When is a cat a pigeon?

The answer to this riddle in the Smith household is Saturdays!

We have, for quite some time now, had a plastic jar in the kitchen that contains cat treats, Dreamies to be precise. It began life as a small screw lid tub but as the number of cats in the house grew, so did the level of demand and the small tub metamorphosed into a larger container. It is referred to as "the sweetie jar" even though the contents are of a savoury persuasion and all of our cats know where it's kept & when it comes out.

The "sweeties" are sprinkled on the cats' food at teatime and are also used to entice any stragglers in at the end of the day but the pigeon reference applies just to Saturday mornings. Lunar was the culprit that started the trend - she knew the sound of her dad's keys in the door on his return from work and invented a stance, standing on our kitchen bin & placing her front paws on the little shelf above it. She would remain in that position until Kev peered around the door frame, then she would make little noises as though asking for something. This went on for a couple of weeks then suddenly she appeared to have worked out what time he usually got home and would run in from the garden, ready for his return home.

Now, don't think I'm being derogatory here but none of my cats are the sharpest knife in the drawer but when it comes to food, they suddenly appear to be able to grow a few brain cells and once one had worked out that Lunar was getting fringe benefits, they all realised that goodies were up for grabs. So, when hubby got home instead of one eager little face, he was greeted by The Effervescent Eight! Having 8 cats is a blessing, but it can also be a pain in the bum and trying to pacify so many all in one go takes nerves of steel (I may be exaggerating just a little!). Lunar is quite happy to accept these small biscuity treats when they are offered one at a time but I did not marry an octopus so Kev had to come up with a cunning plan - and that is how "pigeon time" came into existence!

Originally my better half would just sprinkle the little parcels of yumminess around the floor like bird seed, hence the pigeon reference but there were too many instances of growling & swiping at each other so that had to be rethought. The routine now starts with a frenzy of furry excited bodies, milling around like a feline swarm. Kev brings the jar of goodies into the living room, kneeling in the middle of the floor & unscrewing the lid. At this point he removes two handfuls and distributes 7 little piles of sweeties around the floor at strategic points so that each cat has a share. Yes, I did say 7 piles and yes, we do have 8 cats. Lunar refuses to be treated like the others & has 2 preferences that do not involve her having to eat the treats off the carpet - if she feels like "slumming it", she will eat the treats straight from the jar as her head is small enough to fit. But, if she is being our usual fussy feral, then she requires the offerings to be placed delicately in her mouth, one at a time, as though you are posting letters into a small furry post box. We judge how many are required by the speed that they are consumed & once the pace slows down you know that she has had enough.

And why do we pander to such behaviour? Because we are the original "Crazy Cat Couple"!