With no time to write today, I arranged for Dee Dee to step in with a demonstration on how to extort treats from a muggins.
Establish eye contact.
Execute a perfect dismount.
Look intent.
Stay focussed, even if they aren’t.
Make sure they are still watching.
Don’t let them escape!
Turn your head to remind them:
“Treats are behind that door!”
Emphasise that you are starved.
Lay it on thick.
“Did you get that?”
“Well?”
If they don’t cave:
Make very subtle face moves.
Smile at them.
They are suckers for this.
Action! Now you’ve got them!
“What! Wait!”
“Where are you going?”
.
Sometimes even Dee dee fails.
We made her wait 10 whole minutes.
Ollie brings us his favourite toys to ‘exchange’ for treats. But we worked that out early on, and stick rigidly to his treat times. At least I do, but I suspect my wife caves in when I am not at home. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
Officially there are breakfast time, lunch time and supper time. Then there’s after walk time, after nap time time, “just because” time etc etc. It’s a bit difficult because some of the cats are unable to keep weight on, in spite of thyroid medication, so they need food. But others, like Blackie really do not need any extras and you can try to be sneaky but these are cats, not people. So where I give Toby a handful of kibble, Blackie gets 2 pieces. I have to give everyone else theirs before Blackie because otherwise she gets finished and comes looking for more or steals it from whoever doesn’t resist…. I am by far the more strict!
Such cruelty!
Peter, you’ve no idea what our people put us through just for a roof and a morsel of food. But we struggle on. D
Thank you, Dee – Dee, for the beautiful post, clever girl!
Joanna
You are a hateful wicked ailurophobe who should be reported to the authorities.
You demonstrate excellent photographic and narrative skills. But that is no excuse for such blatant cruelty.
I love this blog. I come here to read about kindness and goodness and always enjoy the great photos. Thank you Carolyn.
Dee Dee, you are one very determined cat (sorry, I mean lady) 😁. What? 10 minutes – inexcusable!! Let me know when you want to call a house meeting about time lapse between treats … I’ll act as your witness!
She has Grant all stitched up. He is her person and woe betide any cat who attempts to gain his attention. She’s really funny because her moves are so obvious. And she sits on that perch half her waking hours, making eyes at anyone who comes past. If a stranger comes in she immediately introduces herself. “Hi! I’m Dee Dee. You got any food?”
It’s official … Dee Dee is the cat version of our Juliet dog 😁.