You have to be smarter than a cat

20July17

Yesterday I left early to go to the beach. Five cats were waiting for me. I brought down a throw-away plastic bowl of food filled to the brim. As usual, I fed Fluffy and Bag first, except Loudmouth started eating Bag’s food. So I put out more food for Bag far from Fluffy. I hate that Bag is feeling like an outsider. I fed Patch and Mask. Patch as usual insisted on eating first. No problem. A few days ago, I had reached out my hand to Patch so he could sniff and feel comfortable with it. Well, it freaked him out and he gave my hand a little clawless swipe. I scolded him a bit. But yesterday, as I was putting food in Patch’s bowl, he swiped my hand with some claw and drew blood. Instead of a mild scolding, he got a stern talking to and I didn’t give him as much food as usual. I talked nice to Mask who didn’t do anything bad.

Later that day the brats were begging for food and I gave them a bit more, saw Loudmouth’s bowl and decided to put it by the main entrance.

This morning five hungry cats were begging me for food. Loudmouth, of course, was the loudest with long drawn out meows as I clomped down the stairs. Well, Loudmouth seems to be a regular and has to be fed first. So I fed him by the door. While he was occupied, I fed Fluffy and Bag, then went around the corner all the while Patch and Mask accosting me for food. Today, Patch let Mast eat first. What’s more, Patch set quietly back while I filled his bowl instead of trying to eat before I even finish putting in the food.