Make your cat the centre of attention during family meals
August 20, 2021 7:12 AM Subscribe
Feline-friendly furniture now includes a dining table (for people) with a hole in the middle (more) for your cat to frequent. This joins the array of cat-centric domestic apparatus which includes cat trees, cat caves, window bubble pods, cat hammocks, a chaise lounge, an executive cat tree, an enchanted forest, and of course a tank. [No endorsement is given or implied. Other products are available. Your cat may reject any product bought for it.]
My husband is the thin red line from keeping our house from absolutely being filled with cat furniture of any kind.
Right now, I am insulted--INSULTED--that our three furry fools have rejected the cat hammock I purchased for them because I would see so many cats on my walk to work enjoying them. "Ah ha!" said I, "my beloved cats would ADORE a hammock. Especially Agatha, Pirate Queen. Imagine how much scorning of passers-by she could do!"
I have moved the damn hammock to two different ideal window situations, have rubbed the cover with catnip, have even put Sir Digby Chicken Caesar (my docile lovable lad) on it only to have him play the "oh shit this is lava" game. No one is going on the goddamn hammock. (FYI: my husband built cat steps to two different windows which currently serve as the all time popular perch since we moved in here.)
just somebody sleep in the damn hammock
posted by Kitteh at 7:21 AM on August 20, 2021 [31 favorites]
Right now, I am insulted--INSULTED--that our three furry fools have rejected the cat hammock I purchased for them because I would see so many cats on my walk to work enjoying them. "Ah ha!" said I, "my beloved cats would ADORE a hammock. Especially Agatha, Pirate Queen. Imagine how much scorning of passers-by she could do!"
I have moved the damn hammock to two different ideal window situations, have rubbed the cover with catnip, have even put Sir Digby Chicken Caesar (my docile lovable lad) on it only to have him play the "oh shit this is lava" game. No one is going on the goddamn hammock. (FYI: my husband built cat steps to two different windows which currently serve as the all time popular perch since we moved in here.)
just somebody sleep in the damn hammock
posted by Kitteh at 7:21 AM on August 20, 2021 [31 favorites]
I want every single one of these items.
Same. (I don't have a cat)
posted by Wordshore at 7:26 AM on August 20, 2021 [9 favorites]
Same. (I don't have a cat)
posted by Wordshore at 7:26 AM on August 20, 2021 [9 favorites]
35 quid for that cardboard tank? Fire up the laser cutter, I'm in the wrong business.
posted by automatronic at 7:31 AM on August 20, 2021 [10 favorites]
posted by automatronic at 7:31 AM on August 20, 2021 [10 favorites]
I don't have a cat but I would still happily furnish my apartment with these.
posted by Dip Flash at 7:37 AM on August 20, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by Dip Flash at 7:37 AM on August 20, 2021 [2 favorites]
When you don’t want to invite your cat to the table, you can use a lid to cover the hole.
Yeah I am pretty sure this bit of the copy was written by someone who has never interacted with a cat. "Uninvited" is not a status cats recognize.
posted by jackbishop at 7:44 AM on August 20, 2021 [47 favorites]
Yeah I am pretty sure this bit of the copy was written by someone who has never interacted with a cat. "Uninvited" is not a status cats recognize.
posted by jackbishop at 7:44 AM on August 20, 2021 [47 favorites]
a dining table (for people) with a hole in the middle (more) for your cat to frequent.
Table cat is watching you masticate.
posted by nathan_teske at 7:48 AM on August 20, 2021 [56 favorites]
Table cat is watching you masticate.
posted by nathan_teske at 7:48 AM on August 20, 2021 [56 favorites]
We've found a lot of success with the themed "houses" from Target (Halloween, Christmas cat taxes). We've got the taco truck in our living room right now, and a different Halloween one in the basement. I can't even be sad that they're not super sturdy (at least in a three cat house) because I like to switch them up seasonally.
posted by librarianamy at 7:49 AM on August 20, 2021 [8 favorites]
posted by librarianamy at 7:49 AM on August 20, 2021 [8 favorites]
Your cat may reject any product bought for it.
We run at a rate of about 33% rejection. Any post or tree is an instant hit, after that the odds of rejection escalate. "Why should I use cat furniture when yours is so much more fun"
posted by Ber at 7:51 AM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
We run at a rate of about 33% rejection. Any post or tree is an instant hit, after that the odds of rejection escalate. "Why should I use cat furniture when yours is so much more fun"
posted by Ber at 7:51 AM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
35 quid for that cardboard tank? Fire up the laser cutter, I'm in the wrong business.
