How to make your cat jealous
Data’s been a bit of a sh*tbox lately. He normally likes to “hide” behind things in the evening, and jump up at our legs playfully when we walk by, then run away. But lately, his attacks have been vicious. On Sunday morning, he jumped up on me and bit me in the thigh. When I was standing up! He left a mark.
I think he is stressed because he hasn’t had enough alone/free-time (hey, that is why I’ve been in a funk too!). But seriously, he needs to get over it (and so do I).
On Sunday, on our way to run some errands, we stopped at the animal shelter near our house. I had never been to the shelter before, but thought playing with some nice, grateful, cats for awhile would cheer me up!
Surprisingly, seeing all of the cats (over 300!) didn’t make me feel bad. They were all playing together, and a lot of people were there playing with them. What made me feel sad was seeing the dogs, alone in their kennels, begging for attention.
Anyway, one of the small tiger cats really liked me. She kept trying to crawl onto me, and play with me, and steal all of my attention.
My new friend.
Some of her fur was still on me when I got home, and I think someone noticed. Maybe Data was a bit jealous… but he was really well behaved for the rest of the day! That is, until nighttime came and he wanted to jump up on me again.
So, all I need to do to get a little lovin’ from him is spend time at the shelter everyday. Riiiiiiiiiiiiight.
Just for fun, here are some photos of the sh*tbox from this summer:
6/26 – Thinking “what have they done?!?!”
6/26 – “Who the hell is this guy?!”
6/28 – Sharpening his “claws.”
6/26 – Scandalous!
7/11 – Think he’s comfortable?
7/11 – Vacuum Kitty!
7/12 – Showing us a new way to lay on the couch.
7/15 – Sleeping on a large pile of dirty laundry (we had 6 men stay over!).
7/17 – Data is not a big fan of Rock Band.
7/21 – Playing with a ribbon from Gina.
8/9 – Steven holds Data back from bothering me so I can sleep awhile longer.
8/14 – Relaxing in the sun.
Themocracy
Haha, cats are so funny! If I weren’t so allergic (I get really sneezy and itchy-eyed.), I would definitely get one!
Awww, your cat is so cute. I used to be a cat person…and then I got a dog, and I married someone who hates cats. I know I will never have a cat again…le sigh.
MIca – He is funny! I laugh at him when he attacks Steven! 😛
Shaina – How sad! 🙁 He probably just knew a lot of crappy cats growing up? Data is usually really cool, and acts more like a dog, but lately he’s been a grouch.
That vacuum thing is very funny!
I agree with you on the cats there looking loved and happy but the dogs being just so sad. My husband has actually fobidden me from going there anymore. Well, not really because he isn’t my boss, but he strongly encouraged me not to go so we don’t end up with more dogs.
Those are some hilarious photos! You can really tell he has a lot of personality. Hopefully he gets over this biting thing soon!
oh my god, that vacuum vid is KILLING ME! haha! my cats like to be lint-brushed (like, with those sticky roller lint thingies) but are scared of the vacuum, which makes me sad because i REALLY want to vacuum them now.
OMG, I can’t believe he lets you vacuum him! AND walk him on a leash. He seems to not only tolerate the vacuuming but ENJOY it too. That’s so crazy.
That tabby kitty looks just like my long lost Otis. 🙁 I would have taken him home. There’s this tabby street kitten I keep seeing on the same block. She even lets me pick her up. Not that we’re moving into our own apartment this week, next time I see her I’m going to pick her up and take her home with me.
Data, I love you, but please don’t tell Manny – he wouldn’t understand. It will be our secret. You look so coy with that pink ribbon. And the way you lounge about – siiigh.
My sister’s dog and two cats were staying at our house last week, while my poor boy had to go to the “pet palace’ (he is NOT good with toddlers), and when he got home, he was super well-behaved for two days—I think he thought we might have been testing out replacements!
