Trained by my cat

Sometimes I think our cat is controlling us more than we are controlling her.  Yes, I know that sounds dumb because no one can really control a cat.  They pretty much do as they damn well please. 

My wife's cat was a friendly Siamese named Simba. After Simba passed away we adopted one from the animal shelter.  Her name is Stella and she has beautiful markings.  We were hoping she would be the replacement lapcat for my wife but she latched on to me instead.  At some point, Stella developed the habit of bolting toward her food bowl whenever we made the slightest movement.  She would almost trip us trying to beat us to the kitchen.

When I started working from home and would head anywhere near the kitchen, she would run to the bowl and sit waiting to be fed.  She did it all day long.  I guess she thought if I was home it must be dinner time.  Most of the time she still had food in the bowl.

We give her a snack around 9 pm.  If she thinks we are late she will scratch on the cabinet doors directly behind our couch.  She also has begun acting out by climbing on the counters or bookcase when she feels she is being ignored.  We try to give her a reasonable amount of atttention but she seems to be a pretty high maintenance animal.

She has me trained to the point that I will usually put food down for her before I turn on the coffeemaker in the morning.  At night, she will stand by the fridge because the snacks are kept on its top.  If I did not check with my wife every night and ask if Stella had been given a snack, I would be giving her multiple snacks.  I guess she figures I will forget from time to time if she acts like she is still waiting.  They are pretty crafty even with such a small brain.

Well, I am not going to be told what to do by a cat.  I am putting my foot down and am not letting her dictate when she gets fed and when she gets her treat.  I am in charge.  I am the boss.  Wait a minute.  Do you hear that scratching?  Did I give her a snack tonight or not?  I'll be back later and finish this blog...

Michael Kaynard is a local photographer who lives in West Ashley.  You can see his photos at http://kaynardphotography.webs.com.  He can be contacted at mkaynard@gmail.com or 843-412-2299.