Tit For Tat Pussy Cat

So Leo got on Star's laundry basket, even if it was to explore where the bag went. Then Star got up on Leo's special high cabinet spot. And every since that, they've been stealing each other's spots back and forth! Tit for tat, every time you turn around!

One of Star's spots, and I have to say 'one' because she has multiple spots depending on the time of day, temperature, sunshine and her many moods, one of her spots is the back of the recliner. This chair has become a catch all rather than a place to sit.. but she loves sleeping on the back of it. If her daddy happens to put his jeans there, all the better.

Her basket was in The Chair, what we used to call the blue chair when she used it as her throne. Not so much any more. The Chair and the recliner are separated by the video cabinet and on top of the video cabinet are all kinds of electronics, behind them, of course, is a rats next of cords. She is NOT allowed to walk behind the electronics to get from one chair to the other, which means that she does it all the time.

Leo had decided to steal the back of the recliner spot since she had his high cabinet spot and he settled in for a nap. Star, true to herself, changed spots a few times during Leo's nap. One of her moves was to the laundry basket, sans bag which is now on the floor. Oh, but with quilt indented to make a cozy bed created just for her by her daddy.. who claims he does NOT spoil her. Right.

This spot apparently didn't meet her standards of the moment so, before I knew what she was doing or I'd have warned her off or called her to me to prevent what happened next, she took her 'short cut' behind the electronics to the recliner.

Where, if you'll remember, Leo was sleeping.

This was not a happy meeting. (understatement!)

Star hissed, Leo high pitched whine/grumbled. But, and this is an important 'but', there were NO smacky paws! The funny thing is, both were afraid to move first. They sat there, less than a foot apart, trying to decide what to do next.

(this is the only picture I got of the incident, and it's awful and dark but darn it, it's recorded for posterity!)

Leo: Help...

Star: This is unacceptable!

Notice that Leo is sliding back, his butt is about to fall off the side. Star has her butt on the cabinet and her front on the recliner. Can you read the look in her eyes?

I sweet talked them, trying to get one of them to come to me or get down. I've found that if I flip out or yell, Star takes this as "I'm in trouble anyway, I may as well kill him." I'm learning!

Star finally decided to come over the back of the chair, down to the arm and then come to me for scritches and reassurances. I was glad to give them. Leo looked relieved, and when he was convinced Star wasn't coming back, he finally went back to sleep, not having to give up his perloined spot.

Within days of that incident, Star was sleeping on the high cabinet spot. Leo came over and laid down by my feet on the bed, one of his favorite spots. He was curled up to nap when Star woke up and came down the cat tree, landing on the bed a foot from Leo! The same thing happened. Star hissed, Leo did his warning whine/growl thing (one day I'm going to have to record it, it's really strange!)

I was afraid that my legs would be shreded in their brawl! But again, nothing, just the noises. I sweet talked them again, trying to get at least one of them to move without attacking the other. It worked again! Star, who'd wanted down anyway, came up to me, barely got a pet, then jumped off the bed and went on her way.

There are other spots that used to belong to one of them or the other. I've seen them both in all of them. It's like they're both doing their best to get there fur on every good sleeping spot! Silly buggers..

I hope this no smacky paws thing continues though! Fingers crossed!