Cat rules in our house

[Andrea]

Our lives have been blessed with cats. We never made the decision to have cats. The universe placed our 11 cats with us. Yes, I said 11 cats. However, most are outside, feral or semi-feral, so only the cats know we belong to them.

So now to the reason for this thread: I am always amazed at the number of cat rules in our household. Some are actually for the cats, such as no cats allowed higher than the seat of the chair when in the kitchen. But most are for the humans care givers.

1) If we are both sitting down and one has a cat on their lap, the other must do the getting up to get the drink of water, etc.

2) If both are sitting down and both have a cat on their lap, the one moving the cat must do everything possible to not disturb the cat and the one remaining in place must take the moved cat.

3) If a cat is on the bed when it is time to retire, the cat must not be disturbed when climbing under the sheets.

4) Should a cat be snuggling when it is time to get up from bed, the cat must not be disturbed. Human must take an alternate way out of the bed, even if it means exiting on the opposite side or squeezing up against the headboard.

5) If a cat wishes to play, the human must stop and play.

6) If a cat wishes to receive a treat, the human must stop and give the cat a treat.

7) If a cat wishes to go outside, or inside, the human must stop and open the door.

8) If a cat wishes to be pet, the human must stop and pet the cat.

9) At no time should the bottom of the food bowl show.

10) Cats enter first when the door is opened.

Those are some of the cat rules in our home. What are your cat rules?

[1QuirkyKiwi]

Originally Posted by Andrea

Our lives have been blessed with cats. We never made the decision to have cats. The universe placed our 11 cats with us. Yes, I said 11 cats. However, most are outside, feral or semi-feral, so only the cats know we belong to them.

So now to the reason for this thread: I am always amazed at the number of cat rules in our household. Some are actually for the cats, such as no cats allowed higher than the seat of the chair when in the kitchen. But most are for the humans care givers.

1) If we are both sitting down and one has a cat on their lap, the other must do the getting up to get the drink of water, etc.

2) If both are sitting down and both have a cat on their lap, the one moving the cat must do everything possible to not disturb the cat and the one remaining in place must take the moved cat.

3) If a cat is on the bed when it is time to retire, the cat must not be disturbed when climbing under the sheets.

4) Should a cat be snuggling when it is time to get up from bed, the cat must not be disturbed. Human must take an alternate way out of the bed, even if it means exiting on the opposite side or squeezing up against the headboard.

5) If a cat wishes to play, the human must stop and play.

6) If a cat wishes to receive a treat, the human must stop and give the cat a treat.

7) If a cat wishes to go outside, or inside, the human must stop and open the door.

8) If a cat wishes to be pet, the human must stop and pet the cat.

9) At no time should the bottom of the food bowl show.

10) Cats enter first when the door is opened.

Those are some of the cat rules in our home. What are your cat rules?

You've pretty much summed up 'The Cat Rules' for me, as well, lol! I'd like to add a few that my tribe of 5 do and the foster furbabies also learn:

Tell human parent off for going out without their permission.

Tell human parent when they get home that they have been out far too long and immediate love and affection is to be given for forgiveness.

Everything that comes into their home must be inspected first and scent marked!

[Andrea]

Originally Posted by 1QuirkyKiwi

You've pretty much summed up 'The Cat Rules' for me, as well, lol! I'd like to add a few that my tribe of 5 do and the foster furbabies also learn:

Tell human parent off for going out without their permission.

Tell human parent when they get home that they have been out far too long and immediate love and affection is to be given for forgiveness.

Everything that comes into their home must be inspected first and scent marked!

YES!!! Sounds familiar.

[deedarino]

If you leave, *I* have the right to anything I want:

• Your bed is my domain
• Anything left on counter is mine
• I will touch every surface previously off limits

[1QuirkyKiwi]

I cannot go to the bathroom without 5 or more escorts; this is in case I fall down the plug hole or get flushed away (highly unlikely I’ll fit, but….), who will feed them? LOL!

Life Rules for Cats:

Fashion: For lap-sitting or rubbing against trousers, always select a fabric color which goes well with your fur. For example, white-furred cats should go to black wool clothing. The contrast is stunning.

