Found hereMy little Otis has seemed to be suffering from lassitude recently--if it is possible that a cat can experience more lassitude than he does. He has been wandering through the house meowing, listless, and bored. It seemed time to do something to bring variety to his life. But what? He can't go outside because he will run away.Otis is a cat who, when you open the door for him, looks up at the sky and takes off. He's afraid to be outside, for some reason. It could be that it's because he was found wandering as a kitten, and that's how I ended up with him four years ago. He may have deep psychological issues about this. Or, he might just be a ditzy cat. Always a possibility.
Anyhow, I decided that it would be a good thing to put a bird feeder outside the sliding glass window on the other side of his bed and his cat tree. Bingo!
Every morning, Otis reminds me to put out the birdseed--usually around 5:50 or so. As soon as it is out and the birds start coming to eat, he is crouched down by the window, partially obscured by his cat tree. He lies there with ears flattened to his head, only his eyes following the birds and his body perfectly still. Occasionally he lunges at the screen and they all flutter off. Then he turns and walks with an air of disinterest, toward his dish in the opposite direction. After a bite of food, he's sneaking back toward the window, around the ottoman, stealthily slinking up next to the couch. Plastering himself to the floor, he again inches toward the window, hiding behind the cat tree. There are dramatic moves from time to time on his part. And from time to time he swears at the sparrows and finches that squabble over the food dish, only a couple feet from Otis' squinty green eyes. To relieve his sense of impotence, he will dash straight up his cat tree and from the top, look down on his subjects.
Otis' cat TV has restored his interest in life. He is now more receptive to being petted, less clingy, and more energetic. And he sleeps better now, too. After all those adrenaline rushes he has in the morning watching the birds, he is worn out.
What a life!
Anyhow, I decided that it would be a good thing to put a bird feeder outside the sliding glass window on the other side of his bed and his cat tree. Bingo!
Every morning, Otis reminds me to put out the birdseed--usually around 5:50 or so. As soon as it is out and the birds start coming to eat, he is crouched down by the window, partially obscured by his cat tree. He lies there with ears flattened to his head, only his eyes following the birds and his body perfectly still. Occasionally he lunges at the screen and they all flutter off. Then he turns and walks with an air of disinterest, toward his dish in the opposite direction. After a bite of food, he's sneaking back toward the window, around the ottoman, stealthily slinking up next to the couch. Plastering himself to the floor, he again inches toward the window, hiding behind the cat tree. There are dramatic moves from time to time on his part. And from time to time he swears at the sparrows and finches that squabble over the food dish, only a couple feet from Otis' squinty green eyes. To relieve his sense of impotence, he will dash straight up his cat tree and from the top, look down on his subjects.
Otis' cat TV has restored his interest in life. He is now more receptive to being petted, less clingy, and more energetic. And he sleeps better now, too. After all those adrenaline rushes he has in the morning watching the birds, he is worn out.
What a life!
1 comment:
How funny! I'd love to watch Otis "at work".
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