“Mmmmmmmmeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeooooooooooowwwwwwwwww…”
My eyes pop open and I sit up straight in bed. At first, I mistake the plaintive cries for the tornado siren. Then I realize it’s Kaiser. If he could talk, he’d be saying “Out…” I get up and start toward the door. I dodge the pile of books I left out. Then I trip over my boots. I unlock my door and open it, just in time to see a grey blur dash down the hallway. I pause for a second to regain my balance. Then I stagger down the hallway anyway. By the time I make it to the front door, he’s waiting for me. He meows again. I unlatch the chain, flip the deadbolt, and reach down for the doorknob to unlock it. He’s growing impatient, so he reaches up the door like he’s trying to help. I finally open the door, and Princess darts in. Kaiser leaps over her. When both of the cats are clear of the door, I shut it and lock it back. She stares up at me and starts the conversation.
“Meow. Meow. Meow. Meow. Meow,” she begins. If she could talk, she’d be saying, “Hi, Kim. How was your nap? Did you have any good dreams? Did you?” She trots off to the kitchen, still talking. “So…are you going to feed me or pet me? Which one is it? Feed me? Pet me? I’m so hungry I could eat a bird and a squirrel.” I reach down to pet her. She purrs. I coax her into eating and stumble back down the hallway, while I pray that I will be able to go back to sleep. I close my door behind me. I walk over to my bed and sit down. I squint at the clock. It glows “4:30 a.m.”
People tend to think that cats are all the same. Saying that is not only a gross generalization, but it’s also just plain wrong. My cats are as different as night and day. Sure, there are a few things that are inherent to a cat’s behavior, such as sleeping, eating, napping, snacking, dozing, and munching. In that respect, all cats are the same. It’s how they go about these things that distinguishes them from one another.
Take sleeping, for example. If they are inside, both of my cats enjoy sleeping high off the floor. Kaiser will make a bed on top of the ironing board, the dining room table (despite receiving spankings too numerous to mention), the toilet, or the stereo. Occasionally, he will sleep on the floor next to his favorite thing in the whole house – the vacuum. Princess, however, is terrified of the vacuum. She prefers to curl up on the couch, a dining room chair, or someone’s bed. Her favorite spot on the couch is on top of a coat. Her favorite spot on my bed is on the pillow, right in front of my face, naturally. If they are outside, there is one place on which they will agree – and quite often you will find them there together. That place is the hood of the car, especially when the engine is still warm. Other than that, Kaiser will sleep underneath his “stick,” an old dying azalea bush. Princess will sleep in the flowerbed.
The cats have one rule about food: NO CHEAP FOOD. Cats by nature are very finicky, and they have high standards about bought food. Feeding time around our house is quite difficult, since each cat has a favorite flavor of cat food. Kaiser prefers the Alpo brand flavors “Mixed Grill” or “Salmon and Shrimp.” Princess only wants one thing – tuna. She will turn up her nose at anything else. Recently, they began to agree on any flavor of Fancy Feast, which is no surprise, since it’s so costly. Mother and I decided that it’s easier just to get the expensive kind instead of getting two flavors of everything else, so the cats won out, and now they finally agree. They also agree on leftovers, both theirs and ours. With their leftovers, any crumb or morsel is too much and is declared inedible within twenty minutes of the can’s opening. Our leftovers, however, are another story. Any kind of meat or cheese is a welcome treat. In fact, our cats know the difference, and they will take “the good stuff” off their plate in the kitchen to eat it in the dining room. Kaiser will take off any other kind of food off your hands. This includes, but is not limited to, the following: broccoli, rice, corn, green beans, lima beans, popcorn, and potato chips. He can hear one crumple of a bag of potato chips from across the house, and, in less than a second, he’s at your feet begging. Princess, however, avoids these foods.
The most distinguishing feature about cats is their personality. Kaiser is a cat of few meows. Only in sheer desperation do these meows ever last longer than a single meow. For example, he usually meows a lot to fuss at us when he has been left outside in the rain. He is also a loner most of the time. When he wants petting, he wants it on his own terms, which usually winds up being 5:30 a.m. As a general rule, he will avoid strangers. Princess is the total opposite. She is very social and will not refuse petting from anyone. Any time, in her opinion, is the perfect time for petting. She is also the self-proclaimed welcome wagon to any visitor.
Cats love to eat and sleep. On that much we can agree. Their personalities, however, determine how they carry out either duty. Their differences in behavior and attitude are amusing to watch, and that makes them a part of the family…that is, unless it’s too early in the morning when they want outside. At that point, they’re considered disowned.
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