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Warfare or Cat-fare:- If you have never associated closely with cats, or especially lived with them, then this article may be difficult for you to understand.
I had this very problem when I met and became involved with my present partner and her two female cats.
When I first unwittingly strolled into the scenario, it was with the first impression that they were just cats! One was at that time names "Flounder" and the other "Nemo".
They had fur, legs and tails; one was small, black and white and the other large and somewhat multi-colored.
To my mind at that stage and as I suppose classified more as a "dog person", a cat was a cat; even though I had been formally introduced to these two snobbish looking animals.
Neither they nor I were particularly impressed with this first meeting and generally ignored each other.
Possibly, if I had known what I know now, this behavior should have been taken as some form of deep and significant warning? Having met the cats, I promptly forgot about them and when I visited the apartment where they lived with my partner to be, the fur-balls could be there, or not there! If they were and within range, then I would stroke them and make the usual pussycat noises, but apart from that we seemed happy to go our own ways.
Now looking back on past "cat" events; I believe they wage psychological warfare or cat-fare, against poor, unsuspecting mere human beings like me.
Cat-astrophe:- It was after a few weeks in this relationship with lady and cats, that I noticed subtle changes in the latter's behavior patterns.
The first thing that caught my attention was the multi-colored cat, waiting for me when I got out of the car.
Admittedly, it was just sitting there giving me a stare, but it was a regular occurrence and it became a habit for me to bend down and either scratch, tickle or stroke its little furry head.
The black and white one on the other hand, did not want to know anything about anyone.
Its sole mission in life appeared to be bringing mice, albeit very small mice, home as presents for its proud lady owner.
Both relationships developed satisfactorily with lady and Nemo, the multi-colored cat, who now for some reason of its own, seemed to be attaching itself to me.
This was probably due to my "sharing" tasty bits of food with it from my plate, which it obviously took to be a sign of bonding, or as a token due to it! This in turn created a situation with the said lady human; when Nemo decided that it was now time to make an assertive move.
From being contented with sitting on the floor at meal-times, waiting for any "offerings", she prowled the length of the table and sat on the corner by my place mat.
Now I thought this was cute and a sure sign of my first bonding with something from the "cat world".
Lady on the other hand was not too impressed, but thinking it also cute endured this initial stage of our "togetherness", presuming cat and I would get over it.
Well, it did not in practice work out that way! Nemo, apparently realizing now that she had hooked a real humanoid sucker, made it plain that I was a food source and my plate had been declared open season.
The furry animal found a taste for a variety of different animal, vegetable and mineral products.
In other words, if it was on "our" plate, then it was worth trying.
The results were on occasions chaotic and lady was finding it more difficult to relate to the relationship between cat and I.
On the other hand, I was totally enthralled with my new found friend.
The relationship, controlled naturally by the cat, reached a stage where every mealtime, mine that is, found Nemo perched on the corner of the dining table, waiting the aforesaid "food source" to be seated.
Prior to this, an inspection of the table was made and if thought necessary, a paw was used to define the contents of any open dish.
Now you realize where the title comes from! Cat-alyst:- By this time, the lady concerned was becoming more than a little fed up with the cat antics and accordingly took action.
The cat was told in no uncertain terms, that it was banned from the table.
However, worse was to follow; the other cat previously named Flounder, but now known as Frisbee, due to an in flight episode between table and kitchen counter-top, decided that it had kept a low profile long enough.
With the rebuke to Nemo, it seized its chance and where one left off, the other took over.
Well, I thought discretion was the better part of valor as they say and kept quiet.
At the time of writing this article, life carries on with the cats.
They are an important part of our everyday lives and seem determined to share in them to the full.
You are probably thinking what a spoilt pair of animals! Not really, at least they are not paddling in the tea; yet! Be warned; it does not immediately strike you how these clever little furry monsters work.
They know and use every trick in the book and if you think Garfield is just a cartoon character, think again! He is alive and well in your cat if you have one and is just waiting to show himself in the one you are thinking of getting!
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