CAT FOOD

Dude the growing 9 month old youth, he never seems to eat enough but he has more energy than any other 2 cats combined and his bowels are more regular than my own.

Layla, a 2 year old petite kitty eats like a horse. Cold/hot/wet/dry... doesn't matter.

Dude's water must be iced, his dry food dry and he'll only eat wet food if I mix it with tuna.

HUMAN FOOD

Dude likes to smell, play and explore but I can keep him at bay by tearing off pieces of meat / fish / chicken to feed him by hand. He'll sit up on the table and make sneak attack pokes at the plate of food but will be generally content with the pieces I give him... as long as the pieces keep coming!

Layla has discovered a need to share my food also. She however is a lot more direct and effective. She doesn't stand on the table next to the plate making sneak attacks... she goes for the bull rush, standing not over but on and in the food laying her claim.

TALKING

Dude loves to whine and talk. He sings as he walks to the litter box. He announces he's starting a chase with a little whining meow / roar... He whines his way to the window and the food dish. Sometimes as he's walking by he'll pause, tilt his head and give me a meow face to face. I follow him to see what he wants, but usually it's just to say hi. He loves talking but I don't think he's realized yet that he can use his speaking ability to tell me things. More likely, I just haven't figured out what he wants yet.

Layla hasn't issued a peep yet but what she wants is never in doubt.

THE LITTERBOX

Layla = Felix Unger

Dude = Oscar Madison

PETTING/ATTENTION

Layla will come up to you, do the "I'm rubbing you dance" and will sit down leaning against you awaiting a petting. Petting will often get interrupted by licking at this point and both hands are required, one for licking, the other for continued petting. Unless Layla comes to you, don't go to her... she'll let you know when she wants a petting.

With Dude, petting is more of a guessing game. Sometimes he'll sit just under you, on the floor facing you, on the floor behind you or just out of arms reach on the bed or sofa. These behaviors translate into pet me. Otherwise, he's more receptive to me going up to him to get a few strokes in, but not always.

WRESTLING TECHNIQUE

Dude relies on strength and speed. He's still learning the finer points, but has indeed picked up a few new moves from Layla.

Layla is a skilled fighter. Elegant and graceful, she won't move quickly until she needs to... but I've seen her perform some acrobatic maneuvers that just left Dude dumbfounded. My favorite is the deflect frontal assault somersault... as Dude approaches, Layla will jump in the air and actually spin head over tail somersaulting through the air and landing on her back attacking Dude from his exposed, attacking and inviting white underside. Layla keeps her eyes open, Dude wrestles with eyes closed...

Both love to wrestle and often combine a chase/tag/tackle football game with their wrestling.

Copyright © Ari
March 5, 2003