Guests: Quickly determine which guest hates cats the most. Sit on that lap. If you can arrange to have Friskies Fish 'n Glop on your breath, so much the better. For a guest who exclaims, "I love kitties", be ready with aloof disdain.

Doors: Do not allow closed doors in any room. To get a door opened, stand on your hind legs and hammer with your forepaws. Once the door is opened, it is not necessary to use it. After you have ordered an outside door opened, stand halfway in and halfway out and think about sugar plums. This is particularly important during very cold weather, rain, and snow.

Chairs and Rugs: If you have to throw up, get into a chair quickly. If you cannot manage in time, get to an Oriental carpet. If there is no Oriental carpet, a throw rug will have to do.

Winter's Evening: If one of your humans is sewing or writing, and another one is idle, get irritatingly close to the busy one in case they need any help. When your human is reading, get in close under the chin, between the eyes and the book, unless you can lie across the book itself.

Dinner: When supervising cooking, sit just behind the left heel of the cook. You cannot be seen and thereby stand a better chance of being tromped, then picked up and consoled.

Wrapping Packages: Birthdays and parties are a time of great joy in giving. When your human is wrapping the party gifts, jump up onto the table and lie down on the paper. Wrinkle it personally so that it reflects your taste. Get the tape stuck in your hair at every possible chance, and decorate your body with festive self-stick bows,and then complain about them.

More Guests: Always accompany guests to the bathroom. It is not necessary to do anything, just sit and stare. If you get locked outside the door, sit and yowl and draw attention to the guest who is indisposed.

Tables: When walking over china on the table, be prepared to look surprised and hurt when scolded. The idea is to convey: "But you allow me on the table when company is NOT here."

News: No news is good news, therefore you are responsible for sitting squarely on the spot of newspaper which your human is reading.

Memory: You've got none. It's always suppertime.

Computers: When your person is working on important stuff on the computer, jump on the desk, step on the keyboard with each paw and especially target the ENTER key. Then relax on the top of the monitor with your tail hanging down across the screen twitching periodically.

Laundry: Always lie on clean laundry, wherever it is. If the bed feels good, it feels even better if there's laundry on it. If a human is folding laundry on the table, be sure to supervise by climbing on the piles. Choose the tallest pile (preferably the teenager's or husband's clothing), and take a nap. You will be very tired from all of that supervising.

Studying: When your person is studying or doing homework, attack the writing utensil they are using. When you catch it, attempt to remove it from the person's hand by batting at it and chewing on the end. If the person lays it down, bat it around until you knock it off the desk and under some piece of heavy furniture.

Thou Shalt Not: Thou shalt not have other cats before me. I am the ONE and only cat thou shalt revere. If you possesseth another cat, I shall sulk in the closet, even AFTER it is departed, for at least a fortnight. Just so that you understandeth the consequences of your sacrilege.

Harmonics: The best time to practice expanding one's vocal range and power, is between 1 o'clock and 3 o'clock in the morning. When performing for your human, wait until they are rested (eyes shut, possibly slight snoring..), stand beside their right shoulder then go for it!

Ownership: When DOG is relaxing with YOUR human, lure the dog away with your supreme cleverness (tail-wagging in the dog's face, that is, or loud meows, etc) until the dog gets down to chase you. Then, quickly jump up beside YOUR human, taking the place of the dumb dog

Litterbox: Try to hold it until your owner finishes cleaning out the litter box. Then use it. And of course, modesty dictates that you get out of there as quickly as possible. Don't wait to cover anything up.

Hunting: Never kill anything (rats and mice especially) until you have brought it in the house, showed your human, and then just to remind them how much they need you, let it go and pretend to have lost interest in it while it runs around the house.

Water: Tastes BEST when it does not come from the bowl. See for yourself! Try dunking your paws in the bowl and then shaking them quickly. Immediately after, lick your paws because being wet is NOT comfortable.
Water is especially delicious when it comes from any sink, shower, puddle, or glass that your owner has forgotten. Also, when you want to get a REAL reaction from your owner, dunk some soft, absorbent toys in the water bowl and then drag them onto any carpet.