Yeah, seriously. I'm pretty sure I've got enough boxes in the basement that I could make a pretty good tank in no time. I know I've got enough to make a fort.
posted by JanetLand at 7:55 AM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
Yeah, seriously. I'm pretty sure I've got enough boxes in the basement that I could make a pretty good tank in no time. I know I've got enough to make a fort.
posted by JanetLand at 7:55 AM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
three furry fools have rejected the cat hammock I purchased for them
Let me guess - the hammock came in a box, and that box is currently filled with cat.
posted by DreamerFi at 7:59 AM on August 20, 2021 [15 favorites]
Let me guess - the hammock came in a box, and that box is currently filled with cat.
posted by DreamerFi at 7:59 AM on August 20, 2021 [15 favorites]
A friend pointed out that the table, with a large vase (instead of a cat) would be good for a nice floral centre piece.
posted by bonobothegreat at 8:03 AM on August 20, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by bonobothegreat at 8:03 AM on August 20, 2021 [2 favorites]
JanetLand - you might find this interesting: Cat Castles: 20 Cardboard Habitats You Can Build Yourself
posted by librarianamy at 8:03 AM on August 20, 2021 [7 favorites]
posted by librarianamy at 8:03 AM on August 20, 2021 [7 favorites]
Cats have only contempt for human effort, and, hey, they’re right to feel that way roughly 75% of the time. Our cat selected the box that the Thai takeout came in for her hangout spot. Still, we buy her stuff.
posted by Don.Kinsayder at 8:06 AM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Don.Kinsayder at 8:06 AM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
When you don’t want to invite your cat to the table, you can use a lid to cover the hole.
Uh, do these people know cats?
I had a cat who knew for sure never to jump on our dining table. (I love cats but there's gotta be limits). He never, ever got on the table. Except one time we were lazy or drunk or both and left some chicken scraps on the table to clean up in the morning. No need, they were very nicely cleaned and polished for us in the morning. Couldn't really blame the cat for that.
posted by Nelson at 8:10 AM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
Uh, do these people know cats?
I had a cat who knew for sure never to jump on our dining table. (I love cats but there's gotta be limits). He never, ever got on the table. Except one time we were lazy or drunk or both and left some chicken scraps on the table to clean up in the morning. No need, they were very nicely cleaned and polished for us in the morning. Couldn't really blame the cat for that.
posted by Nelson at 8:10 AM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
Sorry, also, cardboard crafting is sooo fun! Might have to make a cat castle. Thanks for that book link, librarianamy.
posted by Don.Kinsayder at 8:15 AM on August 20, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by Don.Kinsayder at 8:15 AM on August 20, 2021 [2 favorites]
I have a cat who knows for sure that there will be no consequences for her jumping onto the dining room table, because after removing her from the dining room table for the 8,000th time, we gave up, and now we just serve her cat food at the table at dinner and she eats alongside us and please don't tell my mother
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 8:16 AM on August 20, 2021 [47 favorites]
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 8:16 AM on August 20, 2021 [47 favorites]
Yeah, I've never met a cat who wouldn't take that center-table perch + hole as an open invitation to further make themselves "the center of attention" ON said table.
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:19 AM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:19 AM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
Sadly, our cat rejects almost everything adorable and cat-specific that we buy for her. It has been much easier to give her a people table, a people rug, various boxes, etc and to let her play with various people things than to amuse her with cat stuff.
Right now there is a pile of formerly-clean off-season clothes on a chair in the living room that are cat clothes and will need to be rewashed, probably twice, because they have been her favorite nap spot for the past month. Normally I wouldn't have let her sit on them, but we had to have a vet visit with some needle pokes and I felt very sorry for her so indulged her a little more than I usually would. I know that in a month or so she'll get tired of them and then I'll wash them. But if I bought her a fancy bed - oh, she'd never sleep in that.
posted by Frowner at 8:19 AM on August 20, 2021 [8 favorites]
Right now there is a pile of formerly-clean off-season clothes on a chair in the living room that are cat clothes and will need to be rewashed, probably twice, because they have been her favorite nap spot for the past month. Normally I wouldn't have let her sit on them, but we had to have a vet visit with some needle pokes and I felt very sorry for her so indulged her a little more than I usually would. I know that in a month or so she'll get tired of them and then I'll wash them. But if I bought her a fancy bed - oh, she'd never sleep in that.
