Pussy has to be the most amazing cat I've ever seen. For as long as I can remember all our various cats and dogs have mooched at the table, a practice I have tried to discourage but one that Patty gives in to all the time. So much for consistent discipline.

At mealtime Sam, Cherokee, and Mac all gather expectantly at our feet, watching intently as each and every savory morsel takes the fork express from plate to mouth. They actually chew along with us and swallow when we swallow, as if they and not we were enjoying the repast (okay, so it's only beans and rice or macaroni and cheese, but you get the idea).

Either Pussy hasn't figured this out or she just doesn't feel the rules apply to her as well. Her place is on the table, close enough to our plates for her to survey the whole battlefield at once. Any particularly delectable tidbit is fair game. She doesn't wait for an invite, she just helps herself. And the amazing part is that we let her! If any of the other little hairy varmint critters were to try this, it would be cause for unrestrained warfare. Not only that, she has now taken on the job of food critic. If Pussy turns her nose up at what's offered, we humans often discover the food isn't fit to eat. That's when we join her on the couch and eat chips and dip or some such rot.

Last night we were on the couch watching TV. Patty had her recliner kicked back and a blanket on her lap, with Cherokee, Samantha, and Mac all sprawled out on top of the blanket. Pussy was on the mantle doing her meat loaf imitation.

Patty felt something crawling on her foot, but she was so pinned down it would have been a major production to free herself. We have been plagued with ants this spring, and she wasn't concerned enough to do anything about the intruder under the circumstances. Maybe later. . .

Suddenly Pussy leaped from the mantle and attacked her foot, sinking her claws on all four paws onto the extended bare foot and biting vigorously at her toes. Patty let out a yelp and tried to extricate herself from the dog/cat pile on her blanket. It was like being trapped in a spider's web. Before Patty could get completely free, Pussy jumped to the floor and began attacking the carpet. By then she had both mine and Patty's undivided attention. We watched in amazement as Pussy killed the centipede that had apparently been crawling on Patty's foot!

Cats; ya gotta love 'em.

Copyright © David Yehudah
May 9, 2000