Sometimes you just have to have a heart to heart with your animal. My cat who has been pretty darn good for 15 years has for some reason gotten a burr up her butt recently.
She still gets a A+ for affection, an A+ for caring but suddenly she has gone to D- for noise. Each step she takes, she yowls. It is not in pain but appears to be in protest--for what I am not sure. It is not a nice or sweet inside voice but a sitting on the fence at midnight yowl. She is marching for a cause known only to her.
She came into the room yesterday yowling with each step. Even the dog looked at her like she was possessed. This was not like the "Timmy in the well," pleading for my help she did when the automatic litter box malfunctioned a while back. She wanted something--- NOW and was totally irritated.
"When did you become a Siamese?" I asked. That breed are known talkers.
"Yowl, double yowl." she answered with her eyes glued to mine, seeming grateful for the acknowledgement.
" You do know this isn't going to fly with me don't you?"
"Yowl, soft yowl, really, really loud yowl."
"You have plenty of food, the litter box has fresh crystals in it, your water fountain is full and working. I have checked you over, nothing hurts. I just brushed you for 15 minutes this morning. Why?? What is the problem?" I pleaded.
An unblinking stare and a bit of a snarky yowl was my answer.
I know she doesn't do politics and could care less there is an irrational man still thinking he is our leader. She doesn't even know what Covid is. She has no real worries. So maybe it is me??
Then it dawned on me, she just might be sick of me. Instead of sleeping all day when I would occasionally be gone, I am now rarely gone. Her sleep is constantly interrupted by my moving about or by phone calls.
"Would you like me to leave for a while so you can just chill out?"
You may or may not believe this but I swear it happened. She gave me a slow wink, jumped on the bed and started some serious purring.
"Ok Callie," I addressed my dog, "Lets go for a ride and leave the whole house to Madame Queen."
I didn't think cats could smile but she did--of course Callie did also. Win/win for all of us and so simple.
Then I thought for a moment and quizzed Callie thinking she might also might be suffering an over dose of me.
"Do you want to go or stay?"
Silly question, dogs don't need alone time. She gets plenty of that scouring my property for various varmints a good portion of the day. She was eagerly dancing towards the door. Where cats evidently need "me" time, dogs crave "us" time.
The alone time worked wonders. She is now back to talking quietly and softly purring. I will try to leave regularly for actually, it does me good too. I'd never have discovered this without our eye to eye and ear to ear connection. Hey, yell at me and I will listen.
Do you find that your house mates, be they spouse, partner or pets, really could use some alone time during this period of overdose togetherness?
I, for one, live for alone time!!!
ReplyDeleteHootin Anni,
DeleteI know what you mean. It is food for the mind.
Haha... Patti, I never would've guessed that in a hundred years. Minnie is pretty lucky to have a smart human like you!
ReplyDeleteDoug,
DeleteWell I was guessing since I had eliminated most everything else. Just lucky it worked. Wow, can she be loud.
When our pets want something it's frustrating when we can't figure it out, it's it. And they can be so persistent until we humans figure it out.
ReplyDeleteJean,
DeleteI had crossed off the usual suspects and really hoped that was the answer. Lucked out.
That loud cat yowl is not easy to ignore. Glad you figured it out! I laughed at the scene of the two of you leaving and her needing alone time! :-)
ReplyDeleteDjan,
DeleteThey really do have a set of lungs on them. I was just so grateful that leaving was the answer.
I knew you would come up with something good and boy did you. LOL Great discovery of how to cure Minnie.
ReplyDeleteAnnie,
DeleteNot sure what I'd have done if that hadn't worked but it did. All is quiet again.
Such a good illustration of the difference between a dog and a cat. Good that you are multi lingual.
ReplyDeleteOlga,
DeleteHa ha, I may not be fluent but I can pick out the main thoughts---sometimes.
That sounds like a very interesting conversation with Minnie. I'm so glad she could convey her inner desires with her outer yowling. She's a very smart kitty cat.
ReplyDeleterobin,
DeleteShe certainly put every ounce of her lungs into it. This is the second time she has communicated to me. Pretty soon we may debate climate change:))
Cute story. We knew that absence makes the heart grow fonder. But who knew that it applies to cats?
ReplyDeleteTom,
DeleteNot sure how much fonder she is but I do sense less irritation.:)
Amen Sister!!
