My cat: Claws

I rarely share personal pictures of my own pets, of which I have several.  I have two house cats: Otis (named by my husband, because she "sits on the dock by the bay") and Claws (because when she was little she liked to use them).

I adopted Claws as a kitten from a client of mine (go figure).  She was a fiesty little thing and still is.  When I brought her home, Hannah (10 year old Jack Russell), truly believed that I had brought her her own personal play toy.  Those two wrestled and chewed on each other for hours.  Claws would sit at the top of her 6' cat tower and fly off to land right in the middle of Hannah's back and the chase and chew game would begin.  They were certainly good for hours of laughter.

Otis was not real thrilled with the arrival of Claws into her domain.  Otis had had the house to herself, except for Hannah (and Cookie in the old days) Being at least 12 years old, Otis found Claws to be a real nuisance.  Otis doesn't play and having a rambunctious kitten attack her in play was not her idea of a good time.  Even now, with Claws being almost 3 years old, Otis barely tolerates Claws.

The picture above was taken of Claws attacking Meade, when Meade was just a pup.  Claws has no boundaries and has no fear!

Claws has this addiction to crinkly bags or sacks.  Nothing is sacred or too daunting for her.  She has carried up from our basement a 3# sack of opened potting soil (leaving a trail of dirt in her wake), to deposit the dirt load in the floor and take off with the sack for play.  Bread, marshmallows, throat lounges, zip lock bags (hamburger left in sink for thawing) have all been found on the floor with missing bags.  She doesn't eat the contents (however the dogs appreciate her contribution to their food cravings), she simply wants the bags.  Meade and Hannah has been known (from a dead sleep) to suddenly burst out of the living room towards the kitchen with the sound of her paws striking the floor from a leap and dash from the kitchen counter.  Another favorite for her are silk flower arrangements; they are toast in her presence (reminder don't spend $100 on a floral arrangement).

She has taken control of man and beast.  I have learned a great deal about cat behavioral modification!  Mostly Claws has taught me how to rearrange my habits to fit her persistent antics.  All bread is kept in a cabinet (marshmallows too).  All items that are contained in a bag are in a closet, on top of the refrigerator, under a cabinet, etc.  I did try a Scat Mat which has helped but in general she finds away around it.  Mouse traps set around all floral arrangements are effective, but not always attractive when company arrives (Meade found them interesting as well).

She is obnoxiously affectionate, often demanding attention and petting when it is the least convenient for me.  I love how she keeps my lap warm and the calming effect I get in petting her.  This is however not convenient when you are trying to knit or crochet.  You can put her down on the floor a dozen times, but she is not discouraged, she just tries again.....and again...etc.  Until I just get up and leave.

Claws sleeps with my husband and me.  She prefers to start her nightly routine in preparation for sleep on my husband's chest, inching her way slowly up to his face, when she will be promptly deposited to the floor.  Not being ignored, she will return and start working on me, inching her way from my side to my face.  My answer to her is to hide my head under the covers.  She will rub against me there for a few seconds then move on because she isn't getting what she wants.  Finally she will settle herself in close to your side and go to sleep.

I wouldn't trade Claws for anything, but I don't want two of her kind in the house at the same time.  My husband and I would have to move out! LOL  In closing this last picture is one Bruce took of her sunning herself on our couch, one of the rare moments that she is actually stationary.