Cats Do The Darndest Things!!!
By LadyMarissa
@LadyMarissa (12148)
United States
January 13, 2011 1:21pm CST
As I've said before I adopted 2 black cats after my cat of 21 years passed away. I still think of them as kittens although when i look at them they are clearly cats. I just realized that my babies will be turning 4 years old in May. However, they still play & act like kittens!!! Every morning they wake me up fighting. It's their way of establishing who the Alpha cat will be for the day. Kip has ALWAYS been the sweet & loving one. Romeo was always standoffish & used to stay in trouble ALL the time!!! I used to call him "my cat from hell" as he worked hard to get & hold onto that title. In the last year his personality has changed & he is changing into a sweet cat!!!
Well, I started this discussion to tell you about Kip's latest escapade. It all started when I went to the store & as I emptied the plastic bags I tossed them on the floor near the trash bag. In my haste to cook my dinner & clean up afterward, I forgot about the bags. The next morning I fed my 2 boys. I noticed when they finished eating that one of the bags had been spread over the food bowl. I thought it was just a coincidence. I rushed off to work & got home very late still not picking up the bags. The next morning after feeding the cats I once again found the dish covered with a plastic bag. I also noticed that the bag was spread out all nice & neat!!! I wasn't so rushed so I cleaned up the bags. The next morning after I fed the cats...nothing. That night I went to the store & only had 2 bags when I got home. On emptying them, I tossed the bags onto a chair to toss out later & to test my cats. The next morning I fed the cats & stood in the hallway while they ate. Romeo is a pig & always finishes eating first. When Kip finished eating, he went over to the chair & grabbed one of the bags bringing it back to the bowl. He covered the bowl & worked to spread it out all nice & neat. Once it was nice & flat with NO wrinkles he strutted off all nice & proud!!! It was fun to watch him work so hard to hide the food bowl. I think he's doing it because my inside dog Joy will steal any food left in the bowl. Knowing which cat was doing the hiding, I quit testing them & I haven't left any more bags where they could get to them. After feeding them today I came straight to my computer to get on myLot. There were NO bags available to Kip. Sure enough, I go into the kitchen to fix my lunch & Kip has gotten into my trash & pulled out a piece of a cardboard box & covered his dish. I'm wondering why after being here for almost 4 years he's decided to cover his food dish??? Romeo's quirk is that he just HAS to poop right after I clean out the litter box. He sits there & watches me clean it out. Just as I'm finished, he jumps in & starts straining!!! What kind of strange & cute things does your pets do???
5 people like this
14 responses
@koalatbs (2229)
• United States
13 Jan 11
That plastic bag thing is soooo funny LadyMarissa! Pretty smart kitty you have there too. I know exactly what you mean about the cats using the litter box right after you've cleaned it too... same with my cats. Think they like to use it when it's nice & clean...either that or they don't like it clean and want to mess it up again! lol
One quirk or whatever you want to call it that my cats seem to have is they just HAVE to use their kitty litter box as soon as we sit down to eat dinner! No fail!
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
13 Jan 11
OMG...DON'T SAY THAT SO LOUD!!!! My 2 guys haven't thought of that one...yet!!! 
I've noticed the soiling of the just cleaned litter box is a male cat thingy!!! I have decided they think you are stealing their poop & want more!!! 
I've noticed the soiling of the just cleaned litter box is a male cat thingy!!! I have decided they think you are stealing their poop & want more!!! 1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63638)
• United States
13 Jan 11
I think a lot of cats love to use clean litter.
I have started a new project to be better about the litter (I hope I can stick to it) and the cats were all looking at me like "What is she doing? She just changed it YESTERDAY!"
We got a floor steamer and the cats have been using the box as the "BEST TOY EVER!" for about a week!
2 people like this
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
13 Jan 11
I can't stand a dirty litterbox; so on the days I'm, home all day I clean it out atleast 4 if not 5 times a day!!! When I do clean it, I don't even bother to walk off because I know he's going to be soiling it right away!!!
1 person likes this
@littlefranciscan (18327)
• United States
13 Jan 11
Same thing happens with my cats.. I have a trio ..two full time and one p/t
as he goes out during the day .normally.. and sleeps inside at tnight.
My cats are just the same..clean the litter box and the are there
to try out the cleaned out box..grrr..
My part time cat .. he has this things with plugs in the sink.. He gets them
and brings them all the way to the living room. I just got a new one for the
bath. I didnt know it was he. .taking them. well he came out with the
bath tub plug. I got it ..put it back..five minutes later he has brought it
back.
Well I picked it up and he had chewed it so .. water would be leaking if
I use it.. lol
My cats have more then enough food and treats but always have to nibble pieces
of plastic .. as if they are starved!..
