Coffee is on! Come and get it! We all have to share one Doughnut because I ate the others. I didn’t intend to eat all the others, it just happened. You can’t leave fresh doughnuts lying around and not expect me to eat them. The odds are only slightly better than leaving Toffifee unattended around here.
And I have an excuse for eating all the doughnuts – it’s because I’m an idiot.
You know when you think you are fixing one problem but it turns out you’ve only made another problem and the other problem turns out to be a monumentally stupid fuck-up? Yeah? Well, I did that.
The Viking probably wasn’t listening to me when I convinced him to go along with the scheme. He does that quite often – not listening to me – and it’s something he should work on immediately because shit happens when he isn’t paying attention. He stares at his computer screen while I discuss the current problem and he nods and says “uh huh” and then I wrap up my case and he says “uh huh” so I carry out the plan.
Unfortunately, he hasn’t got a bloody clue what ride he’s just agree to and by the time he actually realizes what the ride is he’s halfway across the Grand Canyon on a zip line yelling “WTF?!!”
On this particular occasion, it’s the cats. I see you aren’t shocked that I am having cat problems. You must know me better than I know me and if you had been paying attention you might have saved me from myself. That’s why you only get 1/16th of a doughnut with your coffee – you’ve let me down.
So, here’s what happened. Izzie hasn’t been the most welcoming of cats to her new playmate. For the most part she has adopted an “I hate you but I’m fascinated” stance and slapping happens frequently. We were coming to the realization that she may never be a socialized, normal cat.
But then she deeked us out last night. Teddy was sleeping on one side of my leg as we watched a movie and she came over, lie down on the other side of my leg and put a paw on Teddy’s leg. They slept like that for over an hour! I was over-the-moon happy! Until he woke up and she beat the crap out of him, again. The aggression was particularly bad after that, almost like “I may have slept on you but I still hate you.” Sigh.
I was worried leaving him on his own overnight. You see, we close our bedroom door at night so they have a chance to interact without us being the cause of jealousy. So, we decided to put Teddy in a room where he was safe for the night. But that didn’t seem fair. Why should he be locked up when it’s Izzie being the beast? And here’s where I went wrong.
You already know what I suggested, don’t you? I can hear the collective moans of disgust.
The Viking “uh huh-ed” his way into this arrangement and we moved Teddy’s litter box into our room, brought a water bowl and a food bowl in and supplied him with a couple of toys.
This morning, all hell broke loose. For two hours. By the time I got out of bed, The Viking was wide-eyed and slightly twitchy. “We never should have kept him in the room with us! Izzie is going nuts!”
Well, hell! Realization dawned quite quickly. Crap! I was so busy trying to save Teddy’s bacon that I didn’t think about how Izzie would feel about this betrayal. But, here’s the weird thing. Teddy somehow found a backbone no one was using during the night. And after the first couple of slapping blizzards, Izzie settled down and they are actually playing. Playing!
Have I managed to stumble us all to the base of some turning point? As far as I can tell, I haven’t managed to do a single thing right but Izzie just greeted Teddy with a nose touch and not a single slap. It was so casual, like they were old friends meeting at a pub. I’m not accustomed to such clear successes. My finished products are usual in the line of “We Can Live With It Even Though It Isn’t Perfect” or “Better Luck Next Time”.
Yet, I think I see a light at the end of the long, dark tunnel. Or….it could be Izzie’s Death Stare reflecting in the dark. Who knows?
Thanks to Part-Time Monster…..
This is great news, and I hope it lasts! Sometimes it just takes time. There might be a little backsliding once in a while, but cats are great at total resignation eventually.
I sure hope we’ve cleared a hurdle. I don’t mind the occasional spat but all out war is wearing on my patience – not one of my strong points at the best of times. Thanks for visiting. :o)
Animals don’t think likr we do. We just have try an understand them. Hope it continues.
I am shocked by what yesterday I am praying for the World, especially to those effected by yesterday action.
Me too, BL! Me too. Thank you for stopping by. :o)
Found your blog through WCS. I like your style, Mrs. Completely 🙂
Thank you, Chloe. :o) Thanks for dropping by.
Ah, some progress! We’ve had much the same with our two and it has been a dance of one step forward two steps back two steps forward one step back. Hope this is the beginning of the end of the kitty war for you!
I’m glad I’m not the only one that has had struggles with cats. I love/hate them. :o) I hope we are on our way to Peace Talks.
“Yet, I think I see a light at the end of the long, dark tunnel. Or….it could be Izzie’s Death Stare reflecting in the dark. Who knows?”
Reading your archived bits here, this is an absolute scream! Cats get on, or they don’t get on, or they sometimes may or may not, until they change their minds for a flash! Wow, these almost wild creatures have us to care for them in their almost wildness.
Thankfully, Teddy and Izzie have become best friends. For Teddy it’s a bit like being The Hulk’s best friend because he’s the one that has to talk the monster back to the cave. Somehow he makes it work though and he’s more than happy to spread the love around. :o)
I love your comments Gale. You always make me smile and tempt me to take things that little bit further. :o)