Friday, June 22, 2018

A Tale of Two Schedules



When Parker first came to live with me, his diet was simple. He was fed half a 5.5 ounce tin of soft-food twice a day, along with a quarter-cup of diabetic-appropriate hard-food twice a day. His meals came in the early morning and the late afternoon. I figured that he must be quite hungry by bed-time, and I disliked the idea of him going to sleep – or trying to – on an empty stomach. A growling belly makes a terrible bedfellow. So I spoke with Parker’s doctor, and arranged for the orange boy to have an additional quarter-tin at mid-day (if I am home to provide it) and another quarter-tin at bed-time.

Parker loves his food, and reminds me about his meals, especially the mid-day and bed-time meals. The last food of his day usually comes about ten-thirty. Actually, he starts reminding me of them sometimes an hour in advance. You can imagine my gratitude.

Every Saturday night is movie-night at the cosy apartment (please see my other blog (as noted on the side-bar) for movies I have watched and reviewed. Yes, this is a shameless advertisement for my other blog.) I have a relaxing bath, then make a bowl of popcorn and retire to the library to see a film of my choice, normally accompanied by Renn, who sleeps through the whole thing.

Depending upon the movie, it ends usually between ten-thirty and eleven. Older movies run about ninety minutes, often less, sometimes more. Modern movies are a couple of hours or longer. As you may be able to calculate, Parker’s bed-time snack is, on Saturdays, at the mercy of directors and screenwriters of whom he knows little. Initially, this perturbed him, and I would hear his abrupt trill start around ten, and pick up strength over the next half-hour. But this has changed.

Parker now rarely asks for his bed-time snack during the movie. As soon as it is over, however, the sturdy-boy comes trotting into the library, asking for his food. The movie could be seventy minutes long; it could be a hundred; Parker appears the moment it finishes.

Is it the sound of me standing to leave? Is it the sound of the remote-control being returned to its proper place? Is it me talking? (I generally don’t speak during the screening; I hate it when people do that. Renn is considerately quiet.) No matter what his cue, Parker now normally waits for the movie to conclude, knowing that he will not receive anything until then, but will almost immediately after.

We adjust our days for each other, I and the beasts. I have my bath only after play-time and their eight o’clock snack-time. The food-bowl – and Parker’s bed-time meal – come only after my movie. Patience is not always a characteristic of cats, but in one instance, at least, my foster-cat has decided that he will abide by my schedule, as long as I keep to his right after.

12 comments:

  1. Parker is quite the gentleman, I think. My two, Nicki in particular, would not be so patient. You've worked out a great schedule with him, and with them all. I haven't the discipline to stick to a precise routine (at least not on weekends and holidays) and my cats know it.

    BTW, Renn might stay awake if you chose a nature documentary. :-)

    P.S. I hope notification of comments now is working for you.

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  2. I can always tell when dad comes home, whether by the sound of the car doors locking, his footsteps outside or who knows what. It's just a thing we felines seem to do.

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  3. Ah. Housemates who accommodate one another and have learned (pardon the very weak pun) give and take. He waits...you give, and after having waited, Parker takes. The attempt at humor was so feeble on my part I thought I would 'splain it. 😊

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    1. I got it right away, and you're right: I handle the 'give' part and Parker has mastered the 'take'.

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  4. Smart boy. If only all movie theater patrons were as considerate as Parker and Renn.

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    1. Amen. It's a big reason why I have movie-night at home these days.

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  5. Parker is such an adaptable boy. I wish my guys were. They know only one schedule - their own! Could I borrow Parker? Maybe he could teach my gang a thing or two! :-)

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  6. Both of your boys are so considerate. I have four pairs of eyeballs staring at me till they get their evening meal! That can be a little unnerving.

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  7. It always amazes me how quickly cats adapt to routine. Of course, some of that routine is at their insistence!

    Parker is such a good cat. I hope he either gets to stay (the best option...but then I'm not you) or finds a wonderful forever home.

    Eileen

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  8. Parker is very obliging and such a good boy.

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  9. dood.....if ewe change time up ther.. rememburr then when ya thinkz itz 10:30 itz reel lee 9:30 N dad shuld remmburr itz reel lee 9:30 coz when it IZ bak ta 9:30 yur stoamchz gonna think itz still 10:30 sew....well, now we even haza R selvez confuzed ~~~~☺☺♥♥

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  10. Parker has confidence that he'll get his food, so he's learned that the old song-and-dance isn't necessary now. That's terrific!

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