That's hysterical, but I can relate a little too well!
OMG, that is funny! I, too, am owned by an abusive cat who thinks I should get up at 2, 3, and 4 am and forward to make sure there is food in his bowl. His bowl that is in my bedroom...his bowl that is always full of food (in an effort to thwart the Relentless Alarm Cat.) We figure he doesn't want to waste his energy going over to check out the bowl unless one of us is up and hovering nearby to fill it (even though it's always full!!!)
I am dying from the funny! This has to be one of your top 5 posts of all time. More Benny! More Benny! More Benny!
Oh this is too hilarious! OK, so I understand that living it is not hilarious, but reading it is!
Meanwhile, get yourself a squirt gun or a plant mister that has a stream setting and keep it on you at all times. Being hit with the squirt gun a few times will teach him that doing full frontal air attacks (or side attacks, or rear attacks) is not pleasant.
Either that or he will turn out to be one of those bizarre cats who enjoys being squirted.
This is so funny! But also, how great that after his initial difficulties, you can say that, "a year later he is confident, smart, alert, athletic, tremendously loving." That just makes me feel good.
Benny and my cat are one in the same -- I know the feeling of someone circling you trying to get the right angle to LEAP!
LOL!!! This post made my morning! I've had felines in my household (well, ruling the household, if truth be told) for many, many years now. They're characters, that's for sure.
One of my cats does the same thing. When I bend over to pull weeds in the garden, I have a cat on my back. When the crew was here filming the documentary, the director/camera operator crouched down to shoot the chickens. Cat jumped on his back and settled in for a snooze. He just chuckled a bit, asked "what is going on on my back?", and kept shooting. Photo here, if you're interested. http://maplecorners.blogspot.com/2009/04/untitled.html
Our stripey cat, Cassie, loves to sit and watch us on the toilet, and she will also climb onto your back and sit there watching you...go...
Very disconcerting!
This is too darn funny, and our kitty does something similar though not as extreme. Thank goodness, because I'm not sure I could handle our kitty doing attack leaps at the least provocation!
You mean I'm not the only one in the world who walks around the house bent over at the waist with a cat on her back? I think that's a relief. BTW, I think it means you're officially the Mommy. Someday I'll get around to telling Smokey Joe that he's adopted. . .
I very nearly choked to death reading your post. You are a great writer! Note to self: don't read these at work.
I had a cat that acted like that. Do try the squirt gun. It will take a while; cats are stubborn. You may already know this about them :o)
Hmmm...I proceed to read down and catch up with you before I posted a comment here - b/c rly I'd have been too hysterical to comment intelligently.
What a hoot!
And yes, we do teach them to treat us this way. For years, the BB (Blonde Bombshell, dearly departed) stared (glared!) at me unforgivingly everytime she tried to sit on my shoulder, seeming to say, "WHAT? You shrank? WHY? How could you?" (when she fit in the palm of my hand, it was cute to have her perch there...)
(((hugs)))
Pictures. We totally need pictures!
That was hilarious...but my parents' cats are the same way. My favorite is when one of the girls will sit on the headrest of the recliner in the living room and put her paws on your head and just hold you still so you don't leave.
Lilliane! That's my Lilliane to the life. From her earliest days (she came here at 4 months) she'd stand right at my heel and leap straight UP onto my shoulder.....yep, sometimes not quite gaining purchase. OW! I wonder if there's a support group for those (of **US**) who walk around the house hunched over with the Feline Circus Act on our backs. Yerp.
First off, let us correct the misconception that this is your household. It's his house, he graciously shares it with you. As payment for the privilege of sharing his abode, you are to provide snuggles and entertainment, even without notice. Sheesh, humans just don't get it! No wonder they need cats to train them.
Oh... I think my cats got to your blog first, sorry about that. Ahem. Morgana will jump onto Mr. Batty's back when he's bent over to get something. Sometimes, he then does the Quasimodo shuffle, but I also get called to dislodge the cat when there's no other way to deal with the situation. They are snuggly and cute, but they're also slightly... of their rockers?
Ah, once more a cat has a servant. They all do eventually.
For the first time since I've started reading your blog this past winter, I just have to throw in my two cents. Your post made me laugh out loud; not good while sipping coffee. Your way with description is sublime!
I think that even without being a helium balloon, there might be times when you run around the room after Benny does one of his leaps.....but probably going AAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH! instead of deflating balloon noises.
At least, that's what I would do, even though it would be counterproductive, leading to more claw grippage.
Ryan, did cuzzin tom make it to the States with both his cats?
This has to be one of the funiest posts I've read in a long time. Tears are streaming down my face. Thank goodness I didn't read it at work!! Your cat is too much!
I have six cats, thank goodness none of them like to ride around on my shoulder, and after this I won't be encouraging any such 'pick me up' nonsense!
That's hysterical, but I can relate a little too well!
Posted by Cindy at June 11, 2009 03:31 PMOMG, that is funny! I, too, am owned by an abusive cat who thinks I should get up at 2, 3, and 4 am and forward to make sure there is food in his bowl. His bowl that is in my bedroom...his bowl that is always full of food (in an effort to thwart the Relentless Alarm Cat.) We figure he doesn't want to waste his energy going over to check out the bowl unless one of us is up and hovering nearby to fill it (even though it's always full!!!)
Posted by Leslie at June 11, 2009 04:01 PMI am dying from the funny! This has to be one of your top 5 posts of all time. More Benny! More Benny! More Benny!