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
13 Jan 11
I had forgotten about Kip's bath tub thingy. I don't use a plug as I always shower & shampoo at the same time. I keep a screen over the drain to keep the loose hair from possibly clogging the pipe. Well he used to steal the screen & hide it from me. I bought a 6 pack of sodas & set them over the screen. I only remove them when I'm ready to shower & shampoo. At first he worked really hard to move the sodas. Now he has given up on that & I can leave the sodas out of the tub between showers & shampoos!!!
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
13 Jan 11
That is so funny!! Let Kip have his bag, it's a job he likes to do and takes pride in. It gives him security, too, knowing that Joy can't get to the dish. Have you tried dropping an old dish towel on the floor instead? I would worry about someone getting hurt by a plastic bag.
My dog Gus will eat anything and gets very impatient as the clock moves toward dinnertime. All the tricks I've been able to teach him involve food! About a year ago my back was really hurting and I didn't feel like going into the other room to get Cookie's bowl. Gus had been bringing me the bowl at odd times to ask for a biscuit or other treat so I told him to go get Cookie's bowl. He did it! Now that's his job every day, to bring me her bowl so I can make both their dinners. Gus's bowl is in the kitchen--I have to feed them separately or he'll push her aside and eat her dinner, too!
2 people like this
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
13 Jan 11
Oops, Kip just figured out I was talking about him & he jumped in my lap & started reading what we're writing!!!!
1 person likes this
@savypat (20216)
• United States
13 Jan 11
I think it is a wild thing, some big cats, bury their kill to protect it from other animals. This, more than the poo covering may be what is happening here. As for the poop box, he is just making sure it smells like him, he's marking his spot, very common in house cats.
2 people like this
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
13 Jan 11
That may very well be it!!! Kip is my male cat with a feminine side & Romeo is my wild man!!! I think Kip likes the idea that I'm talking about him. He's been trying to get into the doors on my entertainment center so I put rubberbands on the knobs so the doors wouldn't open. He just took the rubberbands off & laughed at me!!! 
1 person likes this
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
13 Jan 11
They are BOTH smart cats. When I'm eating something one of them wants, the one who wants it will sit behind me while the other tries to distract me & he can grab it & run. I've just learned when they're being cute while I'm eating to just NOT pay attention to the cute one & keep an eye on the paw of the one behind me!!!! 
1 person likes this
@ladygator (3465)
• United States
14 Jan 11
Thats just to funny! I have 3 cats and they are a fun group of kitties. I have an all black one whom is named Midnight. She is pretty cool. She acts like a dog and loves the rain. She also is a pig that wants to eat all the time, but only freshly placed food. And her newest thing, I cant do my painting without her wanting to try drinking the paint water and sitting right on my canvas. My other 2 are Bobbie-Lou and Moe Moe. Bobbie is Moes mom and she hates him. He has turned into a beautiful cat and is the only boy so is the alpha. They are my babies and I love them all very much.
I think that your cats are very full of personality and I think its really cute that he wants to cover his food. Mine will scratch at the wall everyonce in a while after they are done eating.
1 person likes this
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
14 Jan 11
I've had multiple cats most of the last 40 years & these 2 guys are the most fascinating of them all to watch interact with each other. It's almost like I can see them thinking & planning what they are going to do next!!! The bad part is that I just can't read their little minds!!!! 
You said that Moe is the only boy so he is the alpha. My last female had 2 male companions & she was most definitely the alpha of the group. When she got pisssed, the 2 guys ran like hell!!! She ALWAYS ate first & made the 2 guys wait until she was finished before she allowed them to eat. When she said jump...they asked how high??? What made it so funny was she was a tiny little cat that still looked like a kitten at 21 years old & the 2 guys were 20 pounders & could have snapped her in two if they had really wanted to!!! 
You said that Moe is the only boy so he is the alpha. My last female had 2 male companions & she was most definitely the alpha of the group. When she got pisssed, the 2 guys ran like hell!!! She ALWAYS ate first & made the 2 guys wait until she was finished before she allowed them to eat. When she said jump...they asked how high??? What made it so funny was she was a tiny little cat that still looked like a kitten at 21 years old & the 2 guys were 20 pounders & could have snapped her in two if they had really wanted to!!! 
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
30 Jan 11
Lol that is so sweet
When I had the four Cats, Scruffy used to go in the bags and slide along the Kitchen Floor in it, she used to scare Gissi each time, then Lucky was the same as Romeo she used to wait till I cleaned the Litter box and then go
Scruffy would not use the Litter box unless she had to, she used to sit by the door to be let out
Well you know what Gissi gets up to
His latest thing is when he goes out for last Business he does what he has to do and then sits there and sits there and sits there, as soon as I go over because I am fed up calling him, he runs indoors and sits there looking innocent
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
31 Jan 11
I used to have a female...Annie...who loved to hide in bags & then jump out & grab my ankle as I walked by. She scared the crap out of me every time she did it!!! 
