Cats, you gotta love 'em!

Cats are such silly creatures.  If you have ever watched 2 or more together, you will know what I mean.  Here is a typical cat day with 2.  They rise when you do (they couldn't possibly get up earlier unless of course they are hungry and then they will wake you up).  They weave in and out from between your legs until you take that first (and dangerous) step down the stairs.  Then they race you down the stairs and sit at the bottom looking up at you as if to say "well, are you coming or what?"

In the kitchen, while you are trying to get coffee, breakfast, etc. they again weave in and out screaming at the top of their lungs as if there wasn't a full container of food sitting on the floor near their water dish.  You finally give them something (anything) to shut them up so you can finish your breakfast in peace.  Now comes the funny part!

They grab whatever you have put down for them with growls and hisses and swats of their paws at each other as if they haven't eaten in a week and they are deadly enemies.  They gobble the food as quickly as they can, often gagging on it because they try to swallow it so fast.  Then they face off with one another for the very last tidbit that remains in front of them (even if it is only a drop of the sauce). 

They circle, eyes never leaving the face of the other.  They growl, deep in their throats as they move.  Then they start to screetch at each other as they try to reach out for the tidbit before the other can get it.  Then, suddenly, they are on top of each other biting, scratching, hissing, and tumbling about as if their very lives depended upon them getting that last lick.  A cat screetch fills the air and they separate to their own corners cleaning and occassionally glaring at each other. 

I get up and remove the cause of the fight, throwing it away so they will cease and desist.  The two stare at each other for a moment as if each is accusing the other of causing the loss of the food and then they race off in pursuit of each other.  They race across the couch, over the coffee table (knocking everything down in their path), up the stairs and I hear banging and bumping.  Then they come back down the stairs like a herd of elephants.  Under the table they sit for a moment staring and growling.  Then the chase is on once more and they race over my lap to get out of the kitchen.  In the living room, one stops to clean a paw and the other takes his chance and pounces.  They tumble and turn, jumping, bouncing, biting, hissing and scratching with their claws out.  The fur flies and they are off again up the stairs!

Suddenly, there is a crash and then an eerie silence.  At first I figure they are staring again and go on with my breakfast.  Then, as the silence continues, I get nervous and slowly take the stairs up towards the area where I last heard them fighting.  I arrive at the door and peek in, hoping to find them sitting and staring or off in their corners cleaning or something.  Instead, I find a sight I never expected. 

On the floor sits a haphazard pile of one of my hard cover book collections.  The cats had apparently knocked them down in their desperate fight.  But the unbelievable part is:  they had both lain on top of the awkwardly piled volumes, nearly on top of one another, and fallen asleep!  I raced off to grab my camera to snap a picture of the two in their slumber, and, wouldn't you know it, they weren't there when I returned!  Rotten brat cats!!!

Here they are in all their glory, Silly Cats!

© Cheryl Simonds 2012