Sailor here. Josie the Calico Cat is staying with Mom and me this week, and I must say, ever since I gave her a smooch in the middle of the night and she accused me of tasting her, our relationship has been a bit strained. She gives me a wide berth made even wider by the amount of girth stuck to her ribs. I politely sidestep to allow her by, too, at every opportunity.
This morning, Josie jumped down from the chair in the pouting room and started across the newly polished floors just as I rounded the corner. She caught sight of me in the mirror and up went her back, her fur bristled, and her tail puffed up and she began to lash it back and forth. Now many months a go, even years ago maybe, Hiss-Spit (may she chase mice with glee) taught me that this behavior is NOT an invitation to play no matter what Dog Language would lead one to believe. This posture is a threat gesture induced by great fright or the perception of imminent danger. I could tell that Josie was indeed threatening the mirror. Since Josie�s back was to me because I was behind her, I was at first faintly puzzled, then vastly amused, at her demeanor.
She whipped her body sideways with back arched and claws extended. Then, crab-like, Josie began to tango. Five small leaps to the right did she take, followed by a hiss, then five small leaps to the left and another hiss, all the while keeping her body parallel to the mirror � I was enthralled. Right she crabbed � hiss � left she crabbed � hiss - back and forth she went. It was all I could do not to bark out loud.
The game ended, though, when Josie, for reasons known only to herself, did a lovely pirouette, saw me spying on her dance, and with a screech and a hiss, she scampered up the stairs to the safety of her room.
Now what was all that about?
Sailor, the vastly amused audience of one |
