Cats and Cuddly Nooks

I am a late-in-life cat staff person. If you live with cats, you know we humans neither own them nor control them very well. We provide their food, water, and domicile, clumsily trying to take their direction. Happily, because I adore my feline family, I am bent on meeting their needs and enjoying their affection. These cats delight me.

Our family of three furballs, The Goddess, Sammy, and Skeeter, all enjoy finding small spaces in which to sit. Each seems to seek out a grotto or cube-like environment which protects him or her, yet does not permit intrusion or sharing by any other being (including siblings.) Each cat appears quite content and pleased as he surreptitiously (in his own mind) surveys the world from his Cat Cave.

Our cats hide under a chair for protection and stealth. Furthermore, any time we move furniture or clean out a shelf to rearrange the contents, our curious felines are there exploring, inspecting and generally evaluating to determine whether this new space is worthy of being a cuddly nook.

Therefore, if our cats are typical of the species, one totally understands why pet stores offer certain cat accessories. Small tents with tunnels offer this cave-like protection. Also, the carpet- and sisal rope-covered feline furniture which provide both hiding nooks and high perches obviously appeal to our kitties. Any cat climber pole or cat condo tree equipment sells because cats know these are good things.

Paper grocery bags. An empty cardboard box. A blanket lumped on the floor with a tunnel looking space in it. All of these are wonderful nooks and cat caves. Whether or not a commercial climbing tree is around, these call to a feline like the Sirens calling to Odysseus. If you want proof, just leave such an item in an accessible spot and watch what happens. If you are in a hurry for proof of its cat-attractive score, use a kitten.

Of course, I am smitten by our little crew of cats and love to brag about their antics. Just when we think our newest and youngest one – Skeeter, a rescue cat – couldn’t get any cuter, by golly, he does! Look what he discovered in MyGuy’s music room: an empty saxophone case. Not empty for long! I imagine that any open, empty piece of luggage will be equally irresistible to your cats and mine.

In our home, we have a few small shelf spaces which our cats embrace. One such spot is on an antique bookcase. Instead of holding books, it contains blankets for people to wrap up in during winter naps. Our peace-loving middle boy cat discovered that the bottom partially-filled shelf serves as an excellent shelter and lookout post. Occasionally, one of the other cats will sit here, but it is primarily Sammy’s place. In contrast, Sammy and Skeeter equally enjoy a shelf in a wooden cabinet in the dining room – WHEN it’s empty, that is.

At our house, we count on cat fun. They do not disappoint us. However, they do surprise us with their ingenuity. In the Jeopardy!™ TV Game Show category of Cuddly Cat Hiding Nooks, our little Skeeter recently topped everything we have seen to date. As I worked straightening up in the kitchen and dining room one night, Skeeter hopped onto the dining room to be near me. This is normal (and wonderful.) Then, he spied an open and empty soft-sided beverage cooler case. It measures 9 by 9 by 8 inches. Skeeter measures l8 inches long not counting his tail and 9 pounds heavy. He saw no problem. I couldn’t believe it. But, if any of the cuties would try to squeeze himself into a Houdini Locker, it would be the Skeet.

These little kitties are such a blessing. I do not know how God packs so much personality and love into a little furry critter who is between 6 and 12 pounds. However it happens, we are the beneficiaries of their playful ways and especially their creative conversion of our spaces into cat cuddly nooks and crannies.

Photos and text copyright 2012 Maren E. Morgan, all rights reserved.

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