Combat for Two

I love watching a good tussle between cats. Not a real fight, of course, but a playful wrestling match. The participants usually take it quite seriously, though it is only faux combat. It is, after all, based on real fighting. I imagine kittens start it not only as fun but as instinctive training for life in the wild - which adopted cats will, fortunately, never experience. But it’s all there: the staring challenge, the switching tail, the threat of the raised paw, the slow circling… Then the pounce.

Aurora and Chiff had a good tussle on the bed last night. You will note that another cat was not only not participating but doing her best to show her disdain for such antics. I do think Imogen would enjoy playing with another cat, if she could find another cat she liked who young enough for such fun. But the current crop of roommates holds no interest for her. What’s more, the others know it: Chiff and Aurora were careful not to come too close to the un-spectator, and periodically threw glances Imo’s way, to make sure they weren’t rolling too near.

After all, the last thing two hellspawn she-cats want in a life and death struggle is a real fight…