Posted by Elaine at June 11, 2009 04:37 PMOh this is too hilarious! OK, so I understand that living it is not hilarious, but reading it is!
Meanwhile, get yourself a squirt gun or a plant mister that has a stream setting and keep it on you at all times. Being hit with the squirt gun a few times will teach him that doing full frontal air attacks (or side attacks, or rear attacks) is not pleasant.
Either that or he will turn out to be one of those bizarre cats who enjoys being squirted.
Posted by Kristen at June 11, 2009 05:47 PMThis is so funny! But also, how great that after his initial difficulties, you can say that, "a year later he is confident, smart, alert, athletic, tremendously loving." That just makes me feel good.
Posted by Wendy at June 11, 2009 07:33 PMBenny and my cat are one in the same -- I know the feeling of someone circling you trying to get the right angle to LEAP!
Posted by Romy at June 11, 2009 07:59 PMLOL!!! This post made my morning! I've had felines in my household (well, ruling the household, if truth be told) for many, many years now. They're characters, that's for sure.
Posted by Cathy at June 12, 2009 05:40 AMOne of my cats does the same thing. When I bend over to pull weeds in the garden, I have a cat on my back. When the crew was here filming the documentary, the director/camera operator crouched down to shoot the chickens. Cat jumped on his back and settled in for a snooze. He just chuckled a bit, asked "what is going on on my back?", and kept shooting. Photo here, if you're interested. http://maplecorners.blogspot.com/2009/04/untitled.html
Posted by Annie at June 12, 2009 06:55 AMOur stripey cat, Cassie, loves to sit and watch us on the toilet, and she will also climb onto your back and sit there watching you...go...
Very disconcerting!
Posted by Karlie at June 12, 2009 07:28 AMThis is too darn funny, and our kitty does something similar though not as extreme. Thank goodness, because I'm not sure I could handle our kitty doing attack leaps at the least provocation!
Posted by Seanna Lea at June 12, 2009 07:48 AMYou mean I'm not the only one in the world who walks around the house bent over at the waist with a cat on her back? I think that's a relief. BTW, I think it means you're officially the Mommy. Someday I'll get around to telling Smokey Joe that he's adopted. . .
Posted by Karen (the one who went to school with you in Singapore) at June 12, 2009 09:41 AMI very nearly choked to death reading your post. You are a great writer! Note to self: don't read these at work.
Posted by Kim at June 12, 2009 10:05 AMI had a cat that acted like that. Do try the squirt gun. It will take a while; cats are stubborn. You may already know this about them :o)
Posted by ellen at June 12, 2009 10:33 AMHmmm...I proceed to read down and catch up with you before I posted a comment here - b/c rly I'd have been too hysterical to comment intelligently.
Posted by Knitnana at June 12, 2009 11:48 AMWhat a hoot!
And yes, we do teach them to treat us this way. For years, the BB (Blonde Bombshell, dearly departed) stared (glared!) at me unforgivingly everytime she tried to sit on my shoulder, seeming to say, "WHAT? You shrank? WHY? How could you?" (when she fit in the palm of my hand, it was cute to have her perch there...)
(((hugs)))
Pictures. We totally need pictures!
Posted by MaryB in Richmond at June 12, 2009 12:31 PMThat was hilarious...but my parents' cats are the same way. My favorite is when one of the girls will sit on the headrest of the recliner in the living room and put her paws on your head and just hold you still so you don't leave.
Posted by Elizabeth at June 12, 2009 07:03 PMLilliane! That's my Lilliane to the life. From her earliest days (she came here at 4 months) she'd stand right at my heel and leap straight UP onto my shoulder.....yep, sometimes not quite gaining purchase. OW! I wonder if there's a support group for those (of **US**) who walk around the house hunched over with the Feline Circus Act on our backs. Yerp.
Posted by dale-harriet in WI at June 13, 2009 12:32 AMFirst off, let us correct the misconception that this is your household. It's his house, he graciously shares it with you. As payment for the privilege of sharing his abode, you are to provide snuggles and entertainment, even without notice. Sheesh, humans just don't get it! No wonder they need cats to train them.
Oh... I think my cats got to your blog first, sorry about that. Ahem. Morgana will jump onto Mr. Batty's back when he's bent over to get something. Sometimes, he then does the Quasimodo shuffle, but I also get called to dislodge the cat when there's no other way to deal with the situation. They are snuggly and cute, but they're also slightly... of their rockers?
Posted by Batty at June 13, 2009 04:21 AMAh, once more a cat has a servant. They all do eventually.
Posted by Donna in VA at June 13, 2009 04:22 AMFor the first time since I've started reading your blog this past winter, I just have to throw in my two cents. Your post made me laugh out loud; not good while sipping coffee. Your way with description is sublime!
Posted by Michele at June 13, 2009 05:36 AMI think that even without being a helium balloon, there might be times when you run around the room after Benny does one of his leaps.....but probably going AAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH! instead of deflating balloon noises.
At least, that's what I would do, even though it would be counterproductive, leading to more claw grippage.
Posted by Cathy-Cate at June 13, 2009 08:30 AMRyan, did cuzzin tom make it to the States with both his cats?
Posted by Sara at June 14, 2009 11:22 PMThis has to be one of the funiest posts I've read in a long time. Tears are streaming down my face. Thank goodness I didn't read it at work!! Your cat is too much!
I have six cats, thank goodness none of them like to ride around on my shoulder, and after this I won't be encouraging any such 'pick me up' nonsense!
Posted by Northmoon at June 15, 2009 04:32 PM