While I was away for a week, Vince told me every day that Cat sat in the driveway between the house and the shop and waited for me. If Vince went out, Cat would run but when Vince went back in, Cat would resume her position in the driveway waiting for me. She often sits out there when I’m home because whether I’m going to the garden, the sewing room, the chicken coop .. I’m coming out that back door. I will walk about halfway towards her, bend and hold my hands out and she will come to me and let me pet her.
Cat
When I got home Saturday evening, it was not quite dark. I was so anxious to see how Cat reacted to seeing me after I’d been gone. I expected her to be happy to see me. No!
I pulled the car to the side of the house to wash the bugs off the front and Cat was sitting over by the tall gate. I walked halfway to her and called her, bent over and held my hands out to her and she totally ignored me! We’ve questioned whether she was deaf or not but I don’t believe she is but she never acted like she heard me. I said “Vince, maybe she is deaf!” Then she looked right at me . . as if she never saw me. Heck, maybe she’s blind too! She’s definitely obstinate.
She went about her business watching something in the tall grass. I begged her to come to me .. nope . . I left for a week and she was going to be sure I knew she wasn’t happy about it.
When she finally did walk my direction, she walked normally til she got near me and then she ran past me. Seriously, Cat?
Sunday morning I guess she wasn’t sure if I had suffered long enough. When I bent over for her to come to me, she started, got about halfway to me, and stopped. I stood there waiting for a few minutes and then I said “I’m not playing your game!” and I walked to the shop. When I came out, she was happy to walk up to me and let me pet her.
Our relationship seems to be back to normal. I suppose she thinks I’ve done my time and my punishment can end now.
Donna says
Oh Judy! Our cats have always punish us for being gone!!! We usually get the silent treatment for a few days!!!! Another popular punishment is walking through the house at four AM crying at the top of their lungs!!!! My favorite cat Duke who passed away a few years ago would just poop in the floor!!!!
Dorothy Schreyer says
Your Duke sounds like my daughter’s Dexter! But, yes our cats do let us know when we have abandoned them, even if it is only overnight!
Deb K says
Yep. I’ve had cats like that. They definitely know how to hold a grudge! Think about it this way. You were missed. It makes me smile to see how far you’ve come from when you begrudgingly let your other cat into your sewing room. I like it that you keep trying to mend the relationship with this stray kitty. Does the cat bring you sacrifices (dead animals) as gifts, yet? That’s when you know you are back in the good graces of a kitty.
Cocoa Quilts says
Our pets are so finicky. They rule the house!!! And we love it.
Joyce says
My parents’ cat always gave them the silent treatment for a day or two the few times they were gone for more than a day. It must have been hard on her (the cat) to keep up the silence though, because she was a talker and normally almost never stopped meowing.
The Eclectic Abuela says
They don’t bother with the punishment if they don’t love you! 🙂
Dottie says
LOL, LOL – Thanks for the morning chuckle!
Priscilla says
Typical cat behavior! All of my kitties have done the same thing.
Vickie VanDyken says
I love it!!! I am going to a retreat for 4 days. A gift from my wonderful friends! I have a dog feeder. We will see if they are happy when I return??
One of my newer ones has stopped sleeping with me. My daughter was here and I think he misses her. He started sleeping on the couch. Maybe he is a night dog??
Anyway I am anxious to see the greeting I get.
Thanks for the great story!
Rebecca in SoCal says
Selective deafness.
Cat is apparently YOUR cat, not Vince’s. Of course, she’s used to him being gone during the day.
wanda j says
That’s a cat they are all like that. They show you how they feel when we leave. It must feel like a very, very long time to them. maybe they wonder if you are coming back. Who knows but they will always warm back up and sometimes they love on you more. Just hang in there she is yours now for sure.
Quilting Tizzy says
We went away once and when we got home our Siamese had torn curtains off the wall, bedspread off the bed onto the floor and had even gotten between a chest and pushed it away from the wall. My cousin lived with us at the time and I asked him if someone had broken in. He said nope, it was your crazy cat.