Who’s Been Sleeping in My Bed?
Happy Cat Saturday or Caturday! Sometimes I wish I had nothing new to report but life is too exciting chez Cat Wisdom 101. Spring is in the air. Odin is bouncing off the walls like a crack daddy. His mantra is outside, outside, outside, outside, outside now, now,now!
Beware of adopting a cute, 8-week old kitten early to mid August, because they’ll be a Gemini. Odin is the textbook perfect profile for a Gemini cat: a duality of naughty and nice, crazy smart, agile quicksilver movements, sociable, easily bored, Curious with a capital “C”, this cat makes everything his toy. They’ll turn on the charm when they get into trouble which is daily.
No matter what he does, when he crawls under the covers revving his purr engine, I melt. If you want a placid lap cat, don’t choose a Gemini. If you want a brainy Ferrari of cats, consider a Gemini. Just remember they need plenty of mental and physical stimulation. A bored Gemini is a destructive one.
This is a typical ten minute walk with Odin. He leaves no stone unturned.
For Odin.
..
But…, since Merlin and Domino are inseparable, sleeping together in bed at night, Odin feels more needy. He’s never liked sleeping in our bed and prefers the bed in the guest room. One night while burning the midnight oil (yes, the secret to my high productivity is working 70 hours a week), I decided to sleep upstairs. An ecstatic Odin made truckloads of biscuits, purring up a storm. I instantly felt maternal guilt. Poor Odin had been deprived. Every cat mom wants to love their kitties equally. What to do? I felt torn in two again like when I’d fostered Ling Ling last year, taking turns sleeping in two beds on two floors.
I tried sleeping for a week up on the third floor with a happy Odin. What child doesn’t want a mom all to their own? Meanwhile, Merlin who has slept with me long before I married, didn’t seem to mind. Until he did. He made tkhis clear by ignoring me, and turning his attention to Domino or Gris Gris. I don’t need you, his body language read you are a BAD mother. I tried bringing him upstairs to the guest room. Thanks but no thanks. I may be blind but I can smell Odin all over you.
He refused all cuddles. Another week passed. This was serious. He agreed to daily walkies, dragging me all over the garden.
Whatever you want, you’re the leader, I demurred. Domino kept a eye on him from his favorite spot under the cedar trees. “Yoo hoo, Domino, where are you?”
Since Merlin’s vision is limited, he navigates by his whiskers, ears, tail and of course, his nose. Allowing him to exercise his remaining senses makes him happy, especially with the fragrant, green growth of spring.
Frankly, Domino is happy I’ve been sleeping upstairs. More room for him. And for the first time he was spotted in the #1 primo spot by the bedroom window.
The biggest shock was seeing him share with Gris Gris. They have never snuggled before. The point is: even one small change in a household can change the dynamic or behavior of your cats. The more cats, the possibility for different developments. This is the first question in my questionnaire for clients. What household changes have taken place recently?
Early the next morning, I sleepwalked to Merlin, crawled under the covers, stroking his downy fur. Was that a faint purr? He adjusted his body to where he wanted my hands to touch. Reiki energy flowed along with loud purrs. All was forgiven. Now, all I have to do to make everyone happy is divide myself in two.
I have a new appreciation for Gris Gris, seen here multi-tasking in a rose bush: scratching, sniffing and scent-marking, Mmm Mmm good. He never sits near a lap or sleeps within an arm’s length. Just play “find the mouse” every evening, give treats and a nightly brushing and he’s happy as a clam.
Do you juggle your affections with multiple cats?
14 Comments
Hairless Cat
Nice Odin photo essay – he’s quite the investigator.
Tracy Dion
I live alone with six cats: one set of three siblings, one pair of siblings (all of them ex-ferals), and one rescue boy, Ralph. Thankfully, their purrsonalities are, for the most part, varied enough that I can accommodate their needs for one-on-one face-time.
Ralph is my special kitty and the only one who accompanies me outside. He is incredibly smart, charismatic and inquisitive and I decided some time ago he needed – and could handle – the added stimulation. The faces of folks when I pull up to a Dunkin Donuts’ window with a cat doing his best impersonation of a friendly dog are absolutely priceless!
Deb Barnes - Zee and Zoey
Great post Layla – a gentle reminder that our cats need special time from us that belongs to them and them alone. It is not easy with my seven, but I do make a genuine effort to give them all a dose of whatever combination of touching, loving, snuggling, or whatever they need. The kittens are less needy and often prefer not to be touched. Jazz and Harley (the elders), require much more attention and Zee and Zoey very clearly let me know when, where, and what they want!
Abby
Oh yes and it’s never easy.
purrs
>^,,^<
♥Abby♥Boo♥Ping♥Jinx♥Grace♥
Kathy Thompson
I have one laid back ,rather be out hunting ,will get on lap,bed, etc. when I want to kind of cat named Skeeter and one bouncy,wide open,feed me by hand, I need all of the attention kind of cat named Izzy. Yin and yang thank goodness! (not us say the two kitties in question …purrs Skeeter and Izzy >^oo^<)
Katnip Lounge
Hubby and I each have our cadre of cats; they have divided themselves between us…but still, six or seven kitties require a lot of attention, not to mention the “cross-overs” who want a little extra loving. The crew has worked out a roster and we merely comply. I have regular play sessions and grooming, but other than that the schedule is of the Cats’ devising.
Julia Williams
Odin sounds like a cat with Purrsonality Plus. My Rocky has that trouble making streak, too. At times it can be annoying, like when he sticks his paw in my pasta and my next bite tastes like kitty litter, MOL.
Happy Caturday to you and your kitty clan!
Cheysuli
The Woman usually gets up for a few hours at night to sleep on the futon with Ichiro. It happens less and less. He sleeps with her in the same spot on the bed until he doesn’t. And he doesn’t want to be on the futon alone! Last night everyone was sleeping on the Woman–it was just after a new remedy for Gemini. And we were all snoozing close together. I would like Ichiro if he didn’t take up the Woman’s time…
CATachresis
We only have the one dynamic. He’s called Austin 🙂
libramoon
I think Namir was a Gemini! Perhaps that’s why Odin reminds me so much of him.
Juggling up to nine cats was always a challenge, but the sleeping thing was mine–they slept with me, or they didn’t, and all decided to do so, all through the years. The rest of the day split me into at least nine pieces, as kitties are often undecided and each one can want two or more things at once. I thought I might have it a little easier with a family, but even among them there are egos….
boomermuse
B, I can’t imagine juggling 9 cats!
@Austin, is plenty 🙂
@Ingrid,thank goodness for our cat whisperer cat daddy hubby!
@Pam, it’s a daily balancing act and some days are better than others but perfect, rarely.
@K,thanks, it’s was a real turning point this week.
Ingrid King
Keeping your four boys happy sure sounds like a full time job and then some! It’s a good thing your husband is a cat guy 🙂 I love seeing Domino and Gris Gris sharing sleeping space.
Pam Kimmell
There’s never a dull moment for you is there Layla?! I bet Odin was happy to have your attention one on one though….and it appears your other boys adjusted to that FOR A WHILE! Balancing act – I’d say you’re the perfect example of that with your crew.
Pam (and Sam)
Kathryn
awww. they are all so cute… Glad to see them all getting used to each other more.
Ched prefers to lie next to the computer on the big, green fuzzy blanket, where I can pat his belly. Mao joins if there’s sun.