Posted by Vivian on 10/6/2008, 12:59 pm

Okay.... what does one do when one has to protect the cat from the bird. I kid not... Zuri has discovered the pure joy of tormenting Tiger who is generally very peacefully asleep in the recliner chair across from Zuri's cage. Tiger will sometimes show interest in watching Zuri's antics and generally likes the sound of the newspaper crinkling as Zuri runs across the bottom of her cage. But overall Tiger is afraid of Zuri. And Zuri has learned this.... When Zuri is out playing on her cage she often flies back and forth from her cage to my desk... sometimes goes out and circles the kitchen but returns as soon as I call to her. If Tiger is somewhere about one usually hears kitty paws scurring across the floor trying to get out of the way of the wildly flapping bird hovering above her. And yes... Zuri will hover several feet above Tiger. Now I am there... and mostly armed with a water bottle but more there to protect Tiger from being terrorized. Zuri has started going after Tiger when Tiger is sound asleep on her chair. Zuri flies over and hovers above Tiger until I yell and she returns to her cage. Zuri very much knows what she is doing. If Tiger gets up and goes out for a snack from her kitty dish...Zuri will try to take pursuit until again... "Zuri get your rear end back here NOW" (and she does immediately do a U-Turn and come right back to me). When Zuri is really looking to antagonize Tiger she sits on her cage and very softly calls "Hey Tiger" "Tiiiiiiger". When she does it loudly she learned I holler back to knock it off, hehe... so she has taken to whispering .. even though I'm just a few feet away she seems to think I want hear her while the cat on the other side of the house will Then the next step begins... call Tiger til she is in range of the cage. The Zuri tosses down bits of newspaper or toys to entice Tiger even closer .. then when in range Zuri picks up the heavier toys (usually the wooden wheels and blocks she has) and aim and throw directly at Tiger. Who then of course goes running terrorized out of the room. I have to admit I'm between laughing and trying to stop Zuri before it happens. Tiger is learning too though. She steers very clear of Zuri's cage when Zuri is out on top playing. Only when Zuri is in the cage will Tiger walk by it closer. There is on big positive. Tiger has really learned that birds are not as interesting as she once thought. Birds have become something to fear. Heck, poor Tiger doesn't even spend much time watching the outside birds at the bird bath anymore. Maybe she is thinking Zuri is in partnership with them and paying her back on the inside, haha. Vivian

 Post a Response