Siamese cats are known for being intelligent, vocal and almost dog-like in their train-ability. My mom’s Siamese cat is no exception. He sits when we tell him to (enticed of course by a treat), and has now mastered the “high-five” and an approximation of “shake hands.” These days we’re even training him to wave “bye-bye”, too! However, getting him to walk on a leash is still a challenge. While Little Puck now sits patiently as we Velcro him into his harness, he’s determined to set his own agenda for the actual walk. Sometimes that means stubbornly lying down in the driveway and refusing to budge. Or, as you can see from my cartoon snapshot below, it can also mean making a frantic dash away from any perceived danger!
Cartoon Snapshot #1 –
Snapshot #2 –
Back in the safety of the indoors, he’s ever the thoughtful art critic and provides me with much needed feedback…
(And, when he’s not busy knocking things off the dresser, he can get into a very reflective mood, too.)
How do you walk a cat, then? With great patience, humor and your most comfortable running shoes, of course!
P.S. I guess Puck isn’t the only smart cat out there. I’ll be sure to report back as soon as he has learned to play this shell game…
I thought about you today, as we drove past Saratoga! I’m visiting Aaron, and we have a few days for some traveling, this year. Great sketches and photos, as usual, and I congratulate you and your mom on Puck’s achievements! My cats would never agree to do such things.
Great minds think alike, Helen! I’ve been thinking about you, too, since we’ll be in Milwaukee this coming week. Andy will be helping set up the new music library in the new MKE Ballet building. I’m going along for the ride but will also be helping him move our stuff out of our storage unit. We’ll drive it to Oberlin where some of the stuff will go in my mom’s house and the rest will go into a storage unit nearby. Since the price of an Ohio unit is about 1/2 what we’re paying in Milwaukee, it makes sense. In any case, if you’re around this coming week (July 30th – August 2nd) it would be great to see you and catch up!
xox – Joana
Smart kitty! I once had a cat that I tried to walk on a leash—she just froze. You seem to have had marginally better success!
Hi Jennifer,
It’s quite comical to see how placid and docile Puck is when we put him into his walking vest. He really isn’t a lap cat (except in the dead of winter when it’s cold), but if he knows he’s going out for a walk he’s 100% cooperative and sits in my lap waiting to be strapped in. Maybe he’ll get the hang of walking where WE want to go soon? Hee-hee!
xox – Joana
I think he does very well on his leash! My boy. He should be elected president. Very good cartoon!!
Yes, he’s pretty much perfect in every way. I still love him when we meows for us at 5 a.m. and pushes his pipe cleaner under the door. Hee-hee!
xox – J