Day One Hundred Thirty Six

Pat's Cats - Oh, Look - a Shiny Object

Insipid title, but Cat Chat, Kitty Bits and Stay and Cat for Awhile have already been taken. Well, not the last one, but it's kinda creepy. Anyway, today's post is about, what else, the cat's in my life.

Eli and Fancy just got into a spat. First came the hisses, then the "Ro - OWL!" Finally, the sight of them in your peripheral vision as they flew past. I knew Dash wasn't involved (surprise, surprise!) because he was on top of the cat tree in the living room. Finn and Chance were innocently grooming themselves in the family room. I found Fancy calmly strolling through the dining room, fur a bit poofed out, but no blood - and no sign of Eli. Now Mr. E can be a real PITA. He makes Grumpy Cat look like Hello Kitty. And he's intense. So, I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say he probably started the whole thing. By his body language, I'm going to also surmise Fancy finished it.

These two have some issues

Little Man's ebats nocturnes were short lived. I was feeling comfortable allowing him his freedom at night, until about 11 p.m. Andy had just said, "Where's the little guy? I haven't seen him all night?" I didn't panic because I know where they all are at all times, and if I don't, I know when to freak out. I was not picking up on any, "Where the hell is Dash??" vibes. Just then, he came flying into the room like the opening act of Cirque du Soleil, and proceeded to perform for our viewing pleasure. Or, in this case, dismay.

How Dash sees himself

The television is bolted to the wall above the fireplace. I am fairly certain it is secure. However, the sound bar for the audio system is sitting on the mantelpiece. Dash had just been thwarted (by me) in his attempt to pluck decorative beads from inside a vase near the fireplace. He has gotten very adept at reaching in and scooping out the beads (note to self: he may come in handy come pumpkin carving/scooping time) and, once a bead is pulled out, it becomes a great miniature hockey puck. The only problem - well there are several - but the biggest one is, I don't want the dogs eating them.

I followed him and took his prize away and plunked a box on top of the vase to prevent anymore "scooping." Problem solved. Another created: He was now looking for something to do. There are FIVE other cats in this house and about a hundred cat toys of various sizes and perplexities. So, what did he decide to do? You probably guessed it. He climbed up onto the shelf, then jumped to the mantelpiece. The sound bar was in his way, however. Down it came; held in place by the wires connecting it to the television, cable box, Amazon Fire box, etc. And, of course, Dash fell, too.

Now, all kidding aside, while most cats do land on their feet - this guy not only lands on his feet, he makes it look like it was all part of his act. He waits for the standing ovation, or at least some acknowledgement that he did something no other creature can do (in his mind.) We were not amused or impressed.

I am an Aby! I am invincible!

Mom saw it as a sign he can't be left to his own devices at night - unsupervised. Dad's offhand comment, "I am not responsible for bringing that cat into this house." My reply, "You didn't bring ANY cat - or dog for that matter - into this house! And, besides, he's so cute, I can't get mad at him. Look at him hiding under the cat thing with his butt sticking out like I can't see him!" Cute or not, I made the decision he had to go into his "condo" for the night.

As I was getting it ready, he knew something was up. While the three Rags were on the bed watching me (and probably breathing a collective sigh of relief) Dash was running back and forth like a guy who knew his time was running out. When I finished getting his bedroom all set, I went searching for him. As luck would have it, Andy was putting the dogs out, and Dash got sidetracked. I scooped him up and held him like I always do - cradled like a baby. As we were walking through the family room, he caught sight of the crystal fan pull. His eyes followed it as we walked under the fan. Think little kid who is constantly distracted by shiny objects.

I think - no, I know -  that's what I love the most about him. My son was like that - still is. My granddaughter, too. If I have to admit it, I'm like that. While my husband, daughter and grandson are very focused, the rest of us go through life being distracted by life's "shiny objects." Andy Sr., Bijou and E can sit and actually finish a project. Andy Jr., L and Gigi take twelve times as long, due to all the distractions life has to offer. Is one better than the other? Who knows? What I can say is that I really appreciate focused people, while I struggle to actually complete a project. But the "shiny objects" people help the "focused" to stop and smell the roses - or notice the tiny color gradations, or the itsy bitsy bugs, or the symmetry...