Awesome photos. I’ve said it before, but regardless of his shitbox status, Data is a pretty cool cat.
Great shots! I’m in awe of the vacuuming vid. Back in the day, my roommate had a couple of cats and they never would’ve allowed it. Or been anywhere near it in the first place.
Tried leashes but that was pretty disastrous as well. In trying to adjust it so it would be tight enough Tiger couldn’t just wiggle out of it, my roommate went a bit too tight and Tiger jumped off our low deck, still in leash, but it caught on the rail so the cat in her freakout was essentially hanging herself, swinging violently, periodically touching ground. I doubt I’ve ever moved as fast as I did to get off the deck to get the leash off. Tiger was fine, but it shook me up.
They are such complex but lovable creatures.
I can’t go into shelters otherwise I ened up wanting to adopt them all.
Cats are so quirky. Data sure is cute!
AWWWWW………. What a cutie-pie! I’m thinking that Sir Data needs a “buddy”. You know, a furry tiger striped four legged buddy. 😀
I too am in awe of the vacuuming! I would LOVE to try that with my cats, but I’m pretty sure I already know how that’d end up and I wasn’t planning on giving blood today.
I am sooo jealous that Data lets you vacuum him! It must make pet hair pickup 100x easier. My kitties are TERRIFIED of the vac so no way that’s happening here. 🙁
Bastet decided my yoga mat was her own personal napping rug WHILE I was doing yoga this evening. I ended up getting my foot bit during one pose where I apparently encroached on her territory! (but I still love her, it was just a nip and pretty funny)
LoL! That Data allows the vacuuming is amazing already, but then he turns over so you can do the other side?? Oh. My. Where on earth did you find this cat?? 😀
Our psycho kitty, unfortunately, has peeing (sometimes even pooping) outside the box issues… and it’s totally behavioural – this happens usually when we leave her alone for too long (i.e. overnight, or if we leave early morning and only come back late at night). I scoured the internets and found a lot of positive reviews for a product called “Dumb Cat” that is supposed to really clean up the pee residue *and* discourage cats from ‘going’ again in the treated area. Heh. Not working! 🙁
tori – Ha! I am thinking I better not go back for the same reason. Logistically, it doesn’t work for us to have a dog right now, but I was looking at them thinking which ones I would like to take home…
Erin – Thanks! He’s been “pretty good” since I wrote this. *knock on wood*
Alice – We use the lint roller too! It gets the surface hair off, but doesn’t get much else. Really, to clean Data, I use a fine tooth comb. It lasts for about 10 seconds before he starts attacking it.
Jen512 – We were surprised he was into it. Maybe it is because he was half asleep? Are there a lot of strays there? I bet there are! Take that tabby home and show her some love 🙂
Gina (Mannyed) – Gina! I love you too! I bet you would feed me more than Mommy. Please come pick me up and take me to NYC to see my cousin. Love, Data
Hotch Potchery – Ha! That is a good trick to try too 😉
martymankins – Aww, thanks 😀
claire – Wow! Scary story! I will have to remember that for Data!
Christina – I was starting to feel that way too. “What’s one more cat…?” Soon that we be, two more, three more…
sizzle – Thanks!
Denise – Ha! I think so too!
Kim – LOL! Have the Red Cross on standby 😉
diane – I was surprised, because he usually runs from the vacuum, but didn’t seem to care that day! Ha! Data does that to Steven when he does yoga too. Aww, such sweeties. Cats would be good at yoga – they’re so flexible!
*lynne* – That is what we thought was so funny too – his turn. I am sorry your cat is still doing that. I wonder why she decided to start doing that. Does she need a buddy to keep her occupied when you are gone?
Yikes! My cats do that attacking the legs thing too sometimes when they are looking for attention or trying to tell us something (usually, that the water in their bowl is low). Anyway, I hope Data is behaving better – he really is adorable! Love the pics! Thanks for sharing. 🙂