I’ve decided that my little sisters aren’t so bad anymore and playing with them can be quite fun (sometimes) when I’m in the mood. I’ve started to let Millie chase me around the flat, only when I want to though. I know it’s taken a long time but I think I’m starting to like my little sisters. It takes a bit of time for new family members to fully settle in and find their place and remember it. I am the queen and sometimes they forget that and I have to remind them with a quick pat of the paw or bite on the bum, just a gentle nip though.
Peppar is such a sweet big brother but he doesn’t like to run about and play as much as he used to, he will sometimes but really he just likes to eat, sleep and cuddle. So with Millie and Angelin growing up a bit now we can properly be a family with all the ups and downs that go with that. Playing can lead to fighting, washing can lead to fighting and running around can lead to fighting. Mummy says it’s like human families, when children play rough it often ends in tears but it doesn’t mean you don’t all love each other, you just get over excited. Sometimes I win, sometimes I don’t and sometimes I just let them win!
I know to avoid mental Millie time when she runs full steam round the flat yeowling, she has the most energetic zoomies out of all of us. Only having three legs doesn’t make any difference to her, she’s as fast as lightening. Once she’s calmed down then you know you’re not going to get run over and regular playtime can commence. She can be quite a jealous cat and want whatever spot I’ve got or the toy that I’m playing with so every so often I need to make sure that she knows her place and do the same to her. She will often wind me up so as mummy says what comes around goes around. I didn’t want the top spot on the scratching post but Millie had been annoying me so I didn’t want her to have it either. See how she likes being disrupted from her spot.
Cats playing can often look quite harsh but it’s not really, unless the ears go back and the hissing and growling start, then someone’s gone too far. We’re not like that though, we play and run around because it’s fun. Playing teaches us all useful skills and keeps us fit and our minds and bodies in tip top condition. If we were out in the wild (or on the garden or balcony) and needed or wanted to catch something or defend against a predator then the skills we learn playing would be used in earnest. Even when playing were using the same senses, techniques and instincts as we would if we were having to hunt or fight outside. I have no doubt now that having taught her well Angelin can fight her own corner, she’s a real bruiser and just puts her head down and in she charges, like a small furry rhino and I suspect she’s got a reinforced head as she can knock me flying if she gets the chance!
We’ve now all learnt that we can share toys, it can be as enjoyable watching or listening to someone else playing as it is playing yourself. You can learn from what they are (or aren’t) doing and then do better yourself and be the top cat. Then after they’ve had their fun we can swap round and carry on with someone else playing. It’s just as well though that we have a mummy and a daddy as it takes two humans to play with three energetic perfectly imperfect kitties and the odd Peppar too. Our playtime is generally in the evenings whilst mummy and daddy are able to play with us but we do play through the night as well whilst they’re asleep, we try to play quietly but it doesn’t always work.
Then once we’ve had a good play and are all exhausted then it’s off to bed for a wash and a sleep, we have so many choices of where to sleep but recently I’ve been sneaking down from my bed at the back of the sofa and snuggling on mummy’s lap. Then occasionally I’m joined there by Millie who sneaks herself on sometimes followed by Angelin too, poor mummy can’t move but she says she doesn’t mind and sits there and makes sure we all behave ourselves and share her lap fairly. I guess we do all get on and love each other.
I think I have to admit that I quite like snuggling with my sisters, Millie’s fluffy fur is lovely and soft and Angelin has fur that is snuggly and warm and thick. I don’t mind that I’m often the one at the bottom of the pile and it also means that I don’t have to give myself a bath as Angelin just loves to wash me and she gets to all those hard to reach places – she doesn’t even mind washing in my ears – ew.
Maybe having younger sisters isn’t so bad after all. Now I’m not sure why I was so against the idea when they arrived.
Jenny’s Story 