With seven clowns...ah...cats....there is a system that has developed over time. The "system" has been subject to change over time because once there were four, then five, then six and finally seven little clowny cats. Still, a system has been necessary with limited space and so many little nutbags....and several of those little furballs require medications. So....the system.
There are four large "playpens"...otherwise known as cages, in the cat room (our back room which also serves as storage for, well, cat food, litter, aluminum foil, paper towels, out of season clothes and seasonal decorations).
Calzini and Imp eat in the "front" one. They also sleep there, they seem to prefer that to having the run of the house all night. Percy eats and sleeps in the one next to them. Missy Tee eats across from Percy. Scruffy used to also, but Little Lord Scruffenfluff now prefers to take his meals on the dining room table, if you please.
Next to Tee and across from Imp and Zini is the fourth cage, where Lupo and Notte eat. Everyone knows where their "place" is which is helpful because Scruff, Imp and Percy require medications on a regular basis and having this systems prevents mix ups.
Missy Tee HAS to go first or she smacks anyone in her way. The others have also learned this and allow her highness to lead the way. Then Percy finds his door and jumps to the little landing that will hold his bowl. Meanwhile, Imp and Zini take their positions in the front cage. Scruff, as I said, has a window view in the dining room, the little stinker.
Well, I spent a few days in the hospital for gallbladder issues and my perfect little system got messed up while I was gone. Someone doesn't seem to have the same organizational skills that I do. Also, after doing this for nearly two years, the routine starts with me calling "Kittens! Gattini! Andiamo!" With that, they all start marching to their designated places. Someone didn't bother to call them, either, so general chaos ensued.
When I returned home and took up my cafeteria duties again, most of the clowns were happy to have order restored. Except Lupo. Lupo was angry with me for disappearing. He would not come near me until the second day I was home. Finally, I went out of my way to hunt him down (curled up in the hammock in Percy's cage) and stroke him until he was ready to forgive me.
Still, he did not want to cooperate at meal time. He would go into Percy's cage, which only has a holder for one bowl and Percy was already chowing down. Or he would jump in with Tee or the front cage, already occupied by TWO cats. Lupie, Lupie....you got some 'splainin' to do! Juggling bowls of food, keeping them straight as to which one belongs to what cat....and Loop has to start playing games.
Luckily, little Lupo (he's only 7 pounds) is like a bean bag, or a puppet. When I pick him up, he just slides...flops...he goes totally limp. One time, when he was behind big fat Percy, I had to reach back into the cage to find Lupo and he limply stretched out like a piece of taffy or yeast dough. He reminded me of that old toy...Stretch Armstrong. Where does this cat end? I have even, once or twice, flopped him over my shoulder, where he just hung until I slid him down again.
I've been home a week now and everyone, including Lupo, has gotten back into the usual groove. Gattini! Andiamo!
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