Saturday I got a new dish for the fabulous furballs. This is not in itself a big event. Anyway I brought several things in my usual payday euphoria spending spree. (the one I am regretting now) and when I got home I chucked the bags in the bedroom and went to give my usual performance. (My partner must think every shop around here has a permanent sale on.)

Sunday morning I was about to make my usual contribution to housework i.e taking the rubbish out and I threw the old dish in the bin. Of course any noise near the dish interests Sarrasine . In this particular case, she was comatose on top of the monitor but as soon as her specialised ears heard someone near dish, she was there before she was even awake. (Before you ask, yes, she can eat in her sleep).

And there was no dish in sight.

She stared at where it should be as if thinking if she thought hard enough it would reappear or perhaps it was an invisible dish and she just had to concentrate to find it. Then she started sniffing round the kitchen, looking behind things and moving them .

Still no dish.

She went back to where the dish ought to be and sat there alternating between "Feed me or else!!!!" and "I am a poor starving unloved kitten" looks.

I admit I teased her by telling her "Listen Sarsi-fella, a cat only gets so much food in their life and being a little pig you've eaten all yours already."

This earned me a filthy look and she stalked out with her nose in the air.

Moments later from the bedroom we heard a rustling noise then "Thump!" followed by a dragging noise and Sarrasine reappeared looking very proud….And dragging her new dish which she took into the kitchen and placed at exactly the same spot. She gave us a look that said "Cut the Bull and fill the dish and we won't mention this again and peace will prevail."

So being her willing slaves we obeyed and peace in our house was resumed. I still don't know how she knew where her new dish was but please don't ever tell me they are "dumb" animals.

Copyright © Lesley Madigan
March 3, 2005