posted by Frowner at 8:19 AM on August 20, 2021 [8 favorites]
I have a cat who knows for sure that there will be no consequences for her jumping onto the dining room table, because after removing her from the dining room table for the 8,000th time, we gave up, and now we just serve her cat food at the table at dinner and she eats alongside us and please don't tell my mother
In my house our work schedules were such that we basically never ate at the dining room table, so we actually moved the cat's food up there since she liked sitting on it so much. Now it's one of her primary perches because it gets a lot of sun. During the pandemic, of course, we could eat at the dining room table, but that would have meant moving her stuff and making her sad, so we eat in nearby armchairs with tray tables for anything particularly messy or multi-plate. She usually sits on the table to keep us company.
posted by Frowner at 8:22 AM on August 20, 2021 [27 favorites]
In my house our work schedules were such that we basically never ate at the dining room table, so we actually moved the cat's food up there since she liked sitting on it so much. Now it's one of her primary perches because it gets a lot of sun. During the pandemic, of course, we could eat at the dining room table, but that would have meant moving her stuff and making her sad, so we eat in nearby armchairs with tray tables for anything particularly messy or multi-plate. She usually sits on the table to keep us company.
posted by Frowner at 8:22 AM on August 20, 2021 [27 favorites]
“Frowner is good people.” —some cat, probably.
posted by Don.Kinsayder at 8:24 AM on August 20, 2021 [11 favorites]
posted by Don.Kinsayder at 8:24 AM on August 20, 2021 [11 favorites]
This is neat. I'm not convinced I've met a cat that would go for any of them except possibly the tank. (But, I also get the same thing for free when buying almost anything. I agree they're less cool looking.)
posted by eotvos at 8:26 AM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by eotvos at 8:26 AM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
If that table included a cat that would pop its head out of the hole, I would totally get one. (I do not currently have a cat or a table with a hole in it.)
posted by pangolin party at 8:38 AM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by pangolin party at 8:38 AM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
There is so much cute cat stuff available for purchase right now. I would absolutely go broke if I let myself buy as much as I wanted. My babies need MOAR ENRICHMENT!!!
posted by bleep at 8:43 AM on August 20, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by bleep at 8:43 AM on August 20, 2021 [2 favorites]
That enchanted forest kitty sanctuary is really something, but okay, I have had a flash of insight: build an enchanted forest human sanctuary and the cats will use it. Like, make sure that the platforms are strong enough for humans to sit on them and integrate some kind of weird Victorian conversation chair and I bet the cats would love it.
My feeling is that cats don't like purpose-built cat things because they can tell that humans/other animals don't use them and there isn't any kind of non-cat activity around them, so for instance a sofa with a cat platform (or "catform") attached would be a bigger hit than even the nicest kitty sofa.
posted by Frowner at 8:58 AM on August 20, 2021 [14 favorites]
My feeling is that cats don't like purpose-built cat things because they can tell that humans/other animals don't use them and there isn't any kind of non-cat activity around them, so for instance a sofa with a cat platform (or "catform") attached would be a bigger hit than even the nicest kitty sofa.
posted by Frowner at 8:58 AM on August 20, 2021 [14 favorites]
I had a cat who knew for sure never to jump on our dining table.
One of the funniest things I've ever seen is the expression on my cat's face as it realised it was just about to fall off the edge of the dining room table. It was the same stare of dawning horror Wile E. Coyote gives the camera just before he plummets to the desert floor.
[The cat was fine, of course. Sorted its legs out on landing and strolled off trying to look like it had meant to fall off the table all along.]
posted by Paul Slade at 9:10 AM on August 20, 2021 [7 favorites]
One of the funniest things I've ever seen is the expression on my cat's face as it realised it was just about to fall off the edge of the dining room table. It was the same stare of dawning horror Wile E. Coyote gives the camera just before he plummets to the desert floor.
[The cat was fine, of course. Sorted its legs out on landing and strolled off trying to look like it had meant to fall off the table all along.]
posted by Paul Slade at 9:10 AM on August 20, 2021 [7 favorites]
Because cats are great at following directions and respecting boundaries.