One day I had just brought in a bag of frozen items from the grocery store that I rushed to get in the freezer as it was during our summer. I dropped the paper bag onto the floor & returned to the car to get the rest of my groceries. I was carrying too many bags when I returned & was just about to drop them...so I was rushing to get to the counter before they hit the floor...or even worse...my foot!!! As I started toward the counter, I got a glimpse of the bag in the floor so I quickly kicked it out of the way. OOPS...it didn't move, but the cat inside flew out & disappeared down the hall. I didn't know she could move so fast!!! I normally looked for her in the bags before doing anything, but I must of had a blond moment when I kicked that bag. NO, I didn't kick her, I kicked the closed end of the bag & she was in the middle of the bag; but it did scare her & the was hauling tail as fast as her feet would carry her!!!!
One day I had just brought in a bag of frozen items from the grocery store that I rushed to get in the freezer as it was during our summer. I dropped the paper bag onto the floor & returned to the car to get the rest of my groceries. I was carrying too many bags when I returned & was just about to drop them...so I was rushing to get to the counter before they hit the floor...or even worse...my foot!!! As I started toward the counter, I got a glimpse of the bag in the floor so I quickly kicked it out of the way. OOPS...it didn't move, but the cat inside flew out & disappeared down the hall. I didn't know she could move so fast!!! I normally looked for her in the bags before doing anything, but I must of had a blond moment when I kicked that bag. NO, I didn't kick her, I kicked the closed end of the bag & she was in the middle of the bag; but it did scare her & the was hauling tail as fast as her feet would carry her!!!! 
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
19 Jan 11
Oh how funny. Kip sounds territorial and simply protecting his food. I bet that was a hoot to watch. Have only had one cat in my life and we had to put her to sleep about 2 years ago. Decided not to get another cat since I was so devistated by the loss of our little cat. She use to also use the litterbox just as soon as I changed it. I assumed she wanted to keep her paws clean and waited until I did my duty as her mama. What I didn't know was she use to hide behind doors or a wall and jump out at me and land on my lap. I mean she would be quite a distance from me and always made it to her final destination. That was more when she was still in the kitty stage. Looking back, it was such a fun time and the cat was very entertaining.
1 person likes this
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
19 Jan 11
Cats are such WONDERFUL companions!!! 
I had my last cat for 21 years. I too was devastated when she passed!!! She passed on a Sunday morning & it was my day to take care of Dad so I wasn't home for most of the day. My house was soooo freeakin empty when I got back home. When I woke up the next morning, the house was still feeling empty. I couldn't stand that feeling of loneliness. I turned on the noon news & they were doing a segment on how the local Humane Society had a special sale going on that day & their kittens were marked down $20 & that still included their shots & neutering. Then they brought out a litter that needed a home. I couldn't help but say AWWWWWW. For that brief second I felt a bit better. So, I jumped in my car & headed for the Humane Society. I decided that a new baby might fill some of my void!!! I only meant to adopt one. As I was taking Kip, Romeo began to cry & grab for him & I looked at the clerk & said, I wish I could afford two. She smiled & said If I took them both, the second would only be $10. So, I came home with 2 babies for less than the price of one. They in no way made me miss my little girl any less; however, they did help to fill the hole in my soul. The antics 2 kittens can come up with is amazing & as they've gotten older, their personalities are unbelievable!!! They weren't litter mates, but were cell mates at the Humane Society. They became best of friends at 6 weeks old & with my not being able to separate them, they are still best friends. They are both black & people just assume they are brothers. They still give me a lot of pleasure & a lot of smiles!!!
I had my last cat for 21 years. I too was devastated when she passed!!! She passed on a Sunday morning & it was my day to take care of Dad so I wasn't home for most of the day. My house was soooo freeakin empty when I got back home. When I woke up the next morning, the house was still feeling empty. I couldn't stand that feeling of loneliness. I turned on the noon news & they were doing a segment on how the local Humane Society had a special sale going on that day & their kittens were marked down $20 & that still included their shots & neutering. Then they brought out a litter that needed a home. I couldn't help but say AWWWWWW. For that brief second I felt a bit better. So, I jumped in my car & headed for the Humane Society. I decided that a new baby might fill some of my void!!! I only meant to adopt one. As I was taking Kip, Romeo began to cry & grab for him & I looked at the clerk & said, I wish I could afford two. She smiled & said If I took them both, the second would only be $10. So, I came home with 2 babies for less than the price of one. They in no way made me miss my little girl any less; however, they did help to fill the hole in my soul. The antics 2 kittens can come up with is amazing & as they've gotten older, their personalities are unbelievable!!! They weren't litter mates, but were cell mates at the Humane Society. They became best of friends at 6 weeks old & with my not being able to separate them, they are still best friends. They are both black & people just assume they are brothers. They still give me a lot of pleasure & a lot of smiles!!! @ElicBxn (63638)
• United States
13 Jan 11
I think a lot of cats love to use clean litter.
