Do Cats Appreciate Their Resources? Minnie, Miki & Nara Can’t Be Pleased

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WRITTEN BY

Dr. Maja Platisa

In-House Veterinarian, DVM MRCVS

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

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Hi, I’m Dr. Maja! Read my introduction to learn more about me and Miki, the kitten who made me a cat person.

Cats are such strange creatures. I love them to bits, all three of them are special in their own unique way, but they definitely don’t appreciate my efforts in providing them with everything they need. Or at least, what I think they need. Their idea of resources is quite different from mine, and if I listened to them more, I may have saved some money. But I had the best intentions.

What Kittens Think of Toys

Since I was getting two kittens, I stocked up on toys. Miki had only a couple when he was growing up, as he was a summer kitten and spent a lot of his time outside, playing with leaves and branches. I also have plenty of stuffed toys dogs like to play with, and the kittens find them fun, too. However, toys quickly become boring, and you need to swap them around all the time. But a cardboard box, now that’s the most fun object ever. Or even the bucket I use to bring in firewood. Minnie loves sitting in it. And the top prize when it comes to toys, surprisingly, goes to my backpack. You heard correctly. This hiking backpack is everything cats need. There are straps to swipe at and chew, the inner large compartment easily fits at least one cat, due to the lack of a proper cat bed, and if the backpack somehow ends up lying on the floor, it’s a great place to hide underneath and play hide and seek. If I just knew how much this backpack would keep the kittens entertained, I could have saved money on mouse toys that only catch their interest once a week.

The same goes for shopping bags and any object that is meant to stay out of their little paws. And the kitchen table and sink are a story for another time. The washing machine cycle is like a thriller movie if you ask Minnie, keeping her captivated for minutes staring at the drum turning around and making strange noises. It takes so little to be happy if you’re a cat.

Cat Tree or Another Boring Piece of Furniture

Just last week I got a cat tree, hoping to provide them with even more entertainment. Let’s just say, it looks great as a piece of furniture, but the cats have barely shown interest in it. Miki climbed it just yesterday and seemed quite unimpressed, while Minnie and Nara use it during their zoomies as a means to get up on the wardrobe. I expected them to be more interested in it, with it having a few toys on a string and cozy resting spots high up, but they seem to find it too plain. I sprinkled some treats on it as well, which disappeared instantly, but I suppose I need to give it more time. After all, cats like to make their own decisions and don’t appreciate being pushed into liking something, no matter how likable it actually is.

Laptops Are Where All the Action Happens

Now, one object they all utterly adore is of course my laptop. Whether it’s because I use it a lot and they find sitting on it a great way to get my attention, or they enjoy the strange shapes and images on the screen, it’s difficult to say for sure. But one thing is certain. Every two hours, one of the three cats tries to sit on the laptop, whether it’s on my lap or on a desk. And sometimes, two cats try to do it at the same time. Minnie and Nara often compete for my lap, but the other day, a miracle happened. Nara was in my lap first, watching the laptop screen with precise focus and attention, when Minnie jumped up, sat next to her, and started grooming her. My heart almost melted. For the first time in three months, they didn’t try to kill each other by being so close to one another, and not just that, there was a brief moment of love and affection between them. Unbelievable. Laptops are definitely a place where all significant events seem to occur.

Lap Beats a Cozy Bed

A while ago, I gave up on cat beds. I provided them all with one, and of course, they all prefer to use someone else’s, but the biggest sleeping spots are my lap, the laptop, the chairs, my bed, and the floor. Despite three very cozy and warm cat beds, I often find the cats sleeping everywhere but in their beds. The floor is a peculiar one; maybe they enjoy the warmth from the underfloor heating, but I can’t imagine it being too comfortable. Although some of the poses Minnie takes on while sleeping in her bed look anything but comfortable.

However, one thing I learned since getting cats is that you can’t persuade them to do anything unless they think it’s their idea. One trick I started using is placing a cat bed next to my laptop, and this seems to work some of the time. But I do fall for their purrs and head butts all the time and offer up my lap and laptop more than I should. All the things we do for love.