Of Redocarations and Cats

The flu took longer than expected to leave me lucid-minded, and I figured I might as well just start afresh on a new week.

Part of my preparations for the upcoming Chinese New Year included replacing my dish-drying rack with a newer and cleaner model. Figuring I might as well replace it early instead of waiting til CNY proper, I propped up the box in the living room and prepped myself for some dish transferring work.

"Mrowl, Daddy. What's that? Did you get me a new toy?" asked a hopeful Maxie.

"Hahaha. No, baby. This isn't a kitty toy. You have enough of those already! This is for Daddy's kitchen," I replied jauntily.

"Pfft, kitchen! You only use that to make me my dinner anyway," scoffed my kitty while pawing at the box.

"Pfft yourself! I do use it for non-cat related stuff, thankyouverymuch," I said, indignant at her glossing over my own meals. At this point, I had just finished putting away the dishes from my old dish rack, and it was time to unveil my new chrome-plated purchase.

Smells weird...

Is that a new mouse trap?

I assembled the rack without much fanfare and stood back to admire my handiwork. Before throwing out the old though, something caught my eye and put into mind another substitution that could be made in the house.

Remember this box?

Maxie's little shoebox bed was getting a tad worn at the edges. As my old dish rack had a water collection tray that was still clean, I opted to get rid of her box and recycle the collection tray as a new bed instead.

The old dish rack, note the unwashable stains

Et voila! Kitty's new bed!

I opted to keep her bedraggled canvas "recycle" bag around just so she wouldn't freak out by my removing all her beds from the living room.

"Maxie, come check out what Daddy got for you!" I cried. Silence greeted me. Perhaps rashly removing her box wasn't such a smart idea.

In cold sweat, fearful that I had annoyed Ms High-and-Mighty, I looked around for kitty in all her usual hiding spots. Nothing. I called and couldn't hear her collar's bell's ring.

A little nonplussed, I bent to retrieve the box that housed my new dish rack from the floor to put it away.

 

Much to my shock, a disembodied challenge came from within. "En garde, human!"

Meep!

"Maxie, is that you?" I asked, somewhat stupidly. In response, the paw shifted and a bemused face came into view.

"Duh, who else?"

"Were you expecting the fish fairy, Daddy? Honestly, what were you thinking?" she said waspishly.

 

"Seriously, Daddy, I'm trying to play with my new toy here."

I lifted the flap of the box and gave her a sheepish grin. "I thought you were avoiding me cos you were in a huff  cos I substituted your box with a new bed."

"New bed?"

"You WHAT?" she snapped and came bounding out of the box to stare in aghast at her unwilling new procurement.

"I can't believe you did that without asking me!" she complained, before stalking to the bedroom all miffed up.

"It was getting worn down! You need a new bed for the new year anyway!" I objected, desperately trying to score some logic points.

In vain, I watched as she curled herself up under my bed and refused to come out. I decided to leave my angry kitty to sulk by herself and settled down for a read. Soon, somnolence overtook me and before I knew it, I was dreaming of a world where Maxie enjoyed my hugs and random displays of affection.

Alas! All good things come to an end, as I woke from my siesta and walked into the living room, bleary-eyed. A surprising sight greeted me.

"Well, I suppose it would have to do."

Maxie had somehow pushed her new bed to the right and got her recycle bag onto it as further padding.

"B-b-but I thought you didn't like it?" I asked, still in shock.

"It's no box, but I guess it'll have to do. Besides, you might regret getting me this bed some day," came the enigmatic reply before I was dismissed from Her Highness's attention.

I'm still waiting to see what she meant by that, but as you know, nobody can ever tell what a cat will do next!

Couch Potato Laundry Guardian

Ola, readers! I apologise for the absence, but I figured taking a few weeks off might help jolt my writer's senses back on again. I'll start modestly and we'll see where this goes, alright? :) Thank you for your support!

The gf left for home a few weeks back, and there was a noticeable lack of presence at home. Kitty and I trudged along our days and things slowly returned to our old routine. I was pretty sure that Maxie was also caught in the funk of missing Fiona, as she didn't see fit to do anything out of the ordinary (other than sleeping in the bed more, anyway).

Things finally perked up after I lazily dumped my laundry on the couch and promptly forgot all about it. It took her a few days, but Maxie finally caught on to the fact that...THERE WAS LAUNDRY IN THE OPEN!

I had gotten used to her curling up on her side of the bed while catnapping, so I was a little discomfited to find her not in the bedroom one day. I called and called, and searched. I peered behind the curtains, nope, I looked under the bed, nuh-uh, I checked the closet, nada. Hmmmz.

Pondering this mysterious kitty's disappearance, I walked into the living room and was about to sit on the couch (with laundry) when I heard a meow of protest.

"Please watch where you're sitting, human!"

"MEOW! Hey, watch it buster!" a disembodied protest came from behind me.

"Maxie! What are you doing here?" I asked, somewhat stupidly.

