Tue 8 Apr 2008

What is a Good Cat?

Posted in This, that and the other at 6:25


“Never try to out-stubborn a cat.”
    – Robert A. Heinlein (1907-1988), “The Notebooks of Lazarus Long”

Lizzie tries to help Kelly have a moving experience.

We humans, well-trained by our Good Cats, have already learned this lesson.  But what happens when one cat tries to out-stubborn another cat?  Possibly the closest thing on Earth to the proverbial situation of “unstoppable force meets immovable object.”

   Despite challenges from the younger cat Nicky, Kelly is still the top cat in this household.  The 2 lady cats here rarely challenge him, but Lizzie gave it her best effort one afternoon.  She found Kelly lying in her favorite spot under the dining room table, and as Pat watched, Lizzie pounced on him again and again to try to make him move.

   The big guy complained loudly, but he would not budge, and eventually Lizzie gave up and lay down next to him.  Kelly had gotten his way once more, but judging from his discomfort this time, we have to wonder whether he thought it was worth it.

The secret to perpetual motion hasn’t yet been uncovered, but this might be close.  Indeed, harnessing the power supplied by cats and slices of buttered toast might provide energy for the world.  (Even though it doesn’t sound like a picnic for the cats.)

Sometimes a cat needs to know that the only way to win some fights is to avoid them.  Perhaps we should read them Shel Silverstein’s composition The Winner.

5 Comments

  1. The Meezers said,

    Tue 8 Apr 2008 at 7:59

    we could never out stubborn grampa norton either. he was a very gentle cat, but he was always alpha cat. the whole house revolved around him. Billy is driving us bof crazy trying to be alpha cat now.

  2. Tybalt said,

    Tue 8 Apr 2008 at 9:34

    There can only be one alpha! Luckily my sisters didn’t put up too much of a fight when I decided I had to be top kitty, even though I was a tiny kitten and they could have squashed me like a bug if they had wanted to.

  3. Daisy said,

    Tue 8 Apr 2008 at 12:06

    Almost anything will make me run away from where I am sitting! That cartoon is really funny.

  4. Mickey said,

    Tue 8 Apr 2008 at 20:57

    I guess Kelly has to lay there a decent while before leaving so as not
    to lose face! Heeheehee :)

  5. Boy said,

    Tue 8 Apr 2008 at 21:27

    That Thing has wearnt a thing or two about this wesson too.