Cat Chronicles: No Harry! Not now!

Flailing Cat-Cam

Starting Week Three.

In addition to adjusting to the constant lack of sleep, I've had to adjust to cat playtime. Those of you with dogs know that you are invited to play. Panting, whining, scratching, getting a ball roughly shoved into your leg or crotch are all ways you are asked to play. 

A cat's invitation to play is as subtle as a drive by shooting. In most cases I don't know we are playing until we are deep into the heat of battle. This week there is a strong similarity to Cato in the Pink Panther Movies and my charge Harry. As you can easily guess that makes me Clouseau and I am feeling more and more of that bad french accent creeping through. Just like the Pather movie's Cato, Harry will lunge out of a dark corner on high attack mode while I bumble through an attack counter move. My darling Harry launches himself on me, ears back, both feet forward diving into some unprotected body part. After swearing I end up realizing "Oh, right, we're playing". 

I will be trying to price some jewelry for an upcoming show only to have him abruptly dive into a nearby ziplock bag and delightedly seize a pearled laden strand to bite. Only a quick kick of the floor pillow makes him distracted enough for me to snatch the necklace back unshredded. "Harry Nooooo!" has become such a repetitive phrase I suspect he thinks this IS his name.

He also like to steal whatever I have touched last, sport watch, elastic hair bands, earrings are all targets. I discovered my iPhone is too heavy for him to make off with but was fascinated to see him try and work it off the coffee table grabbing at it with his front claws while standing on his back legs. Shane nudged me out of my stupor saying "Um, is that a good idea to let him do that?" 

At night the play is more dramatic because I am usually unconscious when Harry has thought I am wanting to play. Apparently rolling over is secret signal for "dive onto me from the highest furniture across the room." 

In order to prolong all our lives, Harry has been officially banned from the bedroom at night. I suspect that he will pay attention to this as much as Clouseau's Cato did his admonishments "No Cato! Not now!" Harry noooooooo!