"Duh! I'm lounging on this sofa. What does it look like I'm doing?" came the credible Garfield imitation. To her credit, I did sound a tad Jon-like (for non-fellow Garfield fans, Jon is Garfield's air-headed "owner').

"Well, scoot on over a sec. Daddy needs a seat," I requested.

Grumbling, kitty did as she was told.

"Fine, you can have a seat."

I settled myself next to my little furball, and absently began to stroke her. Disgusted, she stood up haughtily and stalked to the other end of the couch.

"Sheesh, some people. You give them an inch and they take a mile," I could hear her mumble.

No touchy!

"Bah, fine! Don't let me pet you then! See if I care!" I muttered hotly. Kitty then dosed nonchalantly. As expected, I was the one who gave in first and off I went over to her side to give her some noogies.

Maxie immediately turned around to face me, annoyance clearly displayed.

"Which part of no touchy did you NOT understand?"

"Leave me alone! I want to sleep!" complained my tsundere cat.

"Alright, fine, I give up. Be that way! I'll just clear up the laundry and be off on my own business," I conceded, put off by her behaviour.

"Huh? What do you mean clear up the laundry?"

"You leave my bed alone, you bossy human you!" ordered Maxie imperiously. "These are mine! All mine!"

Then, akin to a dragon hoarding its gold, Maxie did an impressive impersonation of Smaug from The Hobbit, which we had watched on the DVD previously.

"These are my gold! My gold! Err..I mean clothes."

In frustration, I raised my hands in defeat and beat a strategic retreat to my bedroom, seeking the comfort of the internet as a balm for my recalcitrant furkid.

Kitty Logic

I'm afraid this will be a short-ish post, as inspiration seems to be a elusive thing to be captured of late.

I stepped out of the bathroom one day to this, and decided to watch quietly as the drama unfolded:

Being given a talking-to

"Maxie, why won't you let jiejie (elder sister) pet you? Jiejie really wants to love you, but you won't even let me touch you. Haven't I given you enough anchovies to warrant some love?" complained Fiona.

"Meow?" came the inquiring reply as Fiona's finger waved entrancingly in front of kitty.

"Yeah, jiejie really likes you. Let jiejie pet, please?" begged the missus.

Hmmm...looks promising?

"Meow, anchovies...." crooned my princess, as she sniffed Fiona's finger, remnants of the scent of the anchovy treat/bribe offered moments ago clinging to it.

"Yes! Come, let jiejie sayang (love) you," squealed Fiona excitedly as she reached out to give a tentative pet.

'nuff said...

Maxie performed the "shrinking cat" routine; ducking her head lower and lower away from Fiona's outstretched finger (yes, just the one!). With head tilting at an angle to keep an eye on the offending limb, chin touching the bottom of the pad and the finger right on the verge of giving that loving stroke, kitty displayed a feat of agility and disappeared from her perch in a blink of an eye, staring up imperiously (yes, it's possible if you're a cat) from the floor.

"Why are you trying to touch me, hooman?" she demanded.

"Why won't you let me touch you?" cried Fiona, clearly irked. She stood up in a huff and stalked out of the room. Kitty stood at the doorway watching her with beady eyes of satisfaction before hopping back on her perch.

I exited the bathroom fully and seated myself upon the missus's vacated chair.

"Maxie," I began.

"Meow?"

"You're a very mean kitty," I chastened her.

"I know right?" she chirruped brightly.

"Can't you not be so mean to Fiona-jiejie?" I demanded.

"Uhm....nope?" she responded, somewhat cattily.

"Whyever not?" I asked, incredulous.

"Cos that would just make her worship me more!"

I was left speechless at this exchange.

"Fine, I'll ask Fiona-jiejie to stop giving you treats then," I finally replied, getting up.

"Huh? Why?" Maxie asked, bemused.

"You know why!"

No more treats? Egad!

It's been Day Two, she still hasn't repented. We shall see...

On that note, it's been a fun 2014, happy new year, dear readers!

One-upman(cat?)ship

I know I'm a little overdue, but inspiration not only didn't come a-calling, it packed its bags from its previous visit and left me with nothing. Thankfully, it did a fly-by today and I reckon I can get some writing done.

If you recall from last week, Maxie was sulking because we called her a busybody. Well, she is, but the princess wouldn't admit it. So, to get her out of her sulk, her magic feathery wand came out from storage.

"Maxie, come play," I called.

"Hmmph!" she responded, not looking. Of course, that didn't last long... 

Look what I've got, kitty.

 

You know you want it

Following some waving, Maxie finally caved in and stop resisting. Below are some pics of her camwhoring. ;-)

I doubt if Maxie could resist her wand for long. It's the cure all for her kitty sulks and listlessness. Hehehe.

Once we got her out of her slump, she started showing an interest again in the world around her. From a "go away I don't want to talk to you" cat, she became a "Ooh, what's that? And that? Or this? Ooooh birds!"

"Ooh, birds!"

