Lucky invents Fetch
So, Sunday morning, I’m sitting on the couch, watching Olympic skiing on TiVo, while the kittens are racing around, tearing up the place, like they always do in the early morning.
To calm them down, I pick up this red jingle bell octopus toy, and toss it into the dining room. Lucky outraces Hanna, picks it up in his mouth, and trots proudly back in my direction, having claimed the title of Fierce Red Jingle Bell Octopus Toy Killer. And then he drops it near my feet, and proceeds to wrestle with his sister.
To get them off my feet (ow, claws), I toss the octopus again. Lucky is on it like a streak, and again brings it back. This time, he looks up at me, watching.
I pick the toy up, and throw it again.
He returns it.
And slowly, I start to realize that we’re playing Fetch.
Now, I’ve heard of cats doing this before, but we’ve owned a lot of cats as we’ve traveled around the world, and none of them have ever done this. Heck, our dogs never seemed to particularly grasp the concept.
But Lucky did it for about 20 minutes this morning — I had to stop because he eventually got so excited, he would attack my hand as I picked up the toy (ow, claws) — and then 30 minutes again tonight, after watching Curse of the Were-Rabbit.
Amazing. Of course, this does raise one worrisome spectre: If he’s capable of training me when he’s just a kitten, to what sinister ends will he have bent me by the time he’s Motley’s age?
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Lucky will also soon realize the importance of hiding his fetch toy among the couch cushions. Once he has discovered the joys of cushion diving and prize retrieval, you can say goodbye to naps. Oliver drools like dog all over his fetch mice. Despite your best efforts in having mastered the “I’m ignoring you� posture (whilst he pushes, kicks, and digs underneath your sleeping carcass) you are rewarded with a nice smack in the face with a wet mouse. Just his way of inviting another round of silly human tricks. Enjoy.
Comment by Kristin the Evil — February 22, 2006 @ 7:37
Yeah, Lucky has mastered the “soak the toys in cat slobber” thing. Also a new one on me for cats.
On the other hand, Hanna is the one demanding wee hours attention, but she only bothers Jenn. Mwah ha ha.
Comment by Beau — February 22, 2006 @ 12:12
I wouldn’t mind so much if you would just trim Hanna’s nails like you said you would! (I know I can do it myself, but still. You said! Do eeet.)
Comment by Jenn — February 22, 2006 @ 15:48