Thursday, December 15, 2016

The Princess and Her Enemy

My cats are not big players. I try to interest them in different toys and, though they respond to varying degrees at different times, they usually find their own amusements as often as they respond to my attempts to entertain them.

Now and then, however, a certain activity appeals to one or another of the beasts. Cammie likes the string-toy, and will chase the red-dot. But - and I’m not sure how we arrived at it - she appears to like fighting with a stick. Basic, unadorned, the princess likes hitting a stick with her paw.


This always occurs when she is in a cat-tree. Periodically, it is the saddle-tree in the bedroom; more frequently, it is the tall tree in the sitting room. What I use is the handle-end of the string-toy. Sometimes, Cammie sees it coming. On these occasions, she may give a short, sharp bark of defiance: “Ra!” Other times, the stick taps the parapet of the platform on which the princess is lying. This causes her to lunge at the stick. If it can manage it, the stick sneaks up on her, and prods her gently on the thigh. This causes the fighter no end of annoyance and brings fitting retribution.


The strength Cammie has in her forepaw, usually her right, is considerable. Her aim is less definite. One moment, she will wait for the stick to approach, another she will consider offence to be the best defence, and launch a strike before the stick is ready. Whatever her tactic, she seems to enjoy it. I write ‘seems’ because her expression remains the same dead-pan throughout; it is, in fact, the same countenance which I see her wear almost all the time. But there is no hissing, no growling; she is, er, happy. I think.


So, until I can come up with another game, or until she tires of this one, the princess will protect her august person from the stick with brute force. And why not? She seems to enjoy it.

14 comments:

  1. that is AWESOME....love that she has found a "game" she loves

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wonderful to see Cammie playing. Our last cat Sam loved to play with sticks too. I had a few feather- on-a- stick toys. She was more interested in the stick than the feather.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I got a kick out of this, because Nicki seems to be the same way with sticks. Though sometimes it seems to me that the end of a wand somehow offends him or appears to be something, if not threatening, then definitely something to attack--but not in a playful way. Have you ever tried this with a wand that has those little rubberized ends on them? Those really seem to "upset" Nicki -- wonder what Cammie would think of one.

    ReplyDelete
  4. it's fun when you can find something that gets their interest

    ReplyDelete
  5. my stars cammie you have to, HAVE TO, try stick under the rug.....it's unbelievable fun !! hugs from dai$y =^..*=

    heerz two a merry Christmas anda happee one anda blessed one.....see ya ina few ☺☺☺☺♥♥♥♥♥

    a trout filled Christmas
    a mackerull new yeer two
    health N happee nezz in de brand new yeer
    frum all oh uz two ewe

    with hugs N loves
    boomer, dai$y, tuna
    & dude & sauce two

    ♥♥♥♥♥

    ReplyDelete
  6. Flynn's favourite toys are kickers and he also likes to grab a stick when he plays, which is not often now. Eric never had time for traditional toys but loved to catch or fetch a piece of rolled up paper.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I think she is enjoying herself. Fighting with the stick is a never-ending battle.
    Holly likes her catnip stuffed toys which she flings around the apartment.

    ReplyDelete
  8. It looks like Cammie is having a great time defending her territory, (or at least her cat tree!) Way to go, Cammie!

    ReplyDelete
  9. We like da sticks on those toys too. We've figgered out da toy at da end is controled by da evil stick and so we're determined to kill it. Once it's been defeated, we'll be able to enjoy our purrey in peace. MOL Big hugs and a very Merry and blest Christmas to ya'll.

    Luv ya'

    Dezi and Raena

    ReplyDelete
  10. We think our comment disappeared. So we'll just say, have a very Merry and Blest Christmas. (mommys to lazy to retype our comment. MOL Big hugs

    Luv ya'

    Dezi and Raena

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Several readers' comments appeared all at once, so there may have been a log-jam somewhere. But you can't wish somewhere a merry Christmas enough, so thank you!

      Delete
  11. I love how Cammie is coming into her own with you. She's obviously enjoying herself!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Annabelle loves to play stick too. But she likes me to put it underneath a throw or blanket and she then wants to uncover it. She is like a child when I play that game with her.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Glad you found something she enjoys.

    ReplyDelete