Our cats are already the center of attention during meals. If we bought any of this stuff they'd ignore the fancy items and sleep on the boxes.
posted by kirkaracha at 9:33 AM on August 20, 2021 [2 favorites]
Our cats are already the center of attention during meals. If we bought any of this stuff they'd ignore the fancy items and sleep on the boxes.
posted by kirkaracha at 9:33 AM on August 20, 2021 [2 favorites]
MetaFilter: lazy or drunk or both
posted by kirkaracha at 9:33 AM on August 20, 2021 [7 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 9:33 AM on August 20, 2021 [7 favorites]
After moving, our cats were briefly devoid of furniture because it took three weeks for incompetent movers to disgorge our stuff. I have now bought my cats a small cardboard yacht, pirate ship, whale, and also a four-leveled cardboard tower upon which to climb, not to mention a small army of houseplants I am growing up for them to chew upon. The cardboard stuff is actually getting significant use, especially if I go in there and play with a wand toy and run the lure into the little hidey holes.
Mostly they are just mad to be confined to a single room, which happened because when I temporarily locked them into a bathroom upon move-in two of them pried open a panel in the wall and went exploring. I only noticed when my new duplex's neighbors left a baffled note on the door asking whether we perhaps had a small light-colored cat, because one had fallen from their ceiling, and they would like us to know if so that our cat was safe...?
Anyway, they're staying in a particular room until the pica risk can be safely mitigated for the one who gets destructive.
My feeling is that cats don't like purpose-built cat things because they can tell that humans/other animals don't use them and there isn't any kind of non-cat activity around them, so for instance a sofa with a cat platform (or "catform") attached would be a bigger hit than even the nicest kitty sofa.
Bingo. They were big mad to be locked in a room that did not have any humans in it for attention or lap-sitting purposes. Moving the new cat furniture to corners near the couch that humans sit on always vastly increases cat use of them. Cats are social, and all of mine prefer specific human company to the company of other cats. Even if they're not touching a human, they usually want to be next to one so they can see what's going on and what folks are doing.
posted by sciatrix at 9:43 AM on August 20, 2021 [16 favorites]
Mostly they are just mad to be confined to a single room, which happened because when I temporarily locked them into a bathroom upon move-in two of them pried open a panel in the wall and went exploring. I only noticed when my new duplex's neighbors left a baffled note on the door asking whether we perhaps had a small light-colored cat, because one had fallen from their ceiling, and they would like us to know if so that our cat was safe...?
Anyway, they're staying in a particular room until the pica risk can be safely mitigated for the one who gets destructive.
My feeling is that cats don't like purpose-built cat things because they can tell that humans/other animals don't use them and there isn't any kind of non-cat activity around them, so for instance a sofa with a cat platform (or "catform") attached would be a bigger hit than even the nicest kitty sofa.
Bingo. They were big mad to be locked in a room that did not have any humans in it for attention or lap-sitting purposes. Moving the new cat furniture to corners near the couch that humans sit on always vastly increases cat use of them. Cats are social, and all of mine prefer specific human company to the company of other cats. Even if they're not touching a human, they usually want to be next to one so they can see what's going on and what folks are doing.
posted by sciatrix at 9:43 AM on August 20, 2021 [16 favorites]
I built my own. The cats seem to like it well enough.
posted by adamrice at 9:44 AM on August 20, 2021 [17 favorites]
posted by adamrice at 9:44 AM on August 20, 2021 [17 favorites]
Of all the cat stuff we have bought over the years, the only thing they ever took to immediately was the cat couch. But our house is strewn with various empty carboard boxes that are well-used.
posted by briank at 10:42 AM on August 20, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by briank at 10:42 AM on August 20, 2021 [2 favorites]
They were big mad to be locked in a room that did not have any humans in it for attention or lap-sitting purposes.
I never owned a cat, but I once lived with a roommate who did. In my experience, cats prioritize based on:
1. Height
2. Visibility
3. Sunlight / heat
4. (distant fourth) humans
Being locked in an empty north facing room is basically cat hell.
posted by pwnguin at 10:54 AM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
I never owned a cat, but I once lived with a roommate who did. In my experience, cats prioritize based on:
1. Height
2. Visibility
3. Sunlight / heat
4. (distant fourth) humans
Being locked in an empty north facing room is basically cat hell.
posted by pwnguin at 10:54 AM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
One of our three cats actually does sleep on our latest cat tree. She also sleeps on a nice woven vertical cylinder that was intended to be a laundry basket but is now her slumber tower.