Breakfast: You will not be fed unless your owner is awake and out of bed.
Start by jumping into your owner's bed between 4:30 and 5:30 a.m. and pace on his or her pillow. Get comfortable, next to his or her head, and bump their face with your cold nose. When you hear annoyed moans, begin tapping his or her face with your paw- don' t use your claws. If your owner is REALLY SLOW in arising, lightly pull some hair with your teeth. Repeating any combination of these actions will convince your owner that more sleep is futile and they might as well just feed you.

Water Bowl: Never simply drink from a standing water bowl. First place your paw in the bowl and drag in it short bursts through-out the kitchen. This will effectively spill the most of the water onto the kitchen floor. You and your human can enjoy this time together, as you drink what little remains in the bowl and your human joins you on the floor...wiping up the puddles you've created.

Shopping Bags #1 (with handles): As soon as the bag is empty, rush inside, contemplate whatever's on your mind, all the while making crumpling sounds against the paper walls. Then try to exit through the handle. When the bag refuses to let you go, race through the house with the handle stuck around your waist, dragging the bag behind you. Knock down anything that gets in your path. Scream. If anyone tries to help, run away. Eventually the handle will break and you'll be free.

Shopping Bags #2 (with handles): As soon as the bag is empty, rush inside. Do not move. The game here is to let everyone think there's nothing in the bag. When your housemate (human) tries to lift the 'empty' bag you can spring from it and see how they react.

[DapperButch]

<---- Dog Person who wishes hy had a cat for thread purposes

[deedarino]

Originally Posted by 1QuirkyKiwi

I cannot go to the bathroom without 5 or more escorts; this is in case I fall down the plug hole or get flushed away (highly unlikely I’ll fit, but….), who will feed them? LOL!

Life Rules for Cats:

Fashion: For lap-sitting or rubbing against trousers, always select a fabric color which goes well with your fur. For example, white-furred cats should go to black wool clothing. The contrast is stunning.

Guests: Quickly determine which guest hates cats the most. Sit on that lap. If you can arrange to have Friskies Fish 'n Glop on your breath, so much the better. For a guest who exclaims, "I love kitties", be ready with aloof disdain.

Doors: Do not allow closed doors in any room. To get a door opened, stand on your hind legs and hammer with your forepaws. Once the door is opened, it is not necessary to use it. After you have ordered an outside door opened, stand halfway in and halfway out and think about sugar plums. This is particularly important during very cold weather, rain, and snow.

Chairs and Rugs: If you have to throw up, get into a chair quickly. If you cannot manage in time, get to an Oriental carpet. If there is no Oriental carpet, a throw rug will have to do.

Winter's Evening: If one of your humans is sewing or writing, and another one is idle, get irritatingly close to the busy one in case they need any help. When your human is reading, get in close under the chin, between the eyes and the book, unless you can lie across the book itself.

Dinner: When supervising cooking, sit just behind the left heel of the cook. You cannot be seen and thereby stand a better chance of being tromped, then picked up and consoled.

Wrapping Packages: Birthdays and parties are a time of great joy in giving. When your human is wrapping the party gifts, jump up onto the table and lie down on the paper. Wrinkle it personally so that it reflects your taste. Get the tape stuck in your hair at every possible chance, and decorate your body with festive self-stick bows,and then complain about them.

More Guests: Always accompany guests to the bathroom. It is not necessary to do anything, just sit and stare. If you get locked outside the door, sit and yowl and draw attention to the guest who is indisposed.

Tables: When walking over china on the table, be prepared to look surprised and hurt when scolded. The idea is to convey: "But you allow me on the table when company is NOT here."

News: No news is good news, therefore you are responsible for sitting squarely on the spot of newspaper which your human is reading.

Memory: You've got none. It's always suppertime.

Computers: When your person is working on important stuff on the computer, jump on the desk, step on the keyboard with each paw and especially target the ENTER key. Then relax on the top of the monitor with your tail hanging down across the screen twitching periodically.

