I have found that I never stop discovering things about my cats. That’s probably true of any advanced creature; just as we think we know them, their personalities develop some more and something new is presented.
Neville never struck me as someone with an expansive sense of levity. He plays, but in a rather desultory fashion. Fighting the stick and grabbing for the object at the end of a string-toy’s string – as long as not much effort is involved – seems to be his extent. But lately, I have found something else amuses him.
The Former Thin Man likes playing peek-a-boo. If I hide – or, rather, keep my face hidden – then reveal it, he starts purring. Repetition of this little game creates such a reaction that he starts kneading with his paws. Tucker has long enjoyed a short game of this, but I wouldn’t have thought that the Nevsky shared this taste.
I keep the game limited, so as not to cause boredom with it. I end it with a petting session, to which Neville is more receptive after a fun time peek-a-booing. It may be my imagination, but this seems to be part of a wider decision of his to be open to more interaction. He has not hitherto been an effusively warm cat, but he appears to be enjoying my company a bit more. I have to perform a curve on the poor fellow tomorrow – back to the traditional ear-pokes – so his sympathy toward me may be short-lived.
If he feels resentful because of the curve, however, I may be able to win him over again, with a little peek-a-boo.