Animal Games
Snake
A long thick soft braided cotton rope, with knotted ends
Good for Tug, Wrestle, Drag Around, and CHEW!
Has been dragged by its Head (a knotted end) to the water bowl so it could have a drink, then held down into the food bowl for a snack. Repeatedly -- with a worried expression on Serious's face, as though she fears it is not getting enough to eat...
Any number of Unofficial Snakes are also in effect at any given time -- STURDY cords she can't chew through. Chasing Snakes is fun, and Knot-Gnawing is essential (she is happy to Knot Snakes herself if her Mom forgets).
Fishpole
Good for Tug, Wrestle, Drag Around, and CHEW!
Has been dragged by its Head (a knotted end) to the water bowl so it could have a drink, then held down into the food bowl for a snack. Repeatedly -- with a worried expression on Serious's face, as though she fears it is not getting enough to eat...
Any number of Unofficial Snakes are also in effect at any given time -- STURDY cords she can't chew through. Chasing Snakes is fun, and Knot-Gnawing is essential (she is happy to Knot Snakes herself if her Mom forgets).
A STURDY stuffed fish attached by a STURDY cord to a plastic pole
The Fishpole Derby is a racetrack from the top of the bed to the floor around the foot of the bed back up onto the bed onto the floor up onto the bed onto the floor up onto the bed...
She sometimes Fishpoles by herself, dragging the fish across the bed, then slide-pouncing on it with little wild cries.
Fishpole has also been dragged to the water bowl, so that Fish could have a drink.
Mouse
The Fishpole Derby is a racetrack from the top of the bed to the floor around the foot of the bed back up onto the bed onto the floor up onto the bed onto the floor up onto the bed...
She sometimes Fishpoles by herself, dragging the fish across the bed, then slide-pouncing on it with little wild cries.
Fishpole has also been dragged to the water bowl, so that Fish could have a drink.
A STURDY stuffed mouse dragged around by its long tail,
so that as she walks she stumbles over it -- and then
can Attack it
When thrown into Basket, must be retrieved immediately, generally dangling by its tail, so it can be stumbled over, etc.
Feather
When thrown into Basket, must be retrieved immediately, generally dangling by its tail, so it can be stumbled over, etc.
Sans peacock, unfortunately, but immensely popular. Game is
accompanied by a special yipping cry.
Quickly degenerates into a straight tug-of-war between human and cat, who more strongly resembles a pit bull in jaw strength and tenacity during these encounters. Feather is kept in strict seclusion between games, both for its own sake, and for cat safety.
Bug
Quickly degenerates into a straight tug-of-war between human and cat, who more strongly resembles a pit bull in jaw strength and tenacity during these encounters. Feather is kept in strict seclusion between games, both for its own sake, and for cat safety.
Serious's elderly house is off-kilter enough around the doors
and windows to let in a small but persistent stream of
various insects. Serious enjoys this.
And by Lid, we mean?
The plastic lid from a gallon jug of spring water -- red, generally,
by virtue of her Mom's favorite brand of water.
Serious appears to have invented an entire cosmology around Lids.
LID!
Serious appears to have invented an entire cosmology around Lids.
The eponymous raison d'être of the Lid.
Just pick up a Lid. Listen to Serious's immediate and urgent moaning. Throw the Lid far away, down the hallway. Watch Serious race after the Lid, pick it up in her mouth, and come racing back. Pick up the Lid from the floor at your feet, where Serious has dropped it, and is rubbing against your ankles moaning for more. Repeat until Serious is panting with exhaustion. Repeat. Repeat.
Repeat.
Variations on a Theme
Just pick up a Lid. Listen to Serious's immediate and urgent moaning. Throw the Lid far away, down the hallway. Watch Serious race after the Lid, pick it up in her mouth, and come racing back. Pick up the Lid from the floor at your feet, where Serious has dropped it, and is rubbing against your ankles moaning for more. Repeat until Serious is panting with exhaustion. Repeat. Repeat.
Repeat.
Occasionally, after she's picked up the Lid in her mouth, Serious pauses
and looks heavenward, as though for Divine Guidance. Is it Time?
The Lid must by now be overheated and THIRSTY!
She races with it into the kitchen and drops it into her water bowl, fishing it out again after it is sufficiently refreshed. Then she races back to drop the now-dripping Lid at her Mom's feet, for more -- LID!
Instead of a drink, it may be time for Bathtub Hockey. Cat With Lid disappears, loudly, into bathtub for ten minutes of whackety and loudly moaning hockey. Then Cat, still With Lid, comes racing back to drop the Lid beside her Mom, for more -- LID!
And every now and then Serious will race after the Lid, then just -- DANCE over it, an odd little ceremonial dance.
It's a mystery.
Lid Sports
The Revenge of the Lid
She races with it into the kitchen and drops it into her water bowl, fishing it out again after it is sufficiently refreshed. Then she races back to drop the now-dripping Lid at her Mom's feet, for more -- LID!
Instead of a drink, it may be time for Bathtub Hockey. Cat With Lid disappears, loudly, into bathtub for ten minutes of whackety and loudly moaning hockey. Then Cat, still With Lid, comes racing back to drop the Lid beside her Mom, for more -- LID!
And every now and then Serious will race after the Lid, then just -- DANCE over it, an odd little ceremonial dance.
It's a mystery.
Serious's Grandmother gave her a tiny paper bag filled
with Lids. Oh, Jiminy! Oh, Joy!
Serious first started to fish the
Lids out with her paw, but no, that was too SLOW! So
she squeezed her head somehow into the bag. Couldn't see,
because she was wearing the bag. Fell off the
table, with her tiny white paper bag head.
You could almost hear the Lids laughing.
Musical and Literary Themes
You could almost hear the Lids laughing.
Taking Care of Lid-ness. Girls Just Wanna Have Lid. Ladies
Who Lid. Twinkle, twinkle, Lid-dle Star...
Common Miscellanea
Bed, especially Corners and Edges Thereof
A sudden mania, involving wildly rolling eyes and intense mattress Wrestling
Ankles
Hide under something, then GENTLY tat passing ankles with
paw. No claws allowed.
Capture
Anything disappearing under or behind something else. This
game is particularly enjoyed on Quilt, which allows for
sliding attacks using the front legs stretched forward like
sled runners.
