Tic Tac and Target having a whap fest. Photos: Ellen Whyte
Tic Tac is strikingly feminine. With her gorgeous blue slanting eyes and snow-white fur, she is a feline supermodel.
It’s not just the Disney looks that make her special. After years of rooming with boy cats, living with a girl cat is different.
While Target and Inkie are very clean – they wash efficiently – Tic Tac grooms and polishes.
When Tic Tac walks, she holds her head up and trots into the room like a model on a runway. The boys stroll and swagger.
Target and Inkie have throaty meows. Tic Tac has a kitten-style meep.
All three cats have a sense of territory, and they all use the same ways to define it, but there are gender differences in how they defend it.
Back in the day when Target went for walks, he beat up any male cat who tried to invade. When Inkie roamed the roof back in Malaysia, he fought with neighbouring kitties too.
Tic Tac’s go-to style is subtlety.
In our home, Tic Tac claims the grey wing chair and the second bookshelf in my office as her personal property.
Tic Tac acts sweet but she's a warrior princess.
As cats have scent glands on their cheeks and paws, she rubs her face over the fabric of the chair and on the corner of the shelf. She also kneads, using her paws to spread her scent. To double up on the message, she sprinkles her possessions with white fur.
It works because Inkie and Target both sniff, especially at the pretty red rug we gifted Tic Tac with to make her office shelf more comfortable, but they sit elsewhere.
Inkie has a claim on the black wing chair and Target has snagged the pillow I use, but the rest of the house is mutual territory. Unusually, they even share food bowls, litter trays, and water bowls.
Prime location such as the cat trees, windowsills, and sunny spots can’t fit them all at once but our sensible furries took a leaf out of the American Mafia rulebook to help manage these domains.
Just as Las Vegas was known as an “open city”, meaning no single crime family could claim exclusive control, our trio have declared these free-for-alls where the early cat gets dibs.
However, like the mafia, the cats don’t always stick to the rules. And in our home, the flashpoint for quarrels is the sofa.
As Britain is cold, we have put down an electric blanket and covered it with a plush throw, covered in a feline print. This combination has turned our sofa into a cosy cat central.
We gather downstairs every evening, humans in their chairs and the cats on the sofa. It is a peaceful scene except for one detail: Target and Inkie are both keen to dominate one corner spot where the electric blanket is at its warmest.
As it is declared "open city" space, their quest for supremacy is mostly the subtle wrangling you see at hotel swimming pools where polite people pretend not to fight over the best loungers.
The cat who gets into the corner spot first lies down with his eyes firmly shut, pretending not to notice the other one glaring with envy. Usually it stops there but sometimes the cats forget themselves.
One of these times was three nights ago.
Inkie had control of the primo space and Target was jealous. The old cat glared and, when that didn’t work, he plonked himself right up against Inkie, hoping to shove the younger cat away.
Inkie adores Target, but being pushed, he reacted instinctively. Inkie grumbled and Target upped the stakes by raising his paw threateningly.
In theory, Inkie has the advantage because he is four years old compared to Target’s 17. Inkie also outweighs Target by a factor of three.
However, Inky is all about the Marquess of Queensberry rules (fighting fair), while our orange is a below-the-belt fighter.
So while Inkie is excellent at whappy paws, his powerful frame helping to deliver strong blows, Target just dives in and bites.
Inkie has been trounced soundly many times over the years, so our big boy usually backs off when our antique orange raises a paw. It’s just not worth the hassle.
Inkie wasn’t happy but, as usual, he took the peaceful option. As the junior cat jumped to the floor, Tic Tac burrowed under the blanket, pretended she was a gopher, and barged into Target. On edge and affronted, he jumped off the sofa too.
Tic Tac emerged and, curious to see what the boys were up to, she joined them. While Inkie climbed sulkily onto his black wing chair, Tic Tac sniffed Target who, still grumpy, raised a paw at her.
Now Tic Tac is a lady but Target should have remembered two things.
First, female cats may be smaller than males, but when necessary, the girls fight like demons. Second, Tic Tac learned her combat skills from a master. It was Target who schooled her when she joined our family, and our princess is a quick learner.
So when Target raised his paw, Tic Tac frowned and raised her paw. When Target flattened his ears, upping the stakes, our girl leaned in and whapped the senior cat smartly on the nose.
Target wasn’t hurt, he’s way too tough for that, but he was thoroughly annoyed. He waved his paw around – and got another whap on the nose.
For the next few moments, the two of them were on their hind legs, whapping away. There was no shouting or swearing, just an intent slap-fest.
Target tried a dirty bite but Tic Tac was ready for him. Ears flat, she dodged and whapped him again.
Tic Tac and Target on their hind legs, whapping away.
It was over as quickly as it started, with Target stalking to the kitchen for a soothing biscuit.
As it was Target who left the field, Tic Tac claimed victory. Our princess preened, filled with pride, and purring with indecent delight.
Then, as Inkie rushed up to congratulate her, she bounced on her toes, bit Inkie on the bum, and raced off. A second later, Inkie was on her tail, chasing her with happy curses.
Tic Tac is our princess, but she proved that even the daintiest paws can hold their own in a showdown with the boys. Tic Tac is queen of the household.
Adopt Me
Chi Chi was born mid-February this year. He is neutered and fully vaccinated.
This young tomcat is the last of the litter; all his siblings have been adopted, so he is alone now.
Photo: SPCA Penang/Lily Leng
Chi Chi is very friendly. He loves to follow you and cuddle. This charming boy is very attractive, and our volunteers love him dearly.
Interested adopters, please contact SPCA Penang, Jalan Jeti Jelutong, 11600 Jelutong, Penang. Phone: 04-281 6559. Website https://spca-penang.net
