The Case of the Can Opener Kitty
by NorseThing
Mortimer must have had a previous home where can openers were used to open up the cat food. I only feed the dry pebbles and then only timed for twice a day feedings of measured amounts. I take the manufacturer's recommendations seriously. I know nothing about what is a healthy diet for myself let alone for a cat. The manufacturer suggests approximate age and activity levels for the cats. I use these bits of information to determine which bag of pebbles I should buy.
So the only variable on the bag to be concerned with for a particular cat is a daily amount based upon the cat's weight. Sage is a bit longer. Both of the cats weigh about the same. Thus, Mortimer is a bit more over weight. Actually enough overweight that he waddles a bit when he walks. The bag states to feed each the same amount since they weigh about the same.
Sage was described as overweight when we made the adoption. Then, I am overweight at my age and height and have been so ever since high school. I even played tennis, played in pickup basket ball games after school, rode my bicycle everywhere,jogged, and even ran cross country. I was still considered overweight as a teenager. Or at least according to what the doctors tell me. Today, I have no doubt that I am overweight, but earlier in life.... So I have personal grave doubts about doctors or veterinarians making the conclusion of over weight for people let alone for cats. They look at a printed chart and the chart says'overweight'. Not my idea of educated advice.
I guess Mortimer fits the stereotype of the 'fat cat'. I was advised to not worry about the cats specific weights though. Just feed them to maintain their current weights. Any person putting a cat on a weight loss diet needs to do so with help. I know from experience that weight loss can lead to fatty liver disease which is far worse than a simply obese cat.
Getting back to the can opener....Mortimer has his own criteria for what is the equal to a dinner bell clanging from the farmhouse back door. Just as the hired hands and the farmer know to head for the afternoon meal spread out on the back porch table, the turning of the can opener is his 'dinner bell'. He is simply obsessed with eating and never misses a 'chance' to get fed when my hand turns the knob on the side of a modern handheld can opener. Today, it was a can of tomato for a Sloppy Joe recipe. He cannot realistically smell cat friendly food from a can of tomato sauce. It is only quiet the sound of the can opener turning that brings him out of hiding.
Then, of course, Sage comes to checkout what must be some interesting action in the kitchen. Of course Sage is not fooled with the can opener. He quickly loses interest. Sage must be thinking to himself, “False alarm. Silly black male cat does not even know when to get excited about food.”
Mortimer is always looking for free food. Pretty much like the homeless and near homeless on the streets asking each and every person for a handout whether you look rich or poor. So it is no surprise that Mortimer is always at the dining table when the human members of the household sit down to eat. Usually he is patient, but not always. Sometimes he is subtle with quiet mewing. Sometimes it is very obvious with the a paw reaching up to catch your arm while you are eating. Fortunately (or unfortunately), Mortimer was declawed by a previous owner so no harm from the paw. It is an effective reminder. Pretty much like a verbal, “Hey! What about me down here? Don't I get any of the good stuff too!”
Cats like to copy. I am guessing that is where the phrase copycat comes from. These and other cats I had know over the years are no exception. They copy each other to fit in. They each copy the humans to fit in. Probably, the humans also copy, but this is all about tales of cats. We are a den in the world of cats. A family. We all acquire the good habits as well as the bad habits of the household to fit in as respected members of the household.
Now, on many occasions there is nothing of the 'good stuff' on the table. At least not if you are a cat. One time my beloved discovered that pieces of corn chips and crackers are a bit like the cat's pebbles. Well at least similar since they are all crunchy bits in one form or another. Both cats fall for it. Even Sage likes munching on such crunchy bits when they are presented by one of the humans. I think their faith in the humans is pretty absolute.
I admit to perhaps feeding expectations. The can opener can equal a dinner bell. Every time I open a can of tuna, Mortimer comes running. Unlike the can of tomato sauce, he does get more excited when he smells tuna. So now it is smell plus key sounds and motions. Mortimer then goes into his 'I love the humans' routine. He rubs up against your legs. He squeaks a bit or what sounds like a squeak. It is not the same as a whine,but pretty close to such a sound. I do not feed him tuna, but he does get to lick the can clean after I dump the contents into my mixing bowl for at ever I am going to use tuna with for my personal consumption. It does not matter if the tuna is oil packed or water packed in the can. Actually Mortimer likes to lick both his bowl and Sages bowl clean after the portion of pebbles have been consumed. So he likes to simply lick all containers clean.
Once I place the can on the floor,Mortimer goes wild. He licks the inside of the can. He pushes the can all around the kitchen while attempting to get the very last bit of flavor out of the can. This entire frenzy can last for several minutes. This is frenzy that Sage has never taken a part in. Maybe he is not interested or perhaps it is not an activity for two male cats to jointly participate in. I do not know.