Laundry: Always lie on clean laundry, wherever it is. If the bed feels good, it feels even better if there's laundry on it. If a human is folding laundry on the table, be sure to supervise by climbing on the piles. Choose the tallest pile (preferably the teenager's or husband's clothing), and take a nap. You will be very tired from all of that supervising.

Studying: When your person is studying or doing homework, attack the writing utensil they are using. When you catch it, attempt to remove it from the person's hand by batting at it and chewing on the end. If the person lays it down, bat it around until you knock it off the desk and under some piece of heavy furniture.

Thou Shalt Not: Thou shalt not have other cats before me. I am the ONE and only cat thou shalt revere. If you possesseth another cat, I shall sulk in the closet, even AFTER it is departed, for at least a fortnight. Just so that you understandeth the consequences of your sacrilege.

Harmonics: The best time to practice expanding one's vocal range and power, is between 1 o'clock and 3 o'clock in the morning. When performing for your human, wait until they are rested (eyes shut, possibly slight snoring..), stand beside their right shoulder then go for it!

Ownership: When DOG is relaxing with YOUR human, lure the dog away with your supreme cleverness (tail-wagging in the dog's face, that is, or loud meows, etc) until the dog gets down to chase you. Then, quickly jump up beside YOUR human, taking the place of the dumb dog

Litterbox: Try to hold it until your owner finishes cleaning out the litter box. Then use it. And of course, modesty dictates that you get out of there as quickly as possible. Don't wait to cover anything up.

Hunting: Never kill anything (rats and mice especially) until you have brought it in the house, showed your human, and then just to remind them how much they need you, let it go and pretend to have lost interest in it while it runs around the house.

Water: Tastes BEST when it does not come from the bowl. See for yourself! Try dunking your paws in the bowl and then shaking them quickly. Immediately after, lick your paws because being wet is NOT comfortable.
Water is especially delicious when it comes from any sink, shower, puddle, or glass that your owner has forgotten. Also, when you want to get a REAL reaction from your owner, dunk some soft, absorbent toys in the water bowl and then drag them onto any carpet.

Breakfast: You will not be fed unless your owner is awake and out of bed.
Start by jumping into your owner's bed between 4:30 and 5:30 a.m. and pace on his or her pillow. Get comfortable, next to his or her head, and bump their face with your cold nose. When you hear annoyed moans, begin tapping his or her face with your paw- don' t use your claws. If your owner is REALLY SLOW in arising, lightly pull some hair with your teeth. Repeating any combination of these actions will convince your owner that more sleep is futile and they might as well just feed you.

Water Bowl: Never simply drink from a standing water bowl. First place your paw in the bowl and drag in it short bursts through-out the kitchen. This will effectively spill the most of the water onto the kitchen floor. You and your human can enjoy this time together, as you drink what little remains in the bowl and your human joins you on the floor...wiping up the puddles you've created.

Shopping Bags #1 (with handles): As soon as the bag is empty, rush inside, contemplate whatever's on your mind, all the while making crumpling sounds against the paper walls. Then try to exit through the handle. When the bag refuses to let you go, race through the house with the handle stuck around your waist, dragging the bag behind you. Knock down anything that gets in your path. Scream. If anyone tries to help, run away. Eventually the handle will break and you'll be free.

Shopping Bags #2 (with handles): As soon as the bag is empty, rush inside. Do not move. The game here is to let everyone think there's nothing in the bag. When your housemate (human) tries to lift the 'empty' bag you can spring from it and see how they react.

<<<wants to hit the THANKS button again...LOL

[1QuirkyKiwi]

Originally Posted by deedarino

<<<wants to hit the THANKS button again...LOL

It should also be called: How to Drive Your Human Parent Crazy! LOL!

[always2late]

The Box Rule: No empty box may be thrown out until thoroughly inspected, jumped on, jumped in, slept in, and used as a home base for the continuous game of "cat tag"

[Andrea]

Originally Posted by deedarino

If you leave, *I* have the right to anything I want:

• Your bed is my domain
• Anything left on counter is mine
• I will touch every surface previously off limits

Not my furbabies..... NOOOO!! Unless that explains the bit of cat hair on the counter.

