Catus (un) domesticus!

(Do not read before dinner!)

Ditto is in disgrace.

This small, 'butter wouldn't melt in my mouth', charming, little catus domesticus has for the last 24 hours begun behaving in a somewhat less that domesticus fashion.

I have kept cats for over 20 years, I thought I knew them inside out, what I did not account for was the differences between the domestic species who reside in a town, as mine did, and those like Ditto who are 'country cats'.

Poppy and gemmak, who lived most of their lives in suburbia, would not have known a mouse had bit them hard on the nose and in 36 years of joint life managed to capture perhaps 3 birds between them! Ditto on the other hand has spent the entirety of her two years in cat wonderland and has reasonably well honed hunting skills. As has been well documented here I regularly receive little 'gifts', most of which I am glad to say I manage to rescue before too much damage is done.

Things have moved on a pace I am sad to say. Yes I know it's natural'cat behaviour', I have nigh on a library of books on the subject, cats hunt given the opportunity. I know that.....honestly I do..... but she is pushing her luck now!

Last evening PG spied her taking rather too much interest in something small and furry. As is my way I set off at a pace to rescue said rodent from the fate of being a plaything...........I arrived at the scene of the crime just in time to see it's head be devoured! Ugh!

Thankfully PG 'dealt' with the remains while I went slightly pale, he then took the slightly bloodstained perpetrator indoors for a stern talking too.

She has since then shown her disapproval most markedly, she whined incessantly last night to be let out, something she never does normally, she harassed Poppy mercilessly by laying in wait around every corner and jumping on her from a height, she chased my feet and attacked my ankles and just as we went to bed she saw fit to use her litter tray and 'misfire', depositing the unmentionable on the floor. She followed that little gem by kicking the litter out of it's receptacle.... also all over the floor. Again not something she has done before!

This evening I came home to find she had again made 'good use' of the litter box. Today's trick was to step in the 'wet bit' and proceed to tread damp white paw marks through the hallway, through the living room, onto the table and finally to indulge in some dancing on the windowsill! This stuff set like clay!

Arghhhh. if I didn't know better I'de swear this cat actually understands!