ReplyDeleteMargaret,
DeleteWe do what we have to don't we? :))
I take it Minnie does not go outside herself. My feline resident has three demands which she usually only has to ask for once and her wishes are granted pronto. 1. Food! 2. Out! 3. Snuggles and brushing. We especially appreciate our pets during this time of lock-downs. Her purring is ample reward for my servitude.
ReplyDeleteFlorence,
DeleteNo, she is an innie cat so all her basic needs are always right here. It is good to hear her purring again.
Well done for working out what she needed.
ReplyDeleteFun60,
DeleteThink it was mostly pure luck but it worked. All are happy again.
I'm impressed! My cats find their alone time (if that's what they're seeking by napping in the cat beds in the basement. Or maybe I don't move around as much so they think I'm part of the furniture. :)
ReplyDeleteEither way, you got to go out for a bit, as did Callie and Minnie got what she was looking for.
Take care and stay well!
Eileen,
DeleteI think that they have a place totally away from you works. My house is so small that she picks up on any movement. And yes, we all got a nice break.
I love the above comment about being part of the furniture. So now I have forgotten what I originally had to say about this, instead this: You must be moving around enough for your Minnie not to mistake you for part of the furniture. Which is a good thing, Minnie believe me
ReplyDeleteInger,
DeleteI have done that same thing with a previous comment:)) Like I told Eileen, I think that my house is so small, she can't really find a place where I don't disturb her.
At first I thought maybe she had a grass seed buried between her toes, easy to miss seeing but painful with each step.
ReplyDeleteI suspect the different routine was causing a little anxiety for her, you were very smart to have figured it out. I still don't have much of a clue where my Lola is concerned, but we have only been together just over three years.
River,
DeleteShe is an inside cat and I had checked her over carefully for any pain. I really think it has worked for she has resumed her cute little meow once more. No more yelling.
Well, that was quite a communication issue you had with your cat. I am assuming it worked, but I am impressed that you figured it pout.
ReplyDeleteLinda,
DeleteI think I had just run out of options and was grabbing straws. The thing is that it has worked perfectly. She is back using her inside voice and is a pleasure to be around.
I am impressed your figured it out. That is funny. Only a cat.
ReplyDeleteSue,
DeleteHave no idea what I would have tried if that hadn't worked. Lucked out on that one. All is quiet again.
Interesting, amusing post. Hey, if your solution to the problem worked, then hurray. So, are you gonna leave the house every day now? Lol.
ReplyDeletegigi,
DeleteHa ha, not quite but I do hit the door when she starts picking up volume.
Too cute! 💖
ReplyDeleteSusan,
DeleteThank you. So glad you enjoyed.
Patti, here's hoping your thanksgiving is perfect!
ReplyDeleteAnni,
DeleteThank you so much. Right back at ya.
I would definitely be Minnie if Bob and I weren't doing something separately for part of each day.
ReplyDeleteBarb,
DeleteA break in togetherness really can make things better. You have all that lovely outdoors to take advantage of.
Yes, and I let him have it. :)
ReplyDeleteMage,
DeleteHa ha, now that is being a thoughtful spouse.
We are all okay as we spread out to separate rooms. But our 14 year old Ellie became noisy over a month ago. She even began grinding her teeth. We made a vet appointment and learned she was in pain. Her heart was failing . Option one was steroids to make her comfortable for a short period before her end. Option two was end her suffering now. I opted for two as I could not near to see her struggle. Genially the vet prepared her with sedation in another Rome and then brought her back to me where I said my goodbyes and stroked her comatose body. I gave the vet the okay for the final dose to send her to cat heaven. I her her take her last breath. Though gut wrenching I knew she had loved us and we her since she came into our lives as a rescue in 2011.
ReplyDeleteOf course I sobbed to moment I was back outside where hubby was waiting.we cried together before we could get into the car.
With Covid he had to remain outside waiting . All I could do is text our family and take photo of our parting.
And as We headed home an eerie feeling came over me. This parting was as unusual as those of humans separated by Covid.
I was allowed into the vets office only after she had taken the cat in from curb drop off and made her assessment that Wllie was in serious trouble.
I like your cat chat as it has a happy out come.
Hm-m-m, ver-r-r-y interesting! I think you've been confined inside too long with the animals.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! This is hilarious and amazing! You are definitely a cat whisperer AND a dog whisperer. She's 15 years old? I guess at her age, she might be getting more cranky? I'll bet I am.
ReplyDelete