Kitty finally got around to staking her claim on her domain again. Especially since Fiona was staying the week...new toys and new things to own!

"All your stuff are belong to me!" she meowed at the gf.

"Your bag is mine"

"Your clothes are also mine"

"This bag is mine!"

"Er, Little Miss Kitty, you do know that that's Daddy's bag right?"

"What do you mean that's daddy's? Uh oh!"

Feigning exasperation, I took my bag away from her and Maxie scuttled off to the bedroom in embarrassment. I'm sure if cats could blush, she'd look like a tiger.

While I was gone during the day for lab work, Fiona decided to embark upon another cleaning project. Now, as my readers might recall, the last time the gf did this, a certain kitty's favourite resting places got well cleaned of cat fur. This time, the wily cat was ready for it!

"You leave my stuff alone!"

Note the "The Rock"-ish stare. If you smeelllllll-ell-ell-ell, what the cat is cooking?

Fiona wisely declined to challenge the princess. However, the joke's on Maxie as her daddy decided to wash her canvas bag bed anyway. Affronted and clearly blaming the newcomer, Maxie decided to administer some payback.

"I'm just going to give you a quick tug"

"Gotcha!"

"Maxie, what are you doing?" I cried, espying the naughty kitty in mischief.

Startled, my scaredy cat made a beeline to kitty haven and did her best to be innocuous.

"I didn't do it. I'm cute, pet me!"

I resolved to keep a close eye on my misbehaving kitty, but thankfully the two females in my household had agreed to a mutually satisfactory relationship: Fiona gives treats and offers pettings, Maxie pretends not to enjoy the attention but secretly craves it.

Kitty Bribery

Whoopsies, missed a day as I had an extended weekend :X

Anyway, since this is my "Monday" *snickers*, I'm not "really" late now, am I? ^^

I've had a bit of an emotional upheaval in my life, and to cut the long story short, I seem to have acquired a new lady friend with whom I could share the nitty gritty of my daily grind with! Blessed be!

So, when Fiona got the chance to have a layover, she had to brave the gauntlet that was Maxie.

Surprisingly, kitty didn't run scampering into her safety cave when we greeted her. In fact, she was downright nonchalant about the whole thing. I suspect that Maxie was getting bored with the constant parade of new people entering and leaving my house, hehehehe.

Can you spot Maxie trying to burrow into the bag?

I officially introduced Fiona to Maxie...using the correct and government-approved method of bribery!

Let's play a game together!

Caught between wanting to play and wanting to run away, Maxie did a weird combination of "bat the toy playfully and back off before running forward to beat the crap out of the toy again". I wonder if I've been watching too many army flicks that Maxie has learnt how to fight a delaying rearguard action. Hmm....

Anyway, we left her alone to get settled down, and Maxie broke all the house rules I ever taught her when she sniffed something that most girls like...

Oooh flowers!

They smell so good!!!

So pretty....

So tasty....

Wait, what? I was willing to forgive her jumping up on the dining table (a HUGE no no) in the interests of keeping the peace...but no flower munching allowed! I quickly shooed her off the table, but all night long she'd shoot longing glances at the bouquet. Silly kitty.

As a further bribe, Fiona actually brought a gift for Maxie, a nice luxurious, fluffy, soft bed! Without further ado, I spread it out for Her Highness....

"It's too thick, I don't like it!"

"Maxie! I thought I taught you better manners than that!" I admonished her in embarassment. She eyed me steadily without responding, subtly practicing her mind control powers.

"Ah...that's better!"

Not too shabby!

Yeah, well, I seem to have a really fussy cat. I think I've made her into a monster with my pampering. Oh well.

The days went by quickly, and it was astonishing to me to see how quickly Maxie accepted Fiona's addition to the household. Not 24 hours after their first meeting, Maxie was treating Fiona to the same "Go away, I don't want to see you and I don't want you to hug me" treatment that she subjects me to daily.

Kitty wasn't running away to hide when this new person approached her, rather, she would wait til she was closer, then stalk off haughtily with tail in the air, as if to say, "I only let you THINK you could pet me, human!"

It wasn't long before a show-down happened between the two females...Fiona decided to clean Maxie's stuff!

"What are you doing? How dare you? I'm going to tell my daddy!"

After divesting Maxie's favourite beds of their abundant cat fur, the cat was allowed to inspect her belongings.

"Omg, what have you done?

"This doesn't smell like me anymore!"

"Waaaaaa, you even cleaned my box!!!"

"I am going to kill you," Maxie swore, in silent revenge.

"I'll accept your peace offering, but less you forget my superiority, here's my evil look so you'll always remember."

All was well with the administration of kitty treats...and we soon bade Fiona goodbye. Maxie happily reclaimed the house as her unassailable castle. However, this morning she did ask me, "Daddy, when are you bringing back my other slave? She gives me treats often, unlike you. You're stingy!"

Well, I guess someone approves of Fiona...even if it was MY treats that she was fed with! -_-"