accepted, I can relocate it to a more convenient spot, but this must be a covert operation. If the cats see me moving the beds, it’s game over.
And at last, Clutch using his radiator bed!
Who’s Tricking Who?
I’m sure that a few of you’re reading in regards to the subterfuge involved in getting my cats to really sleep of their latest beds is a bit nuts. I’m also sure that a few of you’ve got engaged similar covert tactics to get your cats to just accept a brand new bed.
Zazzles has ‘found’ this bed on my desk…
And just as I’m feeling victorious, having fun with the sight of my cats snuggled into the great warm beds, I begin to wonder: have I successfully manipulated them, or are they sitting back and having fun with the convoluted antics of their human? Why must it all the time be so complex?
Because, cat.
