Top Cat

[azurelunatic]

There are so many households where the roost is ruled by the cats. The joke is ha-ha-only-serious that when there is a cat/human relationship, the human claims to own the cat only at the one's peril, and the relationship actually goes the other way around.

Humans guiltily impose discipline on cats, and cats train their humans well, or that's the way it ends up being.

I'm not one of those households, really. Cats do as they will, and I've learned how to be at the top of the pecking order, because I won't accept anything less. I expect good behaviour and orderliness out of children, and love them all the same; I do that with cats also. The cats are expected to NOT be on the keyboard, to behave decently unto each other, to not scratch the good furniture, to come when called. (OK, some of that is a little unrealistic, but I'm a behaviorist. I can get results. shammash stays off the keyboard, and eris_raven comes when called.)

The "Cat Whammy" is not particularly known around here. The cats try it, but they don't usually get their way. I can resist the four-year-old whammy, ditto up through seven. (He's getting better, though.) Cats are *nothing* compared to that.

I'm just the top cat. I'm willing to hiss, yell, get in faces, grab by scruffs of necks, and bite ears if necessary to maintain that status.

So far, it seems to be working fairly well.

Comments

[sionainn.livejournal.com]

I'm the same way.... that is one thing I could never get about pet-parents. The way that some of them let their pets run the show.

I'm sorry, I'm at the top of the food chain for a reason... I'm more intelligent (yes, I am!) and I MAKE THE MONEY and it's MY house, MY rules and... yeah.

Both my pets are in tune with my schedule... my dog has from the beginning slept when I sleep (even naps) and played when I instigate play, and settled when I am quiet. My cat has learned through trial and error that when I say get OUT of the kitchen and STAY OUT while I am cooking... I surely do mean it. A couple dozen dousings of the sink sprayer also helped convince him I really meant it.

Anyways, I babble. But I agree... I love my pets to distraction but I do not let them rule the roost.

[easalle.livejournal.com]

If you think like a cat you can rule over a cat. Cats don't ask eachother nice to get out of the way. Trust me I have seen Pixie on a bad day toss Eclipse and all his poundage off the bed. Cats don't understand the nice kitty bit. They like to hear it like it is. Hooray for hissing at a naughty cat. I am glad I am not the only one. *doesn't feel so crazy anymore*

[azurelunatic]

Ah, we really do need to get a cat-sprayer bottle.

[azurelunatic]

Yep. And I'm bigger and meaner.