[Andrea]

1QuirkyKiwi: That is too darn funny. I am still chuckling and wiping tears of laughter from my eyes.

[Andrea]

Originally Posted by DapperButch

<---- Dog Person who wishes hy had a cat for thread purposes

I would invite you to share dog rules but I believe there are any. Dogs are laid back like that.

[Andrea]

Originally Posted by woodstock

The Box Rule: No empty box may be thrown out until thoroughly inspected, jumped on, jumped in, slept in, and used as a home base for the continuous game of "cat tag"

We actually have a large box that has sat in the living room for two years now. One cat tears pieces off and the other two inside cats like to lie inside it. At the moment there are a lot of cat toys spilling out because I throw them all in there when I vacuum.

[Britt]

If a cat is on my bed and it's bothering me, I shove it off.

If a cat is trying to get at my food, I shove it.

If a cat is bothering me while I'm on the toilet, I push it away with my foot.

I pretty much love my unspoiled cats.

[Andrea]

Originally Posted by Britt

If a cat is on my bed and it's bothering me, I shove it off.

If a cat is trying to get at my food, I shove it.

If a cat is bothering me while I'm on the toilet, I push it away with my foot.

I pretty much love my unspoiled cats.

They can't be real cats. LOL

[1QuirkyKiwi]

Originally Posted by woodstock

The Box Rule: No empty box may be thrown out until thoroughly inspected, jumped on, jumped in, slept in, and used as a home base for the continuous game of "cat tag"

Originally Posted by Andrea

We actually have a large box that has sat in the living room for two years now. One cat tears pieces off and the other two inside cats like to lie inside it. At the moment there are a lot of cat toys spilling out because I throw them all in there when I vacuum.

Yep! *Raises hand* My owners also have a box that is their favourite toy! ....There are 7 cat tunnels, 2 cat trees, 1 cat activity centre AND a bucket load of toys for them to play with, yet....cardboard boxes are the biggest joy for them! ....Oh! And curling up to sleep on my fabrics as I try to cut them out and playing with my threads and other trimmings! LOL!

Boxes are cheap toys and easily replacable....until we run out of trees! LOL!

[ruffryder]

Originally Posted by Britt

If a cat is on my bed and it's bothering me, I shove it off.

If a cat is trying to get at my food, I shove it.

If a cat is bothering me while I'm on the toilet, I push it away with my foot.

I pretty much love my unspoiled cats.

this is my roommate with his cat too ! LOL

My rules for the cat is speak to her even when she is pissy and hissing at me after I vaccumed. hehe. Today I caught her hiding between the shower curtains. I opened them up and she just looked at me. Then I opened them again and told her to come out and she started hissing at me. Took a shower and she stayed there even after I left the door open for her to go if she wished. She's funny but I talk to her anyway even when she is bitchy just like any other girl. hahaha.

[ruffryder]

Please don't get me wrong people or start attacking me. I did not say that all girls are bitchy or that I shove girls. Just to be clear ... ok continue on.

[Inked_Trinity]

My cats get the "talk" everyday before I leave for work.....

1) NO KILLING EACH OTHER
2) No popping my air bed
3) No strippers
4) No wild parties
5) No ordering cat toys online!
6) No dealing drugs

Have a good day kids!

[1QuirkyKiwi]

Originally Posted by ruffryder

this is my roommate with his cat too ! LOL

My rules for the cat is speak to her even when she is pissy and hissing at me after I vaccumed. hehe. Today I caught her hiding between the shower curtains. I opened them up and she just looked at me. Then I opened them again and told her to come out and she started hissing at me. Took a shower and she stayed there even after I left the door open for her to go if she wished. She's funny but I talk to her anyway even when she is bitchy just like any other girl. hahaha.

Aww! She sounds as though she has a sensitive nature and is easily frightened.

Not all girls are bitchy; we're just eloquent at put downs! LOL!