Sneaky (cat!)

Chriscrawfordphoto said:
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Last night, I sat at my computer to get on Facebook while Sneaky was eating. As soon as he was done, he jumped on me and walked up onto my chest to cuddle, purring loudly.

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Sorry to run off topic. The picture on the wall behind you, a very nice (good) shot.
 
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Thanks! This is the one. Shot it almost 10 years ago; the flag is still there. I drive by it every once in a while. Here's the description from my website:

This American flag hangs on the garage behind an old 19th Century farmhouse on the west side of State Road 1 in Wells County, Indiana. It is just north of the town of Ossian, about 8 miles south of the Waynedale area of Fort Wayne. An old school bell stands on a post next to the garage.

5-8-15
 
Darthfeeble said:
Possibly it's a little warmer that way. Or...... He's getting affectionate in his old age.
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He's been extremely affectionate the last few months, far more than usual. He sleeps with me every night now, and I can't sit for more than 30 seconds without him laying on my stomach or chest wanting to be held. He's about 9 years old now.
 
Chriscrawfordphoto said:
He's been extremely affectionate the last few months, far more than usual. He sleeps with me every night now, and I can't sit for more than 30 seconds without him laying on my stomach or chest wanting to be held. He's about 9 years old now.
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Hi Chris. It's a bond that has built and deepened over 9 years, for both of you. It warms me to see it.

- Murray
 
That cat adores you!
What I've noticed with cats, often, is that they become more affectionate as they age. With my cat, who will be 15 in April, I've noticed an increasing unwillingness to be in any situation where she might feel herself to be at risk. Whereas she used to tug and pull when I walked her on a leash, she now has to be in contact with my leg at all times outdoors. She will only explore the yard if I go first and encourage her to come along. Likewise, with company in the house, she has to be against my leg, or she will go hide.
My theory is that an ageing cat has an intuitive understanding of its increasing physical limitations. They know that going head-to-head with an enemy would certainly leave them the loser, and a fast scramble up a tree to escape danger might no longer be fast enough. They grow closer to us because they know that we'll protect them, and show their need and trust with greater affection.
I suppose it would be easy to accuse me of anthropomorphizing my cat's behavior and maintain that a "dumb animal" can't "think" in these terms. But those of us who've lived intimately with animals know that their understanding of the world, and their emotional lives, are far more complex than what they're usually credited with.
 
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Retro-Grouch said:
That cat adores you!
What I've noticed with cats, often, is that they become more affectionate as they age. With my cat, who will be 15 in April, I've noticed an increasing unwillingness to be in any situation where she might feel herself to be at risk. Whereas she used to tug and pull when I walked her on a leash, she now has to be in contact with my leg at all times outdoors. She will only explore the yard if I go first and encourage her to come along. Likewise, with company in the house, she has to be against my leg, or she will go hide.
My theory is that an ageing cat has an intuitive understanding of its increasing physical limitations. They know that going head-to-head with an enemy would certainly leave them the loser, and a fast scramble up a tree to escape danger might no longer be fast enough. They grow closer to us because we know that we'll protect them, and show their need and trust with greater affection.
I suppose it would be easy to accuse me of anthropomorphizing my cat's behavior and maintain that a "dumb animal" can't "think" in these terms. But those of us who've lived intimately with animals know that their understanding of the world, and their emotional lives, are far more complex than what they're usually credited with.
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Sneaky still goes out for hours at a time and starts fights with his enemies in the trailer park across the road; he still kills mice fairly often; and he chased a fat raccoon up a tree last summer! He doesn't seem to be slowing down. He's just getting more clingy and affectionate when he is inside.
 
Chriscrawfordphoto said:
Sneaky still goes out for hours at a time and starts fights with his enemies in the trailer park across the road; he still kills mice fairly often; and he chased a fat raccoon up a tree last summer! He doesn't seem to be slowing down. He's just getting more clingy and affectionate when he is inside.
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At 9, Sneaky's still a young stud. ;)
 
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Sneaky jumped on me last night to cuddle while I was working at my computer. He kept using his claws to pull himself up higher onto my chest if I let him slip down; it is hard to hold a 15lb cat for long!

He slept like that for an hour and a half before I had to put him down so I could go use the toilet. He looked at me sad when I put hm down on the sofa.

Looks like I was sleeping, but I was looking down at Sneaky when my son took these pictures.
 
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Early this morning, Sneaky came inside covered in snow. In the minute or so it took to get out my camera, the snow had melted, leaving his back covered in water droplets! He was not happy that I was taking pictures, and tried to bite me when I finally dried him off with paper towels!

After I dried him, Sneaky ate. He wanted MORE food and treats, which I wouldn't give because he had eaten enough. He kept running in front of me and slapping my ankles to 'herd' me back to the kitchen.

Sneaky claims to hate dogs, but I think he has a canine friend, a sheep herding dog somewhere in the neighborhood, who is teaching him to 'herd' the human sheep.

He must not have been too mad about all this; he came into my bedroom and slept cuddled up beside me after I went back to bed.
 
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Chris, Sneaky wasn't try to herd you, he was trying to topple you! It's a hunting instinct/skill to destabilize prey on the run.

- Murray
 
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Sneaky's greed knows no bounds!

Last night, I ate a turkey sandwich, and before I made the sandwich, I gave Sneaky a big pile of meat. He ate it, then wanted my sandwich, too!

I like the meat warm, so I put it in the microwave to warm it. I was taking the sandwich to the microwave and Sneaky ran over to it and sat in front of the door, so I couldn't open it. I moved him out of the way, put in the sandwich and started the microwave. Sneaky moved back in front of the door and had to be moved again so I could get my food out! Greedy! 🍗
 

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