Our other two cats sleep on or right next to my wife at night. She loves cats, but at night it is another thing.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:29 AM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
Our other two cats sleep on or right next to my wife at night. She loves cats, but at night it is another thing.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:29 AM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
When you don’t want to invite your cat to the table, you can use a lid to cover the hole.
Yes, that will absolutely stop them.
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 11:59 AM on August 20, 2021 [11 favorites]
Yes, that will absolutely stop them.
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 11:59 AM on August 20, 2021 [11 favorites]
A friend pointed out that the table, with a large vase (instead of a cat) would be good for a nice floral centre piece.
For the cat to eat, of course.
posted by Melismata at 12:11 PM on August 20, 2021 [6 favorites]
For the cat to eat, of course.
posted by Melismata at 12:11 PM on August 20, 2021 [6 favorites]
Cats designed these, period.
posted by firstdaffodils at 12:58 PM on August 20, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by firstdaffodils at 12:58 PM on August 20, 2021 [2 favorites]
In my experience, cats prioritize based on:
Different cats have different priorities, but the peer reviewed science says that cats are as likely to be most motivated by social contact with humans as they are to be most motivated by food. Really nice study design, too.
posted by sciatrix at 1:19 PM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
Different cats have different priorities, but the peer reviewed science says that cats are as likely to be most motivated by social contact with humans as they are to be most motivated by food. Really nice study design, too.
posted by sciatrix at 1:19 PM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
This is a great place to drop a note about the “cat tree” recently purchased by my boyfriend’s housemates.
The cat furniture is *gorgeous*, made from a real tree and reclaimed wine boxes (on brand for the owner’s interests). But the cats will not use it.
I took one look and said “duh, they don’t like it. It’s polished wood, not wrapped in carpet. And each perch is a deep box, not a platform that can be lounged on. Was this designed by anyone who has cats??”
Maybe they’ll acclimate for the sake of getting up high, but I really don’t know how they’ll be comfortable climbing it without being able to dig in their claws.
posted by itesser at 1:47 PM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
The cat furniture is *gorgeous*, made from a real tree and reclaimed wine boxes (on brand for the owner’s interests). But the cats will not use it.
I took one look and said “duh, they don’t like it. It’s polished wood, not wrapped in carpet. And each perch is a deep box, not a platform that can be lounged on. Was this designed by anyone who has cats??”
Maybe they’ll acclimate for the sake of getting up high, but I really don’t know how they’ll be comfortable climbing it without being able to dig in their claws.
posted by itesser at 1:47 PM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
Partner recently cut holes into two cardboard boxes and the beasts were entranced.
For a few days. Now if I move them they explore again, but I suspect it will be time to recycle them once the potential for novelty is exhausted.
posted by zenzenobia at 3:37 PM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
For a few days. Now if I move them they explore again, but I suspect it will be time to recycle them once the potential for novelty is exhausted.
posted by zenzenobia at 3:37 PM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
Title of the post reminded me of my parents' glass-topped kitchen table. The cats would sit underneath and watch our plates. And everyone could see if someone tried to feed the cats under the table.
This design, though? Looks like it would turn mealtimes into whack-a-mole games.
Anybody interested in a round of touch tha fishy?
posted by cheshyre at 3:37 PM on August 20, 2021 [7 favorites]
This design, though? Looks like it would turn mealtimes into whack-a-mole games.
Anybody interested in a round of touch tha fishy?
posted by cheshyre at 3:37 PM on August 20, 2021 [7 favorites]
And since the hole is in the center, you can even eat at the table and your cat will be at a safe distance from your food.
Lmao no
posted by jquinby at 4:51 PM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
Lmao no
posted by jquinby at 4:51 PM on August 20, 2021 [4 favorites]
Starting to worry less about the effect of Covid on society and more about the effect of toxoplasmosis
posted by ejs at 6:36 PM on August 20, 2021 [7 favorites]
posted by ejs at 6:36 PM on August 20, 2021 [7 favorites]
That table is basically Hungry Hungry Hippos inverted.
Sapuraizu
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:40 PM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
Each one is handcrafted by artisans in Japan
Sapuraizu
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:40 PM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
The window bubble pod is yet to be made that could support my big boy. All.the.shattered.glass
posted by soakimbo at 7:18 PM on August 20, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by soakimbo at 7:18 PM on August 20, 2021 [2 favorites]
All.the.shattered.glass
Now put your paws up!
posted by Greg_Ace at 7:22 PM on August 20, 2021 [2 favorites]
Now put your paws up!
posted by Greg_Ace at 7:22 PM on August 20, 2021 [2 favorites]
I think, for me, I bought a fancy cat bed and no one wanted it. Yes, they do like boxes. Then, I ordered a cupboard, which we were supposed to put together, but never did. It leans against the wall. It's now a perch for Kato. That cardboard thing.
