Rules of Etiquette for
Inexperienced Cats
If you have to throw up, get
into a chair quickly. If you cannot manage this in time, get
to an Oriental rug. Shag is good.
For sitting on laps or rubbing
against trouser legs, select colors which contrast with your
own.
Always accompany guests to
the bathroom. It is not necessary to do anything. Just sit
and stare.
Do not allow closed doors
in any room. To get one open, stand on hind legs and hammer
with forepaws. Once the door is opened for you, it is not
necessary to use it. You can change your mind. When you have
ordered an outside door opened, stand half in and half out
and think about several things. This is particularly important
during very cold weather or mosquito season.
If one person is busy and
the other is idle, sit with the busy one. For book readers,
get in close under the chin, unless you can lie across the
book itself. For ladies knitting, curl quietly into lap and
pretend to doze. Then reach out and slap knitting needles
sharply. This is what she calls a dropped stitch. She will
try to distract you. Ignore it. For people doing homework,
sit on the paper being worked on.
After being removed for the second time, push anything movable
off the table -- pens, pencils, stamps -- one at a time.
When it becomes time to dislodge
a fur ball, choose the dining room at dinner time.
When your owner returns home
laden with packages, fall down in front of them -- this works
best on steps, all the better if the individual
is proceeding downward. There is always the chance you may
get stepped on, but this usually guarantees a fall and if
you milk the guilt that follows it is usually worth it.
Should you run into a closed
sliding glass door or do anything stupid, never let on as
much and go about your business as if "I meant to do
that."
If you allow a dog to share
your domain you are in luck. Should you tatter the drapes
or destroy anything for which you fear retribution, wait until
your owner (misnomer if there ever was one) is nearby, slap
the dog and run for it. Dogs are stupid and will accept blame
for anything. If this ruse should fail simply run and hide.
No one really expects to catch a cat.
Chase, frolic, and run from
invisible entities. The why doesn't matter, it is just expected.
Get enough sleep during the
daytime so that you are fresh for playing at night between
2 and 4 a.m.
Final Note: ALWAYS walk ON
the keyboard! |