I have started a new project to be better about the litter (I hope I can stick to it) and the cats were all looking at me like "What is she doing? She just changed it YESTERDAY!"
We got a floor steamer and the cats have been using the box as the "BEST TOY EVER!" for about a week!
1 person likes this
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
13 Jan 11
I had one of those auto clean boxes & Romeo didn't soil the box after the rake ran. He ONLY does it after I clean it manually. There are times he strains to make something drop in the box. I've stood in the door & watched him go & just as soon as I scoop it, he jumps back in & begins straining to go again!!! Just to mess with him, I quickly cover it up with litter so he doesn't even need to dig to cover. He ALWAYS gives me a nasty look!!!
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (47611)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
13 Jan 11
Well, isn't Kip the clever kitty!
1 person likes this
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
13 Jan 11
He thinks he is!!! 
I had to put a lock on my kitchen cabinet doors under the sink as he kept letting himself in there & I feared he'd get into something that would make him sick!!! Much like a child, it is a constant cat & mouse game to see who can out think whom!!! Occasionally he wins!!!! 
I had to put a lock on my kitchen cabinet doors under the sink as he kept letting himself in there & I feared he'd get into something that would make him sick!!! Much like a child, it is a constant cat & mouse game to see who can out think whom!!! Occasionally he wins!!!! 
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
14 Jan 11
I'm sure it's not the first time I left a plastic bag within his reach, but he never used to cover up his food. Thank God he doesn't lick the bags so I can hear him. That was one of the things that fascinated me...I watched him cover the bowl & never heard the sound of the bag...I can't do that!!!
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
14 Jan 11
Hi LadyM! I can so identify, as a long time owner
of cats! They definitely do have their own little personalities
and quirks. My first cat Mystique, who was only 8 pounds was
my little "devil cat". She would hide things like matches, coins,
ane whatever else she could get underneath the bathroom scale!
Everytime I moved it there was something else "new and
interesting" there. The my cat Jaguar liked to "steal bottle
caps"! He would hide them under everything and anything!
Now my cat Star, who is my "sweetest cat ever" (also an all
black cat) just loves to be near me touching me all the time.
His brother Luna is the weird cat. He is the "talker"! He says
"Mama" very clearly and those that have had the priviledge to
"hear" it freak out! He is also the instigater of the "fighting"!
He used to hiss at "the bf" and now they are "buddies". He also
seems to be getting sweeter. They will be 7 years old in February.1 person likes this
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
14 Jan 11
Yes, each & every one is unique in their own way!!! Many years ago I had a female who loved my boyfriend...that is until we got married. Then every time he hugged me she would sneak up behind him & jump up on the back of his thigh digging in the claws on ALL 4 feet!!! Then she'd take off & hide. Needless to say hubby didn't care for her much after that!!!!
@pollytoast (195)
•
14 Jan 11
cats have so many quirks, my cat cosmo an 8 year old boy will only drink out of the tap in the bath or a puddle outside, never a bowl of water or any other tap. I would love to see what he does when he goes out, I remember a few years ago my husband was out walking the dog when cosmo started following them and a neighbour asked if the cat was his, my husband said yes to which the neighbour replied, "your cat comes in my house through my kitchen window most days and a few months ago I was having furniture delivered, an hour after I had my furniture I got a call from the delivery man to say my cat was in his van so he had to drive all the way back to deliver your cat!!!" It's funny what they get up to when we cant see them! Another thing he does is follows us when we walk the dog and hides behind trees and bushes and jumps out at us! so funny.
1 person likes this
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
14 Jan 11
My babies get into sooooo much when I'm home, I've been tempted to get a NannyCam just to see what they do when I'm not home!!! My last cat was with me for 21 years & my hubby said that every day he knew when I was going to be home as she warned him when I was about 3 blocks away. She got excited when I was about 1 block away & she went crazy when I turned into the driveway!!! 
I know when my neighbor will be home as his cat (who I haven't seen all day) walks out to the end of his drive exactly 2 minutes before he pulls in. I truly love animals & the love they bring to our lives!!!! 
My last cat was with me for 21 years & my hubby said that every day he knew when I was going to be home as she warned him when I was about 3 blocks away. She got excited when I was about 1 block away & she went crazy when I turned into the driveway!!! I know when my neighbor will be home as his cat (who I haven't seen all day) walks out to the end of his drive exactly 2 minutes before he pulls in. I truly love animals & the love they bring to our lives!!!! 