I am fully aware that both of my cats are fond of me and care about my welfare. But lately, things seem to have gotten a bit out of hand. Gracie's concern about my physical well being during these periods of low temperatures is becoming a bit bothersome if not a tad physically painful. Let me explain what I mean.
Shortly after finishing my morning routine each day, I head off to the spare bedroom where my laptop lives. Armed with a hot cup of coffee, I prepare to either work on my blog, Facebook page, or novel. It has never been uncommon for my feline friends to accompany me there.
My bedroom office is filled with their toys (ones to climb, ones to attack, ones to hide in, etc...) along with a window for the latest nature reality show occurring outside. In the past, these items provided plenty of entertainment for Gracie and Ben. Occasionally, one or the other would decide to edit my writing by jumping up on my desk and either deleting something or adding a make-believe word. Distracting - but never really annoying.
Now, however, Gracie has decided just sitting on the desk and editing isn't enough. Oh No!!! Sitting on the desk has progressed to climbing onto my shoulder and wrapping herself around my neck like a scarf - a Gracie scarf. How does this even happen you ask?
It happens because I fall for the same old trick everytime. It begins with a pitifull mew and an invitation to jump up onto my desk for a nuzzle session. Naively, I lean over to give her sweet head a scratch. That is when she plops her front paws on my shoulder and begins the purring head-nuzzle attack - which of course melts my defenses.
Before I realize what is about to happen again and react, she leaps forward onto the area of my back just below my neck. Gracie inches forward until she is wrapped around my neck, lays down, and attaches her back claws to my shoulder blade for stability. The inevitable flinch from pain merely causes her to clamp down harder to avoid becoming dislodged.
Of course worried that she will fall off and get hurt, I begin to lean in over my computer which is precisely part of her plan. The more I lean over the more comfortable she becomes. She is turning me into a human couch.
By this point typing is becoming impossible. My feline friend has once again found a way to distract me from the task at hand. Gracie, on the other hand, is enjoying every minute of this adventure - purring happily away.
As the muscles in my back begin to ache and the humor in the situation is beginning to fade, I begin making my over to the nearest drop off zone or furniture item to relocate her on in order to salvage what is left of my shoulder blade and back. This process must be done carefully so that Gracie doesn't realize what is happening until it is too late. Otherwise, she will wrap her front paws around my neck like I am a life preserver and use her back claws as anchor devices.
This is why I have created several unloading sites near my desk - a chair, climbing tower, and small dresser. It is not so bad when my husband is home, and I can get a text off to him asking for help. It's the times when I am alone wearing my Gracie scarf that are a little more tedious. Luckily, Benjamin "Batcat" Bunny often comes to my rescue by deciding to play with one of Gracie's toys - one she doesn't want him to touch. Her desire to take back control of such a toy always helps in encouraging her dismount from around my neck onto an unloading site.
By the time my Gracie scarf has been removed, I must admit to being pooped and in need of either chocolate, coffee, or both.
I am hopeful that as warm weather returns to Florida, Gracie will realize that I am no longer in need of a warm furry scarf while working at my computer. At the very least, I may be able to convince her that my husband's neck is suffering from the cold since his computer is located near where the renovations to my house are occurring, and there isn't anything but drywall between him and the temperatures outside. I mean don't you think we should share the fun - ha, ha?
Until next time, remember...
Cats can be cooperative when something feels good, which, to a cat, is the way everything is supposed to feel as much of the time as possible.
- Roger Caras
