Hi, I’m Christopher! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my silly Russian Blue cat, Olga.
Cats find creative ways to get our attention, but some of their techniques are more cunning than others. Although dogs are more famous for their begging skills than cats, Olga has developed a system that encourages me to feed her earlier than her usual dinner time. It was unnecessary before I worked at home, and over the years, he changed his methods.
Most domestic cats, even loving ones, are quite manipulative. Their instincts influence their behavior, but their intelligence helps them discover new ways to annoy their owners. In the wild, they don’t need to beg or rely on humans for food or entertainment.
They may make a plan to steal a rat carcass from a litter, but most cats, except in feral colonies, are solitary hunters. Feral cats don’t have to be manipulative, but housecats have learned to prey on our emotions.
They haven’t been domesticated as long as dogs, but the recently discovered grave of an 8-month-old cat buried next to its owner in Cyprus suggests that cats have been annoying people for a long time. almost 10,000 years. Like her ancestors, Olga knew how to influence people and was proud of Dale Carnegie.
If he wanted to sit on the windowsill, he would start by grinding his nails into molding wood. Then, he stood on his hind legs and slammed the blinds. If I don’t open the blinds and get him to sit down, he escalates his attack by jamming a foot into the blind and driving it against the wall. If I yell at him or tell him to stop, he backs off for a moment before continuing the mischief.
He knows I have a breaking point, and even if I throw him out the window, he won’t give up until I lower the blinds. His begging work is mild at first, but as his hunger grows, he becomes more impatient and bolder. His normal dinner time is around 5 PM, but gentle begging starts around 2:30. He woke up from his 10th nap of the day, sat near the entrance to my office, and stared at me.
After an hour of ignoring him, he would come over and sit on the windowsill because it was to the left of my computer screen. I can see her glare in my peripheral vision when I’m typing, but I’ve learned to ignore her and avoid eye contact. He’ll grunt and stand up if I return his gaze, and eventually, he’ll get tired of waiting and find another way to get my attention. He will run to the bathroom, jump in the bathtub, and whine.
I don’t think cats are smart enough to understand the principles of acoustics, but Olga knows that her voice gets louder when she screams in the tub. Next, he jumped into the sink and dropped my toothpaste or contact lens case on the floor. I respect her for trying a gentle approach before resorting to violence, and while I don’t like to be manipulated by people, I don’t mind when Olga is deviant.
This article is part of a series by Christopher and Olga.
