Inkie and Tic Tac watching a pigeon in the tree. Photo: Ellen Whyte
Inkie and Tic Tac are on the windowsill, spying on a pigeon that’s in the tree outside.
Cats are predators who love to be on top. Inkie and Tic Tac are indoor cats, but they retain their instincts.
Inspired by their pigeon-watching, they hunt each other, climbing the stairs, the dining room table and the back of chairs and dropping down on each other, while meowing the cat equivalent of “Geronimo!”
Cats are predators who hunt mice and birds, but they themselves are attacked by birds of prey such as eagles, hawks and owls and by larger hunters such as wild dogs, coyotes, bobcats and wolves. As cats are short, their enemies attack from above or tower over them.
Our cats see these beasts on television only but their instinct is to be above the danger. When they feel safe, they will roll on the floor and let us tickle their tummies. But aside from that, they believe power lies in height.
When strangers come, their instinct is to go high and hide. They rush up the stairs and crouch behind the curtains or climb into the cupboard and secret themselves behind our T-shirts.
As cats need to feel secure, we build our home around their needs. Our shelves have gaps where an agile kitty can climb to the top without being hampered by books. Our windowsills are clear so that a misplaced paw doesn’t result in a broken pot plant. We also leave our clothes cupboard open so they can be covert cats in comfort.
But the real treasures are the cat trees. Ours run floor to ceiling, are covered in sisal rope for easy climbing and have platforms where a cat can rest.
Inkie is a bit too fat, but he gamely climbs up to the first and second shelf, hauling his 6kg on powerful claws. Tic Tac is light and she has the sleek body of a gymnast. Taking a running jump, she leaps past the first shelf, and shins up to the top, spanking Inkie on the bum as she overtakes him.
The trees are prime for playfighting. Like Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone, Tic Tac climbs high and whaps down with swift rapier claws as Robin Hood, while Inkie battles up offering hefty clouts in return as Sir Guy of Gisbourne. They meow insults too, acting the perfect swashbuckling duellists.
At 17, Target is too old to climb. He stretches his claws on the lower pole and then jumps on the chair, steps on to the dining table and peers out the window.
Target is fascinated by the dogs that walk past, especially bigger ones like Alsatians and Labradors. Our old orange stares and growls with nervous delight, secure in the knowledge that he has a curtain to hid behind should the tame wolves look up and spot him.
Inkie loves the dogs but his current obsession is fixed next door where our neighbours have a lovely garden with fairy lights. At the end of the working day, they sit there chatting.
Our tuxie spy is fascinated but his professionalism falls to pieces when challenged. If they look up and spot him, Inkie puts his ears back in horror. And if they wave, our junior snoop bolts.
Tic Tac is torn between caution, curiosity, and the hope that these people may admire her and perhaps even offer a treat. Our princess peeks out, purring loudly in terror and delight. She ducks behind the curtain if they wave, and then, just as quickly, looks out again.
We love our furries, but there is one spot where they are not allowed to jump up: The worktop with the stove.
As I love to cook, the cats are lured by activity, two windows for dog watching, and their own food bowls.
Inkie adopted the prime windowsill as one of his favourite hangouts because it is ideal for spying.
From there, he can see passing dogs through one window and neighbours out for a walk to the nearby park through the other. If he peeks over his shoulder, he sees directly through the passage past the staircase and the downstairs loo to the front door.
Tic Tac sits with him but she’s more of a hands-on character. If I am at the other counter, prepping food, it frustrates her to snoopervise at arm’s length. Sometimes, her curiosity gets the better of her.
Usually, she jumps up and I scoop her up and return her to the floor. But a few weeks ago, Tic Tac jumped up behind my back. She then scooted aside and put her paw on the stove.
She shrieked in fright, I shrieked in fright and Inkie bolted.
I grabbed Tic Tac and held her paw under the cold tap, hoping to ice it down. Poor girl, she let me do it. But as Inkie and Target came to check on their sister, it occurred to me that I’d switched off the cooker a good 20 minutes earlier.
Carefully putting my hand near it, I was reassured that it was warm not searing. Tic Tac’s paw was fine – although cold and wet. Well deserved discomfort, I scolded her, for breaking the house rule.
To celebrate no harm done, all the cats had treats. But the narrow shave sent the message home: The cats climb every part of the house because ruling the roost is pawsome – if you know where not to step!
Adopt Me
Cinders was born in February and has been with the SPCA Penang since she was just one month old.
Photo: SPCA Penang/Lily Leng
This little lady is fully vaccinated and spayed.
Cinders is very calm and quiet. She loves to nap, hang out and chill.
Interested adopters, please contact SPCA Penang, Jalan Jeti Jelutong, 11600 Jelutong, Penang. Phone: 04-281 6559. Website https://spca-penang.net
