The first order of business is to make sure he has food. While this may seem obvious to most people, who know that cats do, in fact, have to eat every day, I definitely let the ball drop. Erica left him food before she went to work. I didn't think he could possibly need more. I was wrong. It took my friend Sam, the mother of a very hyper cocker spaniel named Sophie, to help me figure out why Fur Baby was hissing and clawing and generally acting deranged.
Sam: "Maybe he needs more food."
Me: "I need to feed him?"
Sam: Insert eye roll here.
Turns out, she was right. I guess Ibus didn't manage to get to 25 pounds by being indifferent to food.
Me, to Sam: "Do you think I'm a bad cat mother?"
Sam: Long pause. "Well, you tried to figure out what the problem was."
For some reason, that did not reassure me.
I think Ibus has forgiven me though, and we have discovered some common interests. For one thing, we are both excellent nappers. I can always count on Ibus to join me if I come home for a nap over lunch or a bad day requires pulling the covers over my head after work. Sure, most cats are good sleepers, but I'm inclined to think that Ibus truly excels. Again, there's that whole 25 pounds thing. Ibus isn't one to over-exert himself unless he needs to get someone's attention to fill up his food bowl.
He's also endlessly fascinated by cotton swabs and ponytail holders. That means that he'll do whatever it takes to get his paws on one, including jumping on the bathroom sink and knocking over the roughly 45 hair products that I like to keep there. I'm pretty sure I've seen him with a few of my earrings, too.
I have not, however, seen him look remorseful one single time. He's certainly not losing any sleep over his bad behavior, or the fact that Erica and I have to clean up after him. I guess that's his revenge for that whole empty food bowl thing.
Some people's cats.
Contact Rachel Parsons at rparsons@winchestersun.com.