I ordered them a new cat bed, you know, the cardboard scratching pads. I've held it back, a day, because I know how much they will like it. I'll get rid of the old one, and put the new one out, and sprinkle it with that dried catnip that they send with it, and stand back and watch them make fools of themselves.
And then comes the night. Miss MoneyPenny will invariably want to come up next to me, and I must pet her. Kato sees that is going on, so he has to join in, and then my hand has to do double duty, and there is always the cold cat nose on my wrist, which I try to avoid, but it happens, and I get annoyed by it, but that's the price to be paid, if one has cats.
Finally, we settle down. Either Miss MoneyPenny has had enough, so she turns away and lies down, or migrates to another chair, or Kato has jumped up to his usual place on the back of the couch. Either way, they both seek to annoy me at the same time, and then leave me.
I can't tell when this happens, I can only feel it when I am doing it and then I am happy and then they are gone. It's lovely and maddening all at once. Until midnight, when Kato wants to talk to me and get petted once again, until he wants to be just out of reach, or lie down on my feet, who knows?
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 8:14 PM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
I ordered them a new cat bed, you know, the cardboard scratching pads. I've held it back, a day, because I know how much they will like it. I'll get rid of the old one, and put the new one out, and sprinkle it with that dried catnip that they send with it, and stand back and watch them make fools of themselves.
And then comes the night. Miss MoneyPenny will invariably want to come up next to me, and I must pet her. Kato sees that is going on, so he has to join in, and then my hand has to do double duty, and there is always the cold cat nose on my wrist, which I try to avoid, but it happens, and I get annoyed by it, but that's the price to be paid, if one has cats.
Finally, we settle down. Either Miss MoneyPenny has had enough, so she turns away and lies down, or migrates to another chair, or Kato has jumped up to his usual place on the back of the couch. Either way, they both seek to annoy me at the same time, and then leave me.
I can't tell when this happens, I can only feel it when I am doing it and then I am happy and then they are gone. It's lovely and maddening all at once. Until midnight, when Kato wants to talk to me and get petted once again, until he wants to be just out of reach, or lie down on my feet, who knows?
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 8:14 PM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
@ostrichson: Imagine you're eating dinner and suddenly: "BONJOUR!"
posted by Wordshore at 11:29 PM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Wordshore at 11:29 PM on August 20, 2021 [1 favorite]
If only I had a cat!
posted by Coaticass at 11:41 PM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by Coaticass at 11:41 PM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
Mostly they are just mad to be confined to a single room, which happened because when I temporarily locked them into a bathroom upon move-in two of them pried open a panel in the wall and went exploring. I only noticed when my new duplex's neighbors left a baffled note on the door asking whether we perhaps had a small light-colored cat, because one had fallen from their ceiling, and they would like us to know if so that our cat was safe...?
posted by sciatrix
This. The ceiling cat moment we've all been dreading.
posted by TrishaU at 2:34 AM on August 21, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by sciatrix
This. The ceiling cat moment we've all been dreading.
posted by TrishaU at 2:34 AM on August 21, 2021 [4 favorites]
Apparently he fell from the ceiling directly in front of their young dog with absolutely no explanation, she lost her goddamn mind and started to bark in confusion and bewilderment, and suddenly they had this totally random cat with weird giant, wobbly eyes that shouted indignantly when he fell on his ass in their house.
Then when we came rushing over in dismay to collect him, we had to admit that there were two cats missing, not one. They asked the name of the other missing cat, and we told them it was Peter, and they asked if he would come to his name, at which point we had to admit that he sincerely believes his name to be Pee. Then we heard a little rustling as we were talking, my new neighbor popped open a ceiling panel, and there was my other wayward cat poking around in the ceiling. He looked at us in horror, realized we were here to take him back to the prison of the bathroom, and tried to flee, but the neighbor nabbed him and we pried him out of the ceiling and carried them both home.
(I was going to come over and introduce myself with cookies, I lamented.)
