After finishing writing my latest book, I realized it was time to buy a new chair to sit at my computer with a bit more of comfort. Matilda never cared about the old wooden chair except as a step to the computer keyboard --> table --> window road of hers.

As the cat she is, she expects me to share everything with her, my bed, my pillows, even my clothes if I leave them on a chair or any other furniture. This, of course, does not work the other way around.

God forbid if I accidentally drop my hand on her little bed encased next to me between my bed and the wall! If she is comfortably cuddled up there, she starts growling and does not stop until I wake up and retire the hand. It usually happens when I am asleep and if I do not wake up on time, she would bit, not hard, but as a wake up call. Awake I wouldn't dare touching her when she is resting (most of the time).

The day I brought the new cushy chair into our room, where I type at the computer, she was sleeping or better said catnapping on OUR bed. She woke up at the smell of new furniture and jumped on the chair to test it for comfort. She approved. And adamantly refused to leave the chair when I tried to sit down in it.

From then on, I have to find ways and ways to distract her out of the chair every time I want to use it. Putting food on her plate does not work anymore. She knows why I am doing it. Opening the door of the screened porch does not work either if she feels my intention is to take the chair away from her.

I tried several other methods, dropping a bit of catnip nearby, getting her fresh water with ice (she loves that), ham, teasing her with a feather toy, etc. She stays put. I have to wait until she gets hungry or needs to go to the litter box. Then I have to rush to the chair.

What happens in that case? She sits next to me on my bed, hissing, growling and showing all kind of aggressive behavior demanding from me to give "her" chair back until she gives up and goes away. Then I cannot leave the chair for one moment. The moment I stand up, she swiftly rushed toward it jumps on it and then she spread a Cheshire cat smile all over her face - the face of a victorious cat.

Copyright © Ralph Rewes
January 19, 2004