For cat tax: the one who fell from the ceiling, the one who tried to get away with it, and my only good cat.
posted by sciatrix at 3:38 AM on August 21, 2021 [18 favorites]
Then when we came rushing over in dismay to collect him, we had to admit that there were two cats missing, not one. They asked the name of the other missing cat, and we told them it was Peter, and they asked if he would come to his name, at which point we had to admit that he sincerely believes his name to be Pee. Then we heard a little rustling as we were talking, my new neighbor popped open a ceiling panel, and there was my other wayward cat poking around in the ceiling. He looked at us in horror, realized we were here to take him back to the prison of the bathroom, and tried to flee, but the neighbor nabbed him and we pried him out of the ceiling and carried them both home.
(I was going to come over and introduce myself with cookies, I lamented.)
For cat tax: the one who fell from the ceiling, the one who tried to get away with it, and my only good cat.
posted by sciatrix at 3:38 AM on August 21, 2021 [18 favorites]
Sciatrix, with all love and respect, I must say that those cats look like naughty, ornery cats. Good cat does indeed look good. I love all three, of course.
posted by Don.Kinsayder at 11:00 AM on August 21, 2021 [5 favorites]
posted by Don.Kinsayder at 11:00 AM on August 21, 2021 [5 favorites]
Like, look, I know that my little bastard is missing crucial circuitry on How to Cat, because almost none of these would interest him, but it's the fact that he never sits in cardboard boxes or gets in bags or any of that stuff that hurts the most. I've given him amaaaaazing boxes, and made box houses or things like the tanks or castles, and just...nada. No cute photo opportunities for you, Mom! I scorn your cardboard handiwork!
posted by kitten kaboodle at 11:44 AM on August 21, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by kitten kaboodle at 11:44 AM on August 21, 2021 [1 favorite]
Good cat does indeed look good
Whereas I thought that “good” cat looked as if he was the true instigator of everything, and had sent his furry minions ahead to reconnoitre (and get the blame if they were caught).
At least one of ours didn’t need a table with a hole in the middle, she just took an empty seat, and stuck her head up that way. However, if she was attempting to get food, just a paw would appear and tap around blindly, as she was apparently under the impression that we couldn’t see her.
She was very much a social cat too. While food probably won out over human contact, it was only by a midge. A lap definitely won out over height or sunshine or anything else. And how dare anyone try and concentrate on anything else when she was in the room. (Most of the other cats we had were much more choosey about when and whose lap they deigned to sit on.)
posted by scorbet at 11:50 AM on August 21, 2021 [3 favorites]
Whereas I thought that “good” cat looked as if he was the true instigator of everything, and had sent his furry minions ahead to reconnoitre (and get the blame if they were caught).
At least one of ours didn’t need a table with a hole in the middle, she just took an empty seat, and stuck her head up that way. However, if she was attempting to get food, just a paw would appear and tap around blindly, as she was apparently under the impression that we couldn’t see her.
She was very much a social cat too. While food probably won out over human contact, it was only by a midge. A lap definitely won out over height or sunshine or anything else. And how dare anyone try and concentrate on anything else when she was in the room. (Most of the other cats we had were much more choosey about when and whose lap they deigned to sit on.)
posted by scorbet at 11:50 AM on August 21, 2021 [3 favorites]
Well. I hope the makers of Neko Atsume (previously), which I rediscovered recently and am pleased to say is still full of happy cats, are paying attention to this exciting new development in cat furniture.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 1:53 PM on August 22, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 1:53 PM on August 22, 2021 [2 favorites]
My cousin has one of these, and I covet it. They made it using wood that she provided that had sentimental value to our family.
posted by amarynth at 4:05 PM on August 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by amarynth at 4:05 PM on August 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
Partner recently cut holes into two cardboard boxes and the beasts were entranced.
For a few days. Now if I move them they explore again, but I suspect it will be time to recycle them once the potential for novelty is exhausted.
This is almost literally my experience as well–with my grandkids. It never occurred to me that they were catlike until just now. Thank you!
posted by Bella Donna at 1:31 PM on August 27, 2021 [2 favorites]
For a few days. Now if I move them they explore again, but I suspect it will be time to recycle them once the potential for novelty is exhausted.
This is almost literally my experience as well–with my grandkids. It never occurred to me that they were catlike until just now. Thank you!
posted by Bella Donna at 1:31 PM on August 27, 2021 [2 favorites]
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posted by Braeburn at 7:21 AM on August 